From looking at the events over the last few weeks, Hudson County politicians need to take a refresher course in political ethics – especially in regard to political jobs, elections, and reporting contributions.
Clearly, from the debacle that took place with Assemblywoman Caridad Rodriguez, established politicians should also be required to take a course just to keep them refreshed on the rules – similar to how some states require retesting in order to renew a driver’s license.
Rodriguez seemed to have relied on faulty legal advice from the lawyers as to what was legal. The state constitution prohibited her from holding a state legislative office while remaining employed by Rep. Albio Sires.
The question is, why didn’t Sires – who helped rewrite the state’s ethics laws – and his chief of staff, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, notice that they had a state assemblywoman working in their congressional office? They must have stumbled over her a few times coming and going.
Sires knew enough to step down as West New York mayor and state Assemblyman before taking the oath of office to become congressman.
Rodriquez, unfortunately, has become the political poster child for state Republicans who need to create a political scandal during the presidential race, hoping that this minor incident can help propel Rep. John McCain into the White House in November.
Ignorance of the state constitution may also haunt efforts by Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop to pass a referendum prohibiting municipal elected officials from also having county jobs. Apparently the state constitution permits this practice and prohibits local officials from outlawing it. This means that even if Fulop’s effort passes, the referendum may be unenforceable.
Ignorance of election reporting laws is apparently haunting several Hoboken officials, including City Clerk James Farina and Peter Cammarano, both of whom have become the center of a political firestorm related to election law.
Since members elected to the school boards across the state are required by state law to take courses, perhaps state law might mandate all elected officials be tutored in the political rules of the road. Maybe – as with motor vehicle laws – we might give them learner’s permits until they pass the ethics test.
Hootergate could backfire as political issue
Several people claim that two prominent Hoboken political figures are the ones releasing photographs of the Hoboken SWAT team, as part of a smear campaign they hope to use to their own political advantage.
The problem is that this political strategy may backfire as the nearly daily diet of new photos in the local press becomes an embarrassment to the whole city, tainting everybody associated with local government. Worse are attempts to keep the final report on the activities of the SWAT team secret, making it seem in the public’s mind that the government has something to hide.
Behind the scenes, “Hootergate” as some have called it, may well be a move by political operatives to change the power alignment in Hoboken, perhaps even to ease Carmen LaBruno, a powerful force in Hoboken’s political universe, out of the way.
But it is difficult to see who the winners or losers will be after taxpayers are asked to foot the massive legal bills the city will collect.
Where in the world are Dave Roberts and Maurice Fitzgibbons?
Hoboken Mayor Dave Roberts has had several meetings with state Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack at the Four Star Diner in Union City over the last few weeks. Stack, angered at Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons, wants Roberts to run for freeholder to replace Fitzgibbons. But Roberts came seeking Stack support for yet another run as mayor of Hoboken.
The two are apparently at loggerheads over these matters since Stack is firmly committed to supporting Hoboken 3rd Ward Councilman Michael Russo for the 2009 Hoboken mayoral run.
Roberts, who in the past relied on the wisdom and advice of then state Sen. Bernard Kenny, might well be out on a limb. If Stack doesn’t support his mayoral effort, Roberts may have nowhere else to turn. Although not yet a declared candidacy, Carol Marsh can apparently count on support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) – partly because of her efforts on their behalf in last June’s primary.
Since Kenny served as HCDO chairman previously, Roberts could have always relied upon HCDO support in the past.
In an equally precarious position is Fitzgibbons, whose minor political manipulations behind the scenes to assure his re-election have helped put him in political limbo. He knows someone will be running against him in the upcoming June Democratic primary, if not who. And that someone will have the full backing of Stack’s vast political organization.
The only good news for Fitzgibbons is the fact that Hoboken’s traditional reform movement is split when it comes to fielding a freeholder candidate. Ines Garcia Keim, a close associate of Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason, is reportedly challenging Fitzgibbons, but other reformers may lack enthusiasm to support a challenge, leaving Fitzgibbons in a better position than might otherwise be expected.
Stack is unlikely to support Keim because she would remain an unpredictable vote on the board, likely to vote her own mind rather than along party lines.