Hoboken Mayor Dave Roberts, in a quote in the New York Times Michael Lenz a genius, not just once, but twice.
This raises some curious questions as to why the mayor would complement the campaign manager of his opponent, Carol Marsh, a few days before the election.
Marsh lost to Roberts on Tueday, 5,500 to 4,300, in what Marsh supporter, Councilman Tony Soares called “a million dollar campaign.” Soares also lost his reelection bid, leaving Roberts with an 8 to 1 majority on the city council.
Those who know Roberts have been chuckling over the fact that Roberts managed to fire “a genius” when he removed Lenz from the position of Chief Financial Officer two years ago.
Maybe Roberts meant to say “evil genius,” implying Lenz’ ability to manipulate public opinion to his own ends.
Lenz, however, apparently sees his role more akin to King David of The Bible in that most famous of tales in which David defeats the giant, Goliath.
When it comes to campaign contributions, Lenz and Marsh indeed did have a giant to tackle when taking on the Roberts campaign machine – and perhaps Lenz needed to be a genius to craft ways to outmaneuver Roberts when the Marsh Campaign couldn’t outspend it.
To compare campaigns, you only have to look at a recent effort at Pier A on the Sunday prior to the election. Roberts gave out bottled water to the beautiful people lounging around in the sun. Marsh and company handed out flyers.
Facing off in Secaucus
Frank MacCormack is running for mayor of Secaucus again. His last attempt came in 1999 when he had to face off against his former political ally Dennis Elwell.
At the time, Elwell abandoned his position as leader of opposition to pull a coup and run as a Democratic in the primary against then Mayor Anthony Just.
Now Elwell as become the symbol of status quo, and for MacCormack, this means a battle against an extremely well-funded Democratic Party.
MacCormack, who will run as an Independent in November, calls his campaign the last chance for Secaucus, claiming that the traditional town will cease to exist under the weight of increased development.
This will be a head-to-head battle between MacCormack and Elwell, unlike 1999, when Republican Tom Troyer became something of a spoiler and ran as well.
Troyer tried to pull an old trick this year by having someone write in his name on the ballot. This was a trick he pulled in the 1999 election that eventually led to a three-way race for mayor.
But the law has changed, requiring him to get the same percentage of registered voters that he would if he was seeking petitions.
Troyer – who is something of a political maverick – resists seeking signatures for public office, and insists on being drafted into a position.
Council president will decide next mayor in Jersey City
Even as Mayor Jerramiah Healy spoke of peace in the Democratic house in Hudson County after three years, cracks are already appearing in the truce, and the biggest reason may be the fight over who will become City Council president in Jersey City.
While Councilman Marianno Vega appears to be the favorite of Healy, county officials – particularly Bill Gaughan, in his dual role as Jersey City Councilman and chief of staff for the County Executive – appear to be pushing for Councilman Peter Brennan.
Brennan appears to have the support of Rep. Bob Menendez, who apparently blocked Gaughan from taking the position. Menendez was instrumental in blocking a Gaughan move last spring to become Acting Mayor of Jersey City after the untimely and unfortunate death of then Mayor Glenn Cunningham.
Menendez may not like the close friendship between Gaughan and former Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia, who nearly succeeded in undermining Menendez’s political base in Hudson County in 1999. Menendez struck back. Garcia retired. But Menendez may fear that any increase in Gaughan’s political clout might lead to a resurrection of Garcia’s political career. Garcia, however, has made clear numerous times that he has no interest in reviving his political career, and that he has a successful lobbying firm in Trenton.
But insiders claim that there is a much more practical reason for the conflict. Some believe the long rumored resignation of Healy to become judge will take place in two years. He won’t likely get support for the position as Superior Court judge – which he allegedly wanted, but will be appointed municipal judge in Jersey City.
Thus, whoever controls the council presidency would be in position to name Healy’s replacement. County officials who helped Healy get elected twice as mayor may want Brennan in the position as part of a move to name Freeholder Bill O’Dea as mayor in 2007.
Did Chiappone make bad choices?
Insiders looking at the failed effort by Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone to win re-nomination blame his chief of staff Joe Olszewski, whose advice to Chiappone has angered many people in the Hudson County Democratic Organization. People close to the campaign said Chiappone mistakenly ran for Senate against Joe Doria last fall on Olszewski’s advice, and most recently, hooked up with Bill Ayala when most people thought Chiappone should have run alone in the Democratic primary.
One insider said Chiappone could have had the endorsement of the HCDO for freeholder if he had cooperated. But Chiappone has rarely run with the crowd.
No matter what, the impact of the loss is immense and Chiappone must re-evaluate his political future. Will he run for mayor next year as predicted? Or will he try to retain his seat on the Town Council? Chiappone alone knows the answers. And at this point, even he might not know.