After Political Delays, It’s Official: New Jersey Senator Vince Polistina

After months of unnecessary (politically contrived) delays, at 12:00 noon today, New Jersey Senator Vince Polistina officially became the newest member of the New Jersey State Senate.

Because of the fact that this entire campaign season has been dripping with political irony and skullduggery, of course, it was New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney who performed the oath of office for Polistina.

It was Sweeney who had kept Polistina on the outside, looking in. It was pure, raw political muscle that was wielded to try and give Polistina’s opponent Vince Mazzeo an electoral boost.

It didn’t work, as Polistina routed Mazzeo on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 on Election Day,

Sweeney handled the Polistina swearing-in with respect, class and dignity … which is Sweeney’s nature. The political Sweeney swamp creature that emerged during the election campaign was not the real Steve Sweeney.

Sweeney has been good to Atlantic County and South Jersey for decades.

Sweeney has been ousted by newcomer Edward Durr by  just over 2,000 votes in District 3.

For his official swearing-in, Polistina was surrounded by his wife Carolyn and three sons, Vinny, Dominic and Cole.

They were all a huge part of Team Polistina’s success during both The Primary and General Election campaign.

I was impressed that Sweeney could recite the entire oath of office by memory. Almost no one who administers oaths can do this.

Sweeney also delivered it to Polistina in manageable sound bites. I’ve seen many pros thoroughly mess this up by giving the recipient super long passages to attempt to remember and try to recite.

This happens often and it’s hard to watch.

Sweeney invited Polistina to address the Chamber. Polistina thanked the voters of District 2 and his Family for their support.

Polistina also said how much he is looking forward to going to work for the residents of Atlantic County and New Jersey.

This truly bipartisan moment shared by Sweeney and Polistina was collegial and exactly the way that both political parties should always conduct themselves.

Polistina took office immediately, because he is filling the unexpired term of former New Jersey Senator Chris Brown.

Polistina will then begin a full 2-year term in January, 2022, along with his fellow Republican running mates, Claire Swift and Don Guardian, who defeated incumbent Assemblyman John Armato and Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick.

Mazzeo and Armato will both leave office at the conclusion of December 31, 2021.

Fitzpatrick has two years remaining on her County Commissioner position, which is unaffected by her state Assembly loss.

Note: In a breaking news report, Polistina confirmed yesterday exclusively on “Hurley in the Morning” on WPG Talk Radio 95.5 that Joe Berg will be his Chief of Staff.