Two old hands at the Hudson political game who wish to remain unnamed had interesting things to say about Mayor Glenn Cunningham’s bid for State Senate in the 31st District in the June Democratic primary.
Cunningham is so strong, these two old hands said, that if the election were to pit a ticket of Cunningham and Lou Manzo for State Senate and Assembly, Cunningham would likely carry Manzo along with him.
Manzo makes a good runningmate to help Cunningham collect votes in Bayonne.
Although the county executive seat is also up for grabs this year, few people realize that Tom DeGise’s face-off against any of the numerous potential challengers, such as former Jersey City Council Jaime Vasquez or Freeholder Bill O’Dea, would not be on the top of the ticket – candidates for the State Senate would be.
If Cunningham runs as expected, his name recognition and powerful Jersey City machine could overwhelm votes coming out of Bayonne for his opponents – especially if his campaign plays up his role as a U.S. Marine and former marshal.
The opposing ticket – which could include Jersey City Council President L. Harvey Smith as a candidate for State Senate, and Assembly Incumbents Joseph Doria (who is also mayor of Bayonne) and Elba Perez-Cinciarelli, would need a heavy boost from Bayonne to counter the strong black vote Cunningham’s candidacy could generate. There are more than 66,000 registered voters in Jersey City, and more than 31,000 in Bayonne. Historically, about half of the Democratic voters come out in Bayonne for a primary. While Cunningham might not appeal greatly to Bayonne, Manzo could, stealing votes away from Perez-Cinciarelli.
Bayonne’s Tony Chiappone could aid Cunningham’s efforts by even unseating Doria while a Chiappone alley, Melba Walsh, in seeking the county executive spot, could help this rebel ticket by stealing votes that could go toward DeGise.
Last year isn’t this year
Some people might mistakeningly point to last year’s primary, saying that Cunningham couldn’t get Bernard Hartnett elected. But the two old hands claim this year’s primary is different.
Last year, Cunningham’s candidate, Hartnett, battled DeGise, backed by Rep. Bob Menendez (D-33 rd Dist.). But a significant difference was the fact that Menendez’s name was on the ballot and Cunningham’s name was not. There is an old political adage that says that votes don’t translate well. This means that people committed to Cunningham will not come out as strongly for someone Cunningham supports as for Cunningham himself. If Cunningham runs, his name will top the ballot, whereas Menendez’s won’t appear on the ballot at all.
This will pose a serious test for Doria’s organization to get out his vote. You can rest assured that Cunningham will. Manzo, a white candidate, could help reduce the Bayonne vote count. While Bayonne – known not to vote for minority candidates – might come out for Doria, they might also switch to Manzo over Perez- Cinciarelli. When pressed to choose between two black candidates for Senate, those same voters may also pick Cunningham, the ex-Marine, over a Jersey City councilman.
There is a caveat to all this, of course, pointed out by yet another, younger, but equally wise observer of local politics.
Rev. Edward Allen, who declined to run for the Jersey City Board of Education, where he is a key Cunningham ally, may run for Assembly as an independent. Such a move could keep Manzo from winning a seat on the Assembly. While he would get votes in Bayonne, he could lose the black vote to Allen in Jersey City. Cunningham would get the best of both worlds; Allen and Chiappone elected to the Assembly, himself elected to the Senate with Manzo, leaving the Bayonne vote left out in the cold again.
Manzo, who may be using this Assembly run as a launching pad for the Jersey City mayoral election in 2005, might not survive the loss. Thus, Cunningham would not have to worry about facing an Assemblyman Manzo rather than an also-ran Manzo.
Doria picks a tough campaign manager
Rumors that Doria has selected his old friend Frank Robinson as his campaign manager have proven false. Robinson went to bat against Gov. Jim McGreevey in an attempt to get Doria the speakership of the Assembly two years ago (which went to WNY Mayor and Assemblyman Albio Sires).
Doria has tapped nationally-known Tony Bawidamann as his campaign manager.
Bawidamann recently managed the District 3 campaign of Steve Sweeney for State Senate and John Burzichelli and Douglas Fisher for the Assembly. He has also run Congressional campaigns in Florida and Virginia, and has served as executive director of the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus. Pundits say he is very sharp and knows how to manage aggressive campaigns.
Hoboken gets a crowd
Leave it to Hoboken to lead the way in candidates for this year’s school board election with a former Hoboken mayor, 80-year-old Steve Cappiello, seeking a seat as an independent in a field of 11 candidates for three seats.
David Anthony – a member and former board president – is seeking re-election as part of a ticket backed by Mayor Dave Roberts. Anthony said he didn’t know until a day before the filing that Roberts would back him. “I was running anyway,” he said.
Struggle in Congress
Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.) paid the Hudson Reporter offices a visit on Feb. 24 to talk about various issues. He covered his successful efforts to preserve the Meadowlands and limit aircraft noise out of Teterboro Airport, but when confronted with federal subsidies for school construction, he claimed Democrats were stymied by Republican domination in the House of Representatives.
Although the division of powers in the United States generally leaves education to the state governments to handle, the federal government could have set up zero-interest loans – giving substantial savings to school districts. But Rothman said the president’s budget has no money for such a program. Rothman pointed out that if the president had not had a $1.3 trillion tax cut last year and $670 billion tax cut this year, money may have been available.
The most recent outrages, as Rothman sees it, were against veterans, who could be denied continuing medical benefits if they do not register now.
Rothman said the Bush Administration browbeats its legions of moderate Republicans into supporting his agenda while stymieing efforts by the Democrats to get aid to urban areas. The Bush Administration threatens its rank and file congressional representatives with removal from key committees or chairs, or withholding support for bills, Rothman charged. Rothman said he and other Democrats are up against the Republican wall in efforts to get key legislation passed. He said voters and interest groups around the nation must make their voices heard in Washington.
Civic and political events
Last week also saw Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner roasted at an event at Frankie and Johnny’s in Hoboken. Jersey City Councilman Steve Lipsky also held his annual Patriots Ball at Puccini’s Restaurant in Jersey City honoring Menendez, DeGise and Smith, as well Puccini’s chef Pasquale Lengo, who aided Sept. 11 efforts after the attack.
Thomas Fricchione, standard bearer of A Team Civic Association in Jersey City, will be holding its annual ’50s dance on Saturday, April 12 at 280 Avenue E in Bayonne. For more information call (201) 424-2958.