HUDSON COUNTY — Harold “Buddy” Demellier, a behind the scenes political guru for Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith, West New York Mayor Sal Vega and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, was revealed in a news story this weekend to have received $20,000 as a consultant for FBI informant Solomon Dwek. He helped Dwek make local contacts for development deals, but was never accused of wrongdoing.
A director for Hudson County Public Works, Demellier is known for his political savvy and his wide knowledge of the political ins and outs in Hudson County.
A shock to some, rumors had circulated for some time of a connection with Dwek, since many of the key people Dwek met during a federal investigation had a relationship of some kind with Demellier.
Demellier, however, was never charged with a crime, nor were several other public officials that met with Dwek during the investigation that netted a host of public officials in 2009, and included the conviction of former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano.
Former Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, who also met with Dwek and was charged, was found “not guilty” late last year.
Key officials in Bayonne including Mayor Mark Smith and Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell were both close associates of Demellier but were never mentioned in connection with any wrongdoing. “We weren’t charged because we told Dwek `No way,’” O’Donnell said during an interview earlier this year. “When you do the right thing, you don’t get charged with crimes. And we in Bayonne did the right thing.”