Coughlin celebrates Stanley election

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge) welcomed Assemblyman-elect Sterley Stanley to his caucus Wednesday.

“I am very pleased to have Sterley Stanley join the People’s House as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Caucus,” Coughlin said. “Sterley is a true and dedicated public servant who distinguished himself as a two-term East Brunswick councilman and he makes history as the first South Asian Assemblyman from Middlesex County.”

Middlesex County Democrats elected Stanley to fill County Clerk Nancy Pinkin’s vacant Assembly seat Tuesday evening.

Stanley, a two-term East Brunswick councilman, defeated Edison Councilman Joseph Coyle for the post in an 184-135 vote before Middlesex’s Democratic County Committee.

It’s not yet clear when Stanley will be sworn in. A spokesman for Coughlin said no date had yet been set, and the Assembly’s next quorum call is scheduled for Jan. 25, though there’s little stopping the speaker from scheduling an earlier quorum.

“I look forward to working with Assemblyman Stanley as we seek to advance our shared priorities of protecting the middle class and our most vulnerable residents,” Coughlin said.