Weinberg Wins State Senate Battle In NJ

[cal04]

Gov. Richard J. Codey welcomed Loretta Weinberg as the newest member of the state Senate Wednesday after a legal fight to determine who would fill an open seat was resolved in her favor. Weinberg, a Democratic assemblywoman, prevailed in the monthlong battle over the Bergen County Senate seat vacated by Sen. Byron Baer. Her swearing-in has not been set.

Referring to Weinberg as a longtime friend and colleague, Codey called the 70-year-old assemblywoman ``an exemplary leader.'' Baer's Sept. 8 resignation due to poor health set off a competition between Weinberg and Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa for the seat and pitted two high-powered Democrats against one another. U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, the Democratic nominee for governor, backed Weinberg, while Bergen County Democratic Party boss Joseph Ferriero supported Zisa.

At issue were the ballots of five Tenafly Democrats that had been disqualified on a technicality after Bergen County Democrats voted on who would fill Baer's seat. The secret ballots were assumed to favor Weinberg, who lost to Zisa by one vote. The ballots, opened Wednesday in the Hackensack offices of Superior Court Judge Peter Doyne, all went to Weinberg, giving her a four-vote victory. The results were then certified by the court.

``I feel a sense of relief, a sense of excitement and a sense that this proves teamwork can pay off,'' Weinberg said. ``It proves that if women stick together we can really do something for women, and it also proves we've got some good guys who stood up on our collective behalf.'' Corzine backed Weinberg in part because of the chance to increase the number of women in the state Legislature.

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_278114044.html

[woldnewton]

1. You go, Weinberg!

And I'm also glad that a woman won her assembly seat as well!

Frankly, what they tried to do to her was as bad as the way they treated Nia Gill two years ago.

It's nice to see both of these wonderfully hard-working, reform oriented women come on top. Along with Ellen Karcher, the state senate has a trio of women that will keep NJ's state legislature on a progressive-minded, 'power to the people' track for some time to come!