TWENTY-FIVE NEW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TO TAKE OATHS AT TUESDAY REORGANIZATION CEREMONY

TWENTY-FIVE NEW ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TO TAKE OATHS
AT TUESDAY REORGANIZATION CEREMONY

Assembly to Boast Largest Number of Women in State History;
New Roster Includes Four Former Legislators  

(TRENTON) – Twenty-five new members – 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats – will take their oaths of office when the Assembly holds its organization ceremony for the 213th Legislative Session at noon on Tuesday, January 8.

The proceedings will take place in Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton.  The facility is in close proximity to the State House, just off Route 29's Memorial Drive exit.  There will be a designated press section on the right side of the balcony.

The ceremony will be taped for viewing over the Internet on the Legislature’s Web site at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us later that day and on a variety of New Jersey cable television channels on Wednesday, January 9.

Democrats will begin the 213th Legislature with a 48-32 seat majority.  The newly constituted Assembly will have 10 African-Americans, seven Hispanics, one Asian-American and 25 women – a new record.

The membership of the Democratic Caucus in November designated Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden) to serve a second term leading the “People’s House.”  Also at that time, the Caucus designated Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) to serve a second consecutive term as Majority Leader.  Assemblyman Gerald Green (D-Union) was chosen to serve as the new Speaker Pro-Tempore for the 2008-09 session.

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) was reelected by his colleagues to serve a third term as his caucus’ Minority Leader.

The 25 new members entering the state Assembly constitutes the largest number since 1992, when 30 new members took Assembly oaths.

New members will be sworn in individually.  They are: Dawn Marie Addiego (R-Burlington), Mary Pat Angelini (R-Monmouth), John Amodeo (R-Atlantic), Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), Caroline Casagrande (R-Monmouth), Anthony Chiappone (D-Hudson), Gary Chiusano (R-Sussex), Albert Coutinho (D-Essex), Denise Coyle (R-Somerset), Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer), Sandi Love (D-Camden), Matthew W. Milam (D-Cumberland), Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), Vince Polistina (R-Atlantic), Ruben Ramos, Jr., (D-Hudson), David Rible (R-Monmouth), Scott Rudder (R-Burlington), Scott Rumana (R-Passaic), Caridad Rodriguez (D-Hudson), L. Harvey Smith (D-Hudson), L. Grace Spencer (D-Essex), Cleo Tucker (D-Essex), Daniel Van Pelt (R-Ocean), Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) and Jay Webber (R-Morris).
Caputo, Chiappone, Coutinho, and Smith are former legislators.  Caputo served in the Assembly from 1968 to 1972 – his 35-year hiatus is the second longest in state history.  Coutinho served in the Assembly in 1997.  Chiappone served in the 2003-04 session.  And Smith served in the Senate in 2004.

The other 55 returning Assembly members will be sworn in as a group.

Members of the media wishing to attend the ceremony must have valid press credentials.

A section of the balcony will be reserved for print media.

Broadcast media crews and news photographers may attend, but will be restricted to the rear side aisles of the orchestra section.  For closer access, please make arrangements in advance with our press office at 609-292-7065.

If there are any questions, please contact the Assembly Majority Office at 609-292-7065.  We are located in the Majority Office Suite at the rear of the State House.

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