In what was not much of a surprise to many political observers, a Democratic slate led by New Jersey State Sen. Bernard Kenny (D-Hoboken) won easily in last week’s legislative elections.
The slate, which included West New York Mayor and New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Albio Sires for Assembly, Union City Mayor Brian Stack for Assembly, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and County Clerk candidate Javier Inclan, won handily on an evening when cold, drizzly weather kept many people away from the polls.
In a race that had been made all the more interesting by the defection of Rafael Fraguela to the Republican party after being excluded by the Democrats to run for the Assembly seat (in favor of Union City Mayor Brian Stack), the election was pure Hudson County.
Sen. Kenny moves into his 10th year as a state senator. Known as a man who can get things done, Kenny is a low-key legislator who prefers to hang back in the shadows and watch as the projects he sponsors come to fruition. Kenny has proven himself to be an invaluable friend to many of the “distressed cities” in Hudson County, most notably Union City.
However, to his critics, Kenny is an entrenched politician, part of the county political machine.
Said Kenny of his slate’s election, “I am very happy to be associated with the Democratic Association of Hudson County. We really enjoyed great support from the communities of North Hudson. Our slate is full of great people who are committed to working very hard for the people of the 33rd District. We’re a strong team.”
The totals in the Assembly race were: Brian Stack, 20,045 votes, Albio Sires, 19,349 votes, Jose Munoz, 4,117, Elise DiNardo, 3,920 and Green Party candidate Mario Rios, 827 votes.
In the state Senate race, the totals were: Bernard Kenny, 19,521 votes and Rafael Fraguela, 4,749 votes.
Future plans
As for future plans, Kenny said, “We had specific questions on the ballot. One was the question of open space legislation and I think we addressed that well. [Question 1 passed in New Jersey as part of the legislative ballot. This allows the topic of open space legislation to be introduced more readily to the legislature.] We expanded the scope of the bond issue, which has to do with open space. Also, we’ve seen the transformation of our educational institutions into state of the art institutions.”
Added Kenny, “It’s exciting. With the open space initiatives and new school construction, I feel that we are really leaving a legacy for those of us that are fortunate enough to be elected officials.”
Union City Mayor Brian Stack won his first election to the New Jersey State Assembly, a position that Stack coveted as a means to bring even more aid to Union City. Stack had pledged that he will give up his seat as a Hudson County Freeholder if he indeed won an Assembly seat. As of press time, there is no time window as to when that may occur.
Said Stack of his slate’s landslide win last week, “I really look at this as a report card on how we are doing in Union City. I do believe that this is a mandate from the people of Union City. This win means that I can bring so much to Union City. Police, education, these are all things that I will be focusing on for the 33rd District.”
Added Stack, “Basically, what I want to do is provide the best constituency services that I can to the 33rd District. I want to be a good listener in the legislature.”
State Speaker and re-elected Assemblyman Albio Sires couldn’t be reached for comment as of press time last week.
The other side of the coin
While the Democrats in the 33rd District were celebrating and savoring their win last week, the opposing Republican ticket consisting of Assembly candidate Rafael Fraguela, Jose Munoz and political newcomer Elise DiNardo was scratching its collective head at the decidedly lopsided victory that the Democrats posted. Many in the Republican camp, while not expecting victory as such, expected a better showing that what was revealed just after the polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday night.
“We’re not doing too good,” admitted a visibly dejected Rafael Fraguela. “The turnout wasn’t that great.”
As the votes started coming in to the Republican Election Headquarters at the Cheval Restaurant in Union City, it became quickly apparent that the republicans were in the midst of an election bloodbath. With all 37 precincts reporting in Union City, Fraguela garnered 1,651 votes to Brian Stack’s 8,774 there. While that could possibly be expected, Fraguela didn’t fair much better in other municipalities. In Hoboken, Fraguela managed to garner a scant 813 votes while Stack received 2,800, almost three times as many as Fraguela.
Said Fraguela as the votes poured in, “I feel like the people have spoken and that’s their word. It’s a great process. This is still the greatest country in the world.”
When asked what his immediate plans were, Fraguela quipped, “I think I want to rest a bit. It’s been a rough year. I’ll have to adjust to not campaigning every night.”
As far as his jump to the Republican party, Fraguela denied having any regrets. “I had to do what I had to do,” said Fraguela of his party jump. “People have to be given options, and I felt I was giving them that option.”
One member of the Republican slate that wasn’t so conciliatory was candidate Jose Munoz, who declared that he was most likely going to move away from the Republican party.
“I don’t think the Republican party cares about the 33rd District,” said Munoz, making a thinly-veiled reference to Hudson County Republican Organization President Jose Arrango’s support for Democrat Glenn Cunningham, who is the mayor of Jersey City, in his bid for 31st District State Senate. “I’m disappointed in the Republicans.”
Added Munoz, “One thing I’ve learned from this is that elections are won and lost on the day of the election. It just seems to matter who shouts the loudest.”
Munoz vowed to continue fighting to let people in the 33rd District know that there is an option to the “political machine” that exists in Hudson County. He said that he would be forming a political reform organization.