Wanted: Residents to replace Hudson County’s politicians devastated by recent arrests. Experience not necessary, but helpful. Unfortunately, these jobs no longer offer the same perks they did in the past: no dual job holding, no contributions for future contracts, no cash envelopes on the side. Frank Hague wannabes need not apply.
The arrests of 44 people a week ago Thursday – including the mayors of Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield (not to mention numerous alleged underbosses, bag men, and political henchmen and women) helped kick off former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie’s campaign for governor in what may be known in the future as “the July surprise.”
These arrests have fed the blood lust of hundreds of political gadflies throughout the county who are now prowling the streets, saying “I told you they were corrupt, but you wouldn’t listen.”
Unfortunately, like the old woman knitting before the guillotine in Charles Dickens’ classic novel “A Tale of Two City,” chopping off these heads has only led to demands for more.
Some political activists are actually disappointed that their favorite political enemy was not among the names listed in the charges, and they wait in anticipation for the mythical second round of arrests.
The fact that the federal government waited more than two years to use Solomon Dwek to dismantle the state’s Democratic political organization should be no shock, since it is Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher Christie who oversaw Dwek’s original arrest in 2006.
Dwek was a heavy financial supporter of U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli in the late 1990s.
The wheels of justice, of course, do move slowly, but in this case, they seem also to have played well into Christie’s reelection efforts, just as many of his arrests in the past have seemed politically motivated. Christie was never named in the attorney general scandal that plagued Washington D.C. under President George W. Bush, when as many as six U.S. Attorneys across the United States claimed they were fired for failing to deliberately investigate Democrats.
The effect of the arrests last week will be to cripple the heart of the state’s Democratic machine at a time when it is facing its most challenging election in supporting unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.
The blow against the Democrats comes at a time when the Corzine campaign has tried to raise ethics questions regarding Christie’s fundraising practices for Bush leading up to the 2000 election. With so many heavy-hitting Democrats charged with corruption, however, Corzine can no longer claim the high road on ethics that he had hoped to use against Christie. Worse still for Corzine is the fact that many of those charged were key players in the political mechanisms that he needs to get out the Democratic vote in November.
Is Mayor Healy a target?
Jersey City was at the heart of the first round of arrests in the corruption probe, and there is significant behind-the-scenes activity to show that the feds are trying to unseat Mayor Jerramiah Healy, too.
While the rest of the county is rife with rumors about who is being investigated, several sources close to the investigation say that Healy’s campaign records are being checked with a fine tooth comb, seeking to find any irregularity.
The sting operation – which some people call entrapment – apparently assumed that everybody who was offered a bribe would take one. It appears that anyone who actually showed they had ethics or brains (who in their right mind would take cash from a stranger?) is now the target of deeper probe, with hints that there may be a list of targets similar to the one the White House allegedly issued during its attorney general scandal, and federal authorities won’t give up until they totally dismantle Corzine’s reelection machine.
This brings to mind the old Crazy Eddie TV commercial about Christmas in August. In this case, Christie got his Christmas present in July.
Guilt by association?
What is very unfair is the fact that some people not charged with any crimes have become victims of political opportunists. With FBI encouragement, Solomon Dwek apparently met with anybody and everybody to offer bribes to everybody possible. Several people in Bayonne, for instance, met with Dwek and were not charged. Yet political opportunists have published their names on the internet, engaging in guilt by association.
A similar tactic was used by the House Un-American Activities in the 1950s, condemning innocent people because they happened to know or had met with Communists.
Ease up, guys – the people you’re naming are the ones who refused the bribes!
Can you say Mayor Gonnelli?
With the resignation of Dennis Elwell (who was charged in the corruption scandal) as mayor of Secaucus, Councilman Michael Gonnelli remains the sole candidate in the November election for mayor. The Democratic Committee in Secaucus will meet this week, but they may not name a replacement for Elwell, leaving their ticket without a mayoral candidate, which might mean Gonnelli could sweep and obtain a solid majority on the Town Council come Jan. 1.
The impact of Elwell’s resignation was immediate. While Elwell’s resignation letter was being read at the Town Council meeting on July 28, the Board of Education was voting to demote Pat Impreveduto – an Elwell ally – from high school principal to middle school principal. With Elwell’s protection gone, many other political allies may soon see their jobs at risk.
“The old ways of doing business at the high school are over,” said Board of Education member Tom Troyer.
Meanwhile at the council meeting, Councilman Gary Jeffas – after failing several times in the past – reintroduced the “pay to play” ordinance. This time, all of the council members voted for it.
Cammarano’s ship of state: the Titanic
Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano initially refused to resign as a result of his being charged. But he had to feel a lot like the captain of the Titanic. Not only did he hit an FBI iceberg on his maiden voyage as mayor, but then he saw nearly everyone who supported him jumping off his ship.