Nothing is official until the new Senate takes the oath of office in January, but recent posts in the local Democratic Party chat room and a Monday night press release from three incumbent senators suggests where the 29th Legislature’s majority-minority split is going to be.
Getting a jump on the organization process, Sens. Neville James, Terrence "Positive" Nelson and Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly announced Monday night they had formed a coalition that unofficially appears to be the minority block, but, according the senators is officially called the "Next Generation Leadership Team."
"We maintain the position that there’s no majority formed until Jan. 10, 2011 — but what is for sure is that we have come together as a group that has similar interests and would like to accomplish certain objectives," Nelson said Monday evening.
A new Senate generally formalizes its organization — with the official selection of Senate officers and committees — during the first full session, which will be called after January’s swearing in ceremonies.
In their release, the group said they have gotten "verbal commitments" from other incoming senators, but at this point, it looks like the only man out is Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, with whom Nelson said discussions are ongoing.
According to chat room posts, the new majority includes incumbent Sens. Craig W. Barshinger, Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Louis P. Hill, Sammuel Sanes, Patrick Simeon Sprauve, Celestino A. White Sr., Alvin L. Williams and possibly Usie R. Richards, along with newly elected Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Janette Millin-Young and Ronald Russell, who could be the incoming Senate president.
The release said the Next Generation team’s hope is that "other elected leaders and the general public join and support a vision for honest and efficient leadership in government, improved public services and enhanced infrastructure."
All incoming members of the 29th Legislature are invited to join the group and support a motto of "leadership you can trust," the release said.
