After weeks of speculation that he would enter the June Democratic Primary, Michael Makarski filed the necessary paperwork to run for the 3rd Ward Town Council seat on Monday.
He is currently serving his first term on the Secaucus Board of Education, a term that ends next April.
As recently as three weeks ago Makarski said he was not planning a campaign, although he had taken the preliminary steps needed to run for council. On Wednesday he said he made the decision to run “less than a week ago.”
Makarski believes he can win support from both longtime residents and newcomers alike.
________
The timing could be right for Makarski, given the lack of an incumbent in the race. Current 3rd Ward Councilman John Shinnick, a Democrat who is up for reelection this year, is not participating in the June primary, as he did not file by Monday’s deadline. He has not yet said whether he will run in November. He could still run then as an Independent.
Last month Vincent Prieto, chairman of the Secaucus Democratic Committee, told Shinnick the party would support Mark Bruscino for the 3rd Ward seat instead of him. Bruscino is now part of a Democratic slate that includes 1st Ward candidate Robert Zych and 2nd Ward candidate Nancy Mateo.
Makarski’s campaign means there will now be a contested primary race in the 3 Ward.
‘Longstanding concerns,’ ‘emerging issues’
The son of a retired Secaucus police officer, Makarski, 24, believes he can win support from both longtime residents and newcomers alike.
“I think 3rd Ward residents want an energetic council representative who can address some of the longstanding concerns in the ward, and who understands the emerging issues of newer residents,” he said.
The ward is home to the town’s two biggest residential developments – Harmon Cove and Xchange at Secaucus Junction – and much of Secaucus’ population growth has taken place here.
Calling himself a “believer in common sense government,” Makarski said he would like to expand “e-government” options for residents. Specifically, he wants residents to be able to pay fines and access forms and records online.
“It is difficult for working people, especially those in the 3rd Ward who work in the city, to do things during normal government hours,” he said.
Such technology, he added, “could help us see some cost savings…and it’s also more environmentally conscious.”
Flooding and sewer back-ups on Ninth and 10th streets are also a problem in need of a permanent solution, Makarski said.
Staying on at PR company
Throughout the campaign Makarski said he will continue to work as a spokesman at Vision Media, a public relations agency that works for many Hudson County Democrats and local Democratic campaigns.
Last fall, as part of his job at Vision Media, Makarski handled press inquiries for the Secaucus Democratic Committee. More recently he has been the spokesman for Frank Schillari, a Democratic candidate for Hudson County sheriff. The Secaucus Democratic Committee has in the past hired Vision Media to develop campaign literature for its candidates, and could again for the Zych-Mateo-Bruscino ticket.
Should the Democratic committee hire Vision to work the primary campaign, Makarski said he would not be assigned to the account since he is “transitioning” to Vision Media’s corporate clients.
“My professional background is in corporate marketing,” he said. “That’s what I was doing two yeas ago when I ran for the Board of Ed. So I’ll be going back to what I did previously.”
Three-way race possible
Should he win the primary race against Bruscino, Makarski could still face a tough battle in the November general election. In fact, there could be a three-way race for the 3rd Ward council seat.
Party-affiliated candidates participate in the June primaries, but Independent candidates do not. Independent candidates instead file their petitions in June and participate in the general election, along with winners of the party primaries.
Shinnick has not ruled out running as an “independent Democrat” in the fall. (The councilman had a death in the family recently and was unavailable for comment last week.)
Mayor Michael Gonnelli has said he will also back a slate of Independent candidates in the fall, including a candidate for the 3rd Ward. Current Independent councilmen Gary Jeffas (1st Ward) and Jim Clancy (2nd Ward) will run for reelection on this ticket as well.
The mayor said he and his allies will meet this week with five prospective candidates for the 3rd Ward seat.
Former Board of Education Trustee Susan Pirro, who ran for the 3rd Ward in last year’s Democratic Primary, is among the five people being considered.
When asked how he might fare in a three-way match-up, or in a race against Pirro, Makarski was optimistic.
“I believe in the democratic process,” he said. “I’m getting very good feedback from residents in the 3rd Ward. So, I feel positive. I’m going to campaign, share my ideas for the ward, and leave it to the voters.”
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.