Newark Councilman Would be 'Honored' to Run with Buono

An influential online journal of state politics has identified West Ward Councilman Ron Rice as a top pick to be state Sen. Barbara Buono’s running mate in the gubernatorial race against incumbent Chris Christie later this year.

Politickernj.com reported Wednesday that Buono, an Edison Democrat who was born in Newark and grew up in Nutley, is seeking to name an African-American as lieutenant governor, a post created in 2009. The lieutenant governor will not have to be named until after the June Democratic primary, which Buono is the heavy favorite to win.

The site went on to identify a half-dozen possible candidates for liuetenant governor, including Harry Carson, who played with the 1986 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, and state Sen. Nia Gill of Montclair.

But Rice’s longtime friendship with Buono and shared commitment to progressive issues landed him the top spot on the list of the site’s possibles.

Rice told Patch Thursday he has not heard from the Buono camp, but if asked to run, he said he would accept.

“I would be honored and humbled to even be considered for the position,” Rice said.

Rice, who lost in a primary bid for US Congress last year, also said he will campaign on behalf of Buono throughout the state regardless of whether he’s offered the slot, describing Buono as being part of the “Democratic wing of the Democratic Party” and Christie as a hardline conservative in moderate’s clothing.

“The Christie of 2013 is running away from the Christie of 2009,” Rice said. “This man has got to be shown for what he is. He is not in the tradition of New Jersey Republicans.”

Rice said that Christie, a possible GOP candidate for president in 2016, will go even further to the right in order to increase his appeal among hard-core conservatives elsewhere in the country.

“He’s a right wing extremist,” Rice said. “He gave a little hint of that in the last four years. Imagine what will happen when he’s not facing re-election.”

Buono is facing an uphill battle against Christie, who enjoys a 40-point lead in recent polling.