Albert Coutinho

Gov. Jon Corzine and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura prepare to head the parade. 

NEWARK - Gov. Jon Corzine reveled with members of the 29th Legislative District at the 29th annual Portugal Day Festival in the Ironbound on Sunday.

The massive, two-day event, which was founded and organized by businessman Bernardino Coutinho, father of Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, featured the parade on Sunday afternoon and the participation of Portugal’s secretary of state.

East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador feels rattled by Mayor Booker

NEWARK - It’s late afternoon in the Ironbound on Election Day. As another minivan passes with a woman hanging out of the passenger-side window on a megaphone telling people to vote for lines E-8 and E-9, the mood inside East Ward Democratic Party headquarters turns even more sour.

Sitting at a table with his Ironbound allies, including East Ward party leader Joseph Parlavecchio and Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador feels slightly unceremoniously stomped on right now.

Gov. Jon Corzine in Newark today 

NEWARK - Gov. Jon Corzine stood with Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark), Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D-Newark) and other lawmakers in the East Ward today and promised to back legislation to pay for new urban schools construction.

"We need action before June 30th, so that we can fulfill our Constitutional obligation to provide our children with a thorough and efficient education," said the governor, moments after taking a tour of the Oliver Street Elementary School.

Coutinho, an Ironbound native who cosponsored the legislation with Spencer, described dilapidated and overcrowded conditions in the facility.

Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) 

NEWARK - The Senate primary campaign of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1) today announced support from other Essex County politicians.

Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Nutley), Assemblyman Albert
Coutinho (D-Newark) and Newark East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador all endorsed the South Jersey congressman, who is running against U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).

District 29 Assembly candidates Albert Coutinho and Grace Spencer this week received the endorsements of SEIU Local 32BJ, UniteHere! and CWA Local 1081, according to a news release isued by campaign spokesman Phil Alagia.

The New Jersey Education Association and the Newark Teachers Union -- longtime rival unions -- have joined forces to support the re-election campaigns of State Sen. Ron Rice, Assemblyman Craig Stanley and Assemblywoman Oadline Truitt in the 28th district, and Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo in the 29th.

He’s been around long enough to know people get punched hard in this business, but Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo from district 29, the third ranking member in the Assembly and the highest ranking Latino, finds it no less difficult to fight off his anger.

"I wouldn’t change my vote, no, no way," he says. "I have absolutely no regrets about that vote."

It was the sales tax increase proposed during the budget season last year.

The governor wanted the Essex County delegation to vote for it but Caraballo didn’t do it, arguing the tax would unfairly impact his constituents, particularly those making minimum wage or less. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo didn’t appreciate that, and neither did the governor.

State Sen. Nia Gill has endorsed Teresa Ruiz for State Senate and Grace Spencer and Albert Coutinho for Assembly in the 29th district, along with Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin and Newark South Ward Councilman Oscar James.