Although challenger Steve Fulop was handily defeated in the Democratic primary election for U.S. House of Representatives in the 13th District by incumbent Rep. Bob Menendez, in many ways Fulop eked out an important victory: he got to spread his name throughout downtown Jersey City, where he is expected to run against next May for the City Council seat currently occupied by Councilman Junior Maldonado.
In an interview conducted on the day he later died, Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham said he knew Fulop would not win against Menendez, but felt this was an opportunity for Fulop to introduce himself to the voters.
“I’ve encouraged him to campaign only in downtown Jersey City,” Cunningham said at the time.
In backing Fulop, 27, against Menendez, the politically savvy Cunningham was looking down the road to the municipal elections when his team would seek to take control of the Jersey City Council. He did not, however, understand at the time just as significant a move this was, since his death has left a rush for the Jersey City mayoral seat, which includes Maldonado as one of the potential candidates.
Nancy Reagan as the next state senator
If sympathy were a qualification to hold office, then Democrats in the 31st District should make Nancy Reagan an honorary resident and appoint her to take the seat vacated by the death of Cunningham, who served as a state senator as well as Jersey City’s mayor.
In many ways, Nancy – who practically ran the White House for much of the eight years her husband, Ronald, served as president – has more qualifications than Cunningham’s widow Sandra for higher office. And with the outpouring of sympathy for her recently departed husband, she could get as much of a sympathy voice as Sandra – despite Nancy’s status as a Republican.
While everybody from The New York Times to the local daily newspaper seems to be blaming Rep. Bob Menendez for the political mess left by Glenn’s death – Bob is supposed to be the power behind the scenes manipulating the players so as to rob Glenn’s followers of their legacy – in truth, the lack of easy choices evolves out of the 2003 Democratic primary, when voters gave Glenn the nod as Democratic candidate for state Senate in the 31st District, but denied his followers the needed majority of committee seats to rule the local Democratic Party.
This is a similar situation to past presidential battles in which one candidate won enough electoral votes while the other won the national popular vote, leaving the county, and in this case the 31st District, undecided as to who actually rules the roost.
For Sandra Cunningham and the remnants of Glenn’s alterative political machine, the state Senate seat may only be a stepping stone to the more important regaining of the mayoral seat of Jersey City.
Will the HCDO back Smith for November election? In a county known for its political betrayals, Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith won’t likely get the necessary Hudson County Democratic Organization’s backing for his seeking the Jersey City mayoral seat in November. With huge primary numbers in the 31st District for House of Representatives, Menendez will likely back either Maldonado or Jersey City Councilman Mariano Vega for the mayoral slot, leaving Smith without a party. Few doubt that the 31st District’s newest Assemblyman, Lou Manzo, has his eye on the mayor’s seat, and may even be negotiating for Sandra’s support in order to become the leading alternative candidate in November against the HCDO-supported candidate or any of the other people whose names are being floated as possible candidates.
The field of mayoral hopefuls is expected to be a large one for November – similar to the special election of 1992 in which nearly 20 people ran, and out of which Bret Schundler became mayor with a mere 18 percent of the popular vote.
If Sandra Cunningham and Manzo fail to come up with an agreement and both decide to run, they are likely to divide the vote they each need to successfully rise above the crowd running for mayor.
It is important to note that Glenn Cunningham won the mayoral seat in 2001 with the help of the HCDO. To win the senate nomination, Glenn Cunningham used an organization deeply connected to his city administration. With the city in the hands of the HCDO until November, can Sandra Cunningham get out her vote? Even backing Manzo, this may prove a chore.
Money is another issue. While the HCDO has yet to recover from financial woes, it still has significant resources that the crumbling Cunningham machine lacks. Manzo, of course, can bring private wealth to the race, and might well afford the half million dollars needed to win the seat in November and against next May. Union City Assemblyman and Mayor Brian Stack may soon give Manzo his support, making Manzo the man to beat.
HCDO sees victories everywhere but Kearny
Candidates backed by the HCDO had an easier than expected primary on state and local elections throughout Hudson County – though Mayor Al Santos of Kearny remained a thorn in politics as usual with his slate’s victory in municipal primary elections. Although the results of one ward’s election in Kearny are still in dispute, Santos proved he could carry a ticket against the tide.
Two HDCO incumbent council members in Guttenberg, Jennifer Credidio and Frank J. Criscione, held back challenges and move to the November general election. In county wide races, Donald DeLeo won the primary seat as surrogate and Joseph Cassidy won as sheriff. Both will face Republican challengers in November.
Who’s at the head of the parade?
Although Hoboken Mayor Dave Roberts would not comment on events surrounding this year’s Memorial Day parade, his complaints have widely circulated. Roberts apparently was disturbed by the fact that Councilman Michael Russo and others were walking ahead of the mayor in the line of march.
Michael Russo, however, said Roberts simply walked too slowly.
“We started out behind him, but he walked so slowly, we passed him up,” Russo said, adding that the mayor should pay as much attention to city business as he does to who walks where in what parade.
Roberts, however, was more than willing to talk about the overwhelming victory of his committee had and the significant turnout of voters.
“We were hoping to get 2,400 to 2,500 voters out,” he said. “We saw more than 3,000, and we beat Russo-backed committee people in every district where we were challenged.”
One of Roberts’ most vocal opponents, Councilman Tony Soares, said the turnout had more to do with having John Kerry as the candidate for President than any local efforts.