Pascrell endorses Codey in Democratic Senate primary

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) is taking sides in an incumbent vs. incumbent State Senate primary in the 27th district, endorsing Richard J. Codey for re-election.

Pascrell represents Clifton, the largest town in the district, in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He is also backing incumbent John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Democratic State Committeewoman Alixon Collazos-Gill for the State Assembly.  He had represented parts of Essex County prior to the 2012 congressional redistricting.

“I coordinated closely for years with Senator Codey and Assemblyman McKeon when our districts last overlapped, and I know them both to be highly experienced, effective public servants who advocate tirelessly for our cities and towns,” Pascrell said.

Codey faces his longtime colleague, Nia Gill (D-Montclair) in the June 6 Democratic primary.   Codey has served in the Senate since 1982 and Gill since 2002.  Pascrell served in the State Assembly with Gill for three years before his election to Congress in 1996.

While Collazos-Gill worked for Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Englewood), who lost an incumbent vs. incumbent congressional primary to Pascrell in 2012, her husband, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, was a Pascrell staffer and political strategist.

“I have worked with Alixon Collazos-Gill since she was a congressional staffer and she managed constituent services for our North Jersey communities,” Pascrell stated.  “Alixon is an exciting candidate who has the experience, strength and dedication to be an aggressive and progressive voice for the diverse interests of Clifton in the state capital.”