Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) has picked Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D-Newark) to replace Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) on the Assembly Budget Committee. Vas was stripped of his committee assignments and leadership posts following his indictment on state corruption charges last month.
Celeste Riley (D-Bridgeton), who won a special election convention to replace Douglas Fisher, who is now the Secretary of Agriculture, will take Fisher's seat on the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. She has also been assigned to the Regulated Professions and Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.
Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) has been named to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for the remainder of the legislative session. She will replace Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), who too Vas' post as Chairman of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
Democrats have still not replaced Vas as one of six Deputy Majority Leaders, and Republicans have not decided who will succeed the late Eric Munoz (R-Summit) as one of two Deputy Minority Conference Leaders. His widow, Assemblywoman-elect Nancy Munoz (R-Summit) is expected to keep his seat on the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee, according to Assembly GOP staff.
