Politics has a way of making legends out of small events.
The recent passing of former County Sheriff Peter DiNardo Jr. will be no exception, since he was to be instrumental in the 2009 campaign of Joe Cassidy for Jersey City mayor.
DiNardo’s death at 73 is one more blow to Cassidy, after Cassidy’s heart-wrenching loss this past June in the Democratic primary for Hudson County sheriff to Juan Perez.
The loss was made worse last week when Perez donned a cowboy hat and taunted Cassidy at a gathering of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO).
Cassidy and DiNardo immediately began to plot their revenge by orchestrating a new campaign against Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, whom they blamed as the real culprit for Cassidy’s loss as sheriff.
It is unclear now whether Cassidy will continue to pursue this strategy absent DiNardo’s political savvy.
DiNardo was a lifelong resident of Jersey City who earned a scholarship to Rutgers University on the gridiron, later taking up the family produce business before finding a job in construction.
DiNardo headed Jersey City’s Recreation Department in the late 1970s before becoming Hudson County sheriff, and then evolved back into recreation for the county. He headed the Buildings and Grounds division for Hudson County until his death.
Known as “Uncle Petey,” DiNardo was fiercely loyal to his political friends, one reason he became a target of a political firing during the feud between then-Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham and the HCDO.
But he was extremely loyal to people like Cassidy, and when the HCDO cut Cassidy loose earlier this year to support Perez, DiNardo headed Cassidy’s primary campaign.
Tommy Bertoli, a political consultant in Hoboken, Jersey City, and one-time political candidate in North Bergen, called DiNardo a friend, adding that he was “optimistic to fault” and always ready to help someone in trouble.
“Pete DiNardo was one of the last of a dying breed of politician,” Bertoli said. “We found ourselves on opposite sides of campaigns over the years, but win or lose, he was always a gentleman.”
He added that DiNardo was “quick to laugh, quick to help.” Bertoli said, “He always gave me an encouraging pat on the back, and his weekly phone call always ended the same: ‘Go get ’em, kiddo.”
DiNardo, who was part of the Thomas X. Smith reform movement in Jersey City in the mid-1970s, was also friends with people like actor Danny Aiello. He is a part of a fading culture of old Hoboken politics many agree will never been seen again.
What the heck is Cunningham doing?
DiNardo’s death was among the topics of discussion early in this year’s League of Municipalities convention, an annual convention for local government officials throughout the state in Atlantic City. But so was the recent move by state Sen. Sandra Cunningham to support state Sen. Stephen Sweeney as majority leader to replace Sen. Bernard F. Kenny. This defied the wishes of the HCDO and is apparently part of a new alliance with South Jersey Democrats.
One political observer in Atlantic City joked about the implications of the vote, suggesting that Cunningham advisors Joe Cardwell and Bobby Jackson have opened up a business office in the Southern half of the state.
“No one can explain it. The move simply has people here scratching their heads,” the observer said.
Over the last few weeks, reports have said that young Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop will be running on the HCDO slate against incumbent Rep. Albio Sires in June primary.
When contacted, Bertoli, who serves as a campaign consultant to Fulop, denied this and said, “These rumors are being spread by Lou Manzo, who is jealous of Steve Fulop’s working relationship with Brian Stack.”
Manzo – who lost his bid to become state Senator in last June’s primary – says that Bertoli and others had been trying to force a political marriage between Fulop and state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack with the idea of controlling Stack’s new political organization, the Democrats for Hudson County, by controlling the two brightest, up-and-coming young political starts.
The Menendez mess
The other big subject of talk at this year’s League of Municipalities Convention was the article that appeared in Harper’s Magazine concerning a potential investigation of additional former aides to U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. The magazine actually quoted this column in its coverage.
One observer believes the move against Menendez is simply part of a national presidential campaign to help create an issue against the Democrats for what is expected to be a close battle next November.
This observer, as well as several others, compared the Menendez probe with the probe that led to the indictment of Bernard Kerik in New York City over alleged corruption.
“This [Kerik indictment] was designed to hurt Republican Rudy Giuliani’s chances of becoming a presidential candidate,” this observer said. “Some believe the Democrats are behind the whole probe – in particularly the Clintons [Former President Bill Clinton and Democratic candidate Hilliary Clinton]. The move on Menendez is simply a way to get back at the Democrats by creating a similar situation. I don’t believe either one of them did anything that isn’t done every day in politics. They’re just being used in political campaigns.”
At stake is the state of New Jersey in next November’s presidential election. Democrats need to muddy up Giuliani because he is probably the only Republican candidate who can win in New Jersey.
If U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, a one-time prominent fundraiser for the Republicans, can raise similar allegations about Menendez, it may reduce the impact of the Kerik damage, and could win Christie a shot as challenging Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine for re-election two years from now.
Will Schundler challenge Lautenberg?
Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler may be leaning toward a race against incumbent U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg next year.
Lautenberg, who came out of retirement to take the place of U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli five years ago, has already announced that he is running for re-election, despite his being in his eighties. Corzine is serving as his campaign chairman.
Schundler’s name has been floated in a number of scenarios, from mayor to county executive, but this report has legs, since Republicans will need a strong candidate to help bolster their presidential hopes. Schundler could take a big bite out of the Democratic-strong Hudson County, and help Giuliani (if he is the Republican candidate) win New Jersey.