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Republican whip has been second in command behind DeCroce

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Union) is in line to replace the late Assemblyman Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) as leader of the 31-member Republican minority in the lower house.

DeCroce, 75, of Parsippany-Troy Hills, who was Republican minority leader since 2003, died unexpectedly Monday night at the Statehouse. He was to be sworn in Tuesday to another two-year term as minority leader.

Bramnick, 58 of Westfield, has been a confidant of DeCroce and they often stood side by side publicly to announce proposed legislation or Assembly Republican actions.

Assembly Republican aides could not immediately say Tuesday if Bramnick would step in as minority leader or if or when the now 31 Republican Assembly members would caucus to settle the leadership issue.

Assemblyman Dave Rible (R-Monmouth) was sworn in as Republican whip, the third highest position on the minority side.

Bramnick is an attorney with a practice in Scotch Plains. He was sworn into the Assembly in February 2003 when then-Assemblyman Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) moved up to the Senate where he is now the Republican minority leader. Bramnick also is a former Plainfield counci,man.

Meanwhile, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) announced the Democratic senators who will chair the upper house’s 15 committees, including a new Higher Education Committee. In the past, higher education issues were handled by the Education Committee.

Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), who was upper house majority leader, was bumped as chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee. She crossed swords privately with Sweeney and could not raise the votes within the Democratic caucus to remain as majority leader in the new term.

Sen. Donald Norcorss (D-Camden) replaced Sen. John Girgenti (D-Passaic) as chair of the Law & Public Safety Committee. Girgenti did not seek re-election.

Here are the chairs:

Higher Education - Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Hudson)

Community Affairs - Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May)

Budget & Appropriations - Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen)

Economic Growth - Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union)

Judiciary - Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-union)

Environment & Energy - Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex)

Commerce - Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex)

Education - Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex)

Military & Veterans Affairs - Sen. Jim Beach (D-Camden)

Labor - Sen. Fred H. Madden (D-Camden)

Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens - Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex)

State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation - Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic)

Transportation - Sen. Nicholas J. Sacco (D-Hudson)

Law & Public Safety - Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden)

Legislative Oversight - Sen. Robert M. Gordon (D-Bergen)