Amid pomp and a gathering of Hudson County’s who’s-who in public officials, Tom DeGise took the reins as county executive on Nov. 15, 10 days after his being elected to fill the unexpired term of Robert Janiszewski. Janiszewski resigned a year ago amid a corruption scandal.
The event was held in the Rotunda area of the Brennan Court House in Jersey City.
Although many of the faces were the same as those who had appeared at the last county executive’s swearing in ceremony three years ago, shadows of doubt hang over this administration as DeGise faces the massive task of cleaning up a county plagued with reports of corruption.
A former president of the City Council of Jersey City, DeGise was elected to fill the remaining 13 months of Janiszewski’s term, and must run again for a full-four year term next November.
“I believe for those of us who have really fought a lifetime [for] reform and to change the image of the county and stop the humor of Hudson County,” Rep. Bob Menendez told the crowd when introducing DeGise. “With Tom DeGise, a new day dawns in Hudson County.”
He said those who voted Democratic in this election share the view that society is judged by how it deals with those at “the dawn of life, our children,” as well as those at the end of life, the senior citizens. Menendez said Tom DeGise and the Board of Freeholders would be making critical decisions that would affect people in every stage of life.
In reflecting on the evening later, State Senator Bernard Kenny (D-31st. Dist) said the evening was one of the most impressive gatherings of the political community he had witnessed in many years.
“Not only because of who was there, but the tone of the evening,” Kenny said. “It was civil and affectionate. You could feel the warmth in the room. I think it spoke well for the party. I think there was a coming together after what has been a very trying two years. I also believe that the people felt a sense of hope and a moving forward with the new county executive and the new party leadership.”
DeGise, in his speech, pledged to “work as hard as I possibly can to try to bring honor to this office.”
Bill Gaughan, Jersey City councilman, new chief of staff to the county executive and a close friend of DeGise’s, sang DeGise’s praises.
“For nearly a decade I’ve worked with Tom DeGise and tried to make our hometown, Jersey City, a better place to live,” Gaughan said. “We fought side by side to build new firehouses, new senior housing and a host of new development projects, from hotels on the waterfront to new shopping centers on Martin Luther King Drive. Whether it was growing the Gold Coast or returning private investment to our neighborhood, Tom DeGise provided Jersey City with something vital: leadership.”
Gaughan called DeGise a visionary with a simple vision, “If an idea can make our city better,” he said, “he worked to make it a reality, and often in the face of tough political opposition.”
Gaughan said he believes DeGise will bring this same vision and understanding to county government.
In thinking about what to say for his speech, DeGise said his thoughts drifted back to another day in his life when he was sworn in as city council president on July 1, 1993.
“I think of that now, because as I was sitting there, I could feel my heart beating a little faster and I could feel a lump in my throat,” he said. “I wondered if I could handle this.” But he said that he later told the press, “‘The job is a little daunting, but I think I’m the right man for the job.’ I prayed I could grow into the task that was in front of me. And now, nine and half years later, I’m thinking the same thing.”
Menendez said DeGise won by putting together a coalition that represented the diverse population of the county – but not only to win an election but to bring the county together.
Menendez credited state Senator and Hudson County Democratic Chairman Bernard Kenny with managing the Democratic victory.
Not all united
However, DeGise comes into office facing a divided Democratic Party and a potential primary challenge next June. Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham had supported a different candidate in the county executive race, opposing the decision of most of the county’s mayors.
At DeGise’s swearing in, the major feuding players squirmed in their seats through the ceremony. At one point, Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham refused to acknowledge recent election of Rep Bob Menendez to the prestigious post as House Democratic Caucus Chairman. When the rest of the onlookers rose to give Menendez applause, Cunningham remained seated and did not clap. Cunningham had defeated DeGise for mayor in 2001, and then supported Bernard Hartnett in the June, 2000 county executive primary.
The audience included three members of the House of Representatives and nearly all the high ranking county and municipal leaders. Along with Menendez were the two other congressmen who represent parts of Hudson County: Reps. Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist) and Donald Payne (D-31st Dist.)
Acting as master of ceremony was State Sen. Bernard Kenny of Hoboken, the Hudson County Democratic chairman.