NEWARK – Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo tonight praised Gov. Chris Christie’s work to date, and specifically lauded the new Republican governor in anticipation of Christie’s proposal of a 2.5% cap on spending at all levels of government.
“Are you asking me, ‘Do I agree with what he’s proposing in terms of a cap on spending? Yes, I agree,” said the county executive. “This will force towns to know they will have to merge and share services.
“I think he is doing a very good job,” DiVincenzo added. “He’s looking at nearly an $11 billion budget deficit, high foreclosure rates, people who no longer can afford to pay taxes. What he’s doing makes excellent fiscal sense.”
Having helped relegate once powerful Hudson County to the nonentity category during last year’s Democratic Party leadership fracas and enjoying relative peace internally at the moment even as Bergen County prepares for an intense inter-party battle for county executive, DiVincenzo said this may not be his last term.
“If I feel as good as I do right now, there’s no question I would consider running again,” DiVincenzo told PolitickerNJ.com. “I haven’t made up my mind.”
Asked if he had ruled out running for governor in 2013, DiVincenzo said, “This is the job I love. If I ran for another office, it would be this office.”
Running for re-election to a third term this year, the Democrat county executive now has no serious challenge in either party, although some of DiVincenzo’s allies won’t relax until after they’re convinced a core of former Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) supporters won’t challenge the man here known as “Joe D.”
“What do you hear about Codey? Codey?” ask DiVincenzo operatives.
There is no immediate word.
DiVincenzo didn’t back Codey for Senate President last year, and instead threw his weight behind a north-south leadership package of Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), rankling Codey loyalists.
East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser – a Codey ally often cited as a potential challenger to DiVincenzo – wouldn’t answer a question tonight about his intentions.
