Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop has finally made public the fact that he is running for mayor of Jersey City.
This is not news. News would be he that isn’t running for a seat that he has coveted for years, but he could not muster enough money in 2009 when he originally planned to run.
People have talked about Fulop for so long that it’s almost a disappointment now that he’s actually going to do it.
The only thing left is for him to actually get elected – which, of course, is always the hard part.
Fulop’s big challenge has always been how to extend his name recognition beyond Ward E.
He may not know it, but he’s succeeded perhaps beyond his wildest imagination.
For a long time, Fulop’s strength was among a relatively new population of professionals in his part of the city, but over the last few years, his message seems to have resonated among some of the long time Jersey City families, too. One tow truck driver in the Heights said Fulop makes sense.
“He’s the only one of those people who does,” the man said.
So intimidating has been Fulop’s relentless attacks on the status quo that the city council has established a rule some call “the Fulop rule” to keep him from continually trying to push through resolutions that the city council inevitably rejects.
More importantly, Fulop has been hobnobbing with ordinary folks, rather than the usual political suspects, trying to build a ground swell of support that could help derail the political machine that opposes him – although it is most likely that the political machine will switch gears and support him. Everybody loves a winner.
Assembly candidates trade barbs at video debate
The Hudson Reporter video debates have taken place over the last two weeks, pitting the candidates for state Assembly in the 31st District, the six contenders for town council in Secaucus, and the most contentious race, the Hoboken special election to fill the 4th Ward council seat.
Three of the four candidates in the 31st district race showed up: Independent Democrat Robert Mays, Republican Joseph Turella and incumbent Democrat Jason O’Donnell. Denis Wilbeck, an independent Democrat who ran for Bayonne city council earlier this year, could not attend because of work issues.
While the debate had some barbs, especially over political jobs, the campaign seems to have become nasty behind the scenes with supporters from both sides distributing handbills that question the integrity of the other candidates – with one significant exception. Nobody is saying anything bad about Turella, apparently believing a Republican can’t win the seat anyway.
This is a foolish notion in a year when The Tea Party is mustering support for Republicans throughout the state, and a relative moderate like Turella, might just appeal to local voters weary of the constant Democratic infighting.
O’Donnell people believe that Mays and Wilbeck are working in conjunction in order to get Mays elected. In this theory, Wilbeck – a Bayonne resident – would galvanize those people set adrift when Anthony Chiappone resigned in August to cut into O’Donnell’s base in Bayonne. Mays, an African American, would then build a block of votes in the heavily African-American portions of Jersey City.
Even if it is true, it may not work. Most people expect a low voter turnout, which will favor O’Donnell, who has the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.
Secaucus debate was civilized
While the Secaucus debate showed differences between the independents, who currently control the city council and the Democrats, a party trying to rebuild, it was a largely well-mannered affair.
The Democrats are trying to recover from a serious political blow when their former chairman and mayor, Dennis Elwell, was charged in the Dwek-federal sting last year. But the Independent party, led by current Mayor Mike Gonnelli, was clearly on the upswing, having won critical seats four years ago on the council, then swept the election for mayor and three council seats last year.
This year, Independent First Ward Councilman Gary Jeffas is being challenged by Democrat Robert Zych.
Incumbent Independent Second Ward Councilman James Clancy hopes to keep the seat he was named to ten months ago. He is being challenged by Democrat Nancy Mateo.
Independent Susan Pirro is being challenged by Democrat Mark Bruscino for the open Third Ward Seat. While Pirro has built name recognition as a result of serving on the Board of Education and an unsuccessful Democratic Primary campaign last year, Bruscino – who has been courted to run by both sides – is a tough candidate.
Another round for Hoboken candidates
You would think that a special election for the Fourth Ward seat destined to expire next July 1 would be a minor election.
But nothing in Hoboken is minor when it comes to politics, and this election may become as famous for its brutality as a Mike Tyson boxing match.
While Incumbent Councilman Michael Lenz – supporter of Mayor Dawn Zimmer – has been in the ring a few times and was expected to score a knockout against his opponent Tim Occhipinti, things do not seem to have turned out as well as the Lenz camp expected.
This may have to do with the parade of political people who are coaching from Occhipinti’s corner, a gathering of the old guard who make this fight into something more significant that it appears.
To show how important this race is, Occhipinti is bringing in Ronald Rice, Jr. – the possible next mayor of Newark – to his fundraiser next week.
If Lenz loses, Zimmer loses control of the council. The most immediate impact will be the appointments to the Zoning Board. Long term, Zimmer opponents could disrupt Zimmer initiatives going into next May’s regularly-scheduled ward elections.
Although both sides pretend to be civil, behind the scenes full scale war is underway, name calling – perhaps worse – being conducted by followers in their candidates’ names.