With most of the drama taken out of local politics with the conclusion of the elections on Nov. 5, many local politicos may find the League of Municipality Convention in Atlantic City this week a trifle boring.
With former County Executive Robert Janiszewski already in federal custody and United Gunite contractor Jerry Free spouting freely to federal authorities, local officials may need some other way to keep themselves occupied. As a result, and to help heal wounds caused in the cantankerous election, notable political figures may bring self-help books to the event to fill the time. Included here are some books they might take with them.
Hoboken Councilman Tony Soares may be reading Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. This would be a refresher course. Soares had made no secret that he is meeting with possible council candidates for a ticket in next year’s municipal election, challenging incumbents currently supported by Mayor Dave Roberts. Soares’ growing influence in Hoboken may have been reflected by his recent invitation to crossing guards to a party in his building. Soares, as well as at least one crossing guard, has complained that a supervisor told crossing guards not to attend the event. Weren’t there always rumors of that kind of thing during the Russo reign? On the other hand, after years of petitioning the previous administration, crossing guards received a $1 an hour raise under the Roberts administration. Perhaps they ought to feel grateful.
“No one’s been instructed not to attend,” said Bill Campbell, spokesperson for Roberts.
Roberts, incidentally, may be taking the book From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears & Put You in Control of Your Life, by Lucinda Bassett.
Roberts’ anxiety may be made worse by the report that Michael Schaffer and Linda Corea have taken on Jack Shaw as a political consultant in a race for council.
Follow the leader?
Jersey City Councilman Junior Maldonado, who will take over as acting executive director for the Hudson County Improvement Authority on Dec. 1, may be reading 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them & People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell, a training manual for a potential run for mayor of Jersey City.
Although Maldonado’s term on the HCIA will last only a month while the county seeks a permanent employee, the experience may bode well for his future leadership dreams. Maldonado, who has been employed at the HCIA for 11 years, sees no problems with his short administration, saying he has friends in the troubled agency he can rely upon for guidance.
“I hope to help turn the HCIA around,” he said. “And I look forward to working with the new executive director.”
Secaucus Councilman Bob Kickey will likely be taking the book Born to Rebel, by Frank J. Sulloway. Although Secaucus voters turned out in less than hoped for numbers for the election, Kickey managed to bring in a higher percentage than any of his running mates, giving him ammunition for his ever-growing internal debates with Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell. Low numbers or not, Secaucus led the county in getting out its vote with a 46.6 percent turnout. Jersey City came in dead last with only 25 percent of its registered voters pulling the lever.
Making friends?
Mayor Glenn Cunningham could benefit from the book Friendship: How to Make & Keep Friends by Harold Dawley and avoid borrowing Gene Drayton’s well-worn volume of Winning Through Intimidation by Robert J. Ringer.
The mayor’s office apparently issued a script to the 96 people who spoke at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, encouraging a better relationship between the mayor and the council.
Alex Booth, the Jersey City Redevelopment Authority attorney, and his brother Jay Booth, former financial wizard, who recently were fired from the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, will be reading different books on their trip to the convention.
While Jay will be reading It Will Never Happen to Me by Claudia Black, Alex will likely be reading Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger Von Olech because of the frustration in dealing with the shifting politics of the JCRA.
Rumors have it that Rep. Bob Menendez picked up a copy of Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess Roberts, but he may instead bring the book, Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins.
Newly elected County Executive Tom DeGise may have to sneak his copy of Pulling Your Own Strings by Wayne W. Dyer if he expects to get Menendez’s backing for the potential June primary.
Menendez’s best friend and powerbroker Donald Scarinci may be reading After the Darkest Hour, the Sun Will Shine Again by Elizabeth Mehren, reflecting his new mood after helping Democrats in this last election. Three years ago, Scarinci’s political life seemed on the wane.
Jim Kennelly, the new press officer for DeGise, may bring the book, I’m Not Really Here by Tim Allen.
Fortunately for Kennelly, DeGise is seen as a very good boss, someone who tends not to pressure his employees.
While Janiszewski had spokespeople with vast experience, he tended to use them up like Kleenex.
Rev. Ralph Brower and Father Francis Schiller, the two Hudson religious leaders traveling to the convention, will likely bring the same book, Finding God in Unexpected Places by Philip Yancey. Brower has the book memorized. Schiller, however, may need to brush up.
Around the county
Allen Pascual, the newly elected North Bergen commissioner, will not likely need his Feeling Good Handbook, by David D. Burns. Pascual might pass the book along to his opponent, Edward “Bo” Scannavino. But it is unlikely this or any other self-help book will heal the wound Bo acquired from losing by a 4 to 1 margin. Bo cannot expect to find secrets in the volume that will help the ticket he is planning to put together next spring.
Denis Jaslow, the man Bo managed to get off the ballot for the Nov. 5 election, will be back with a ticket of his own, and with proof of residency. Both men are hoping that the same miracle that put Mayor Nicholas Sacco into office in 1985 will work for them. Sacco was part of a reform ticket that helped ousted Peter Mocco. Sacco later went on to become mayor.
Rumors have it that Lou Manzo will bring two books to the convention this year, The Power of Positive Thinking and You Can If You Think You Can, both classic self help books for Norman Vincent Peale. Manzo had already announced his attention to run for congress.
Former Jersey City Mayor Gerry McCann may take Life Makeovers: 52 Practical & Inspiring Ways to Improve Your Life One Week at a Time by Cheryl Richardson, one more tool that could help him challenge DeGise for county executive next June.
Freeholder Bill O’Dea, another possible candidate for county executive is rumored to be bringing the book, Management of the Absurd: Paradoxes in Leadership, by Richard Farson.
The one person who probably needs no self-help books is Joanne Martin. At 26, she is one of the youngest people to be elected to the Guttenberg town council. She is the former chief of staff to former Assemblyman Rudy Garcia.