Count Wiley has unveiled the long-awaited opposition ticket that will challenge the still-to-be decided ticket of Mayor Felix Roque in West New York in May, 2015.
Wiley’s ticket, known as West New York United, professes to bring together many of the opposition candidates that formerly opposed Roque – but who also used to oppose each other.
Ken Morrison, who is doing some of the press for the new ticket, said opposing factions learned a lot of lessons from the recent Board of Education election. Roque-backed candidates won, allegedly because of the dysfunction of opponents. Many of those who opposed Roque – according to this theory – all supported different candidates, allowing Roque’s candidates to win.
For this reason, the new ticket will have Carlos Betancourt running for a commissioner seat with Wiley. In the past, Betancourt had eyed the top spot for himself. Other commissioner candidates include Myrli Sanchez, Hector Hernandez, and Thomas Leung.
Roque is expected to announce his ticket just after the new year, and there will be surprises. The ticket is already missing one of the most important people from his 2011 campaign, Caridad Rodriguez, who will be sworn in as freeholder in January. The ticket will also likely be missing Commissioner FiorD’Aliza Frias.
But even with some personalities off the ticket, it will be formidable, partly because many of the issues that gave rise to the Wiley ticket have since dissipated with the change in personnel. The most significant improvement was the hiring of Donald Scarinci as town attorney. Even some of Roque’s opponents acknowledge Scarinci’s positive influence. Under his watch, many of those who inspired wrath against Roque have moved on.
But the Wiley camp believes there are plenty of issues to run on, in particular some of the allegedly questionable characters who have tied their wagons to Roque, and some of the inner political circle who have survived the political purge.
Wiley believes that other anti-Roque people will sign on to his campaign over the next few months. Roque people are confident that a third ticket will emerge.
If it does, Wiley people believe it will be a ticket designed to cut into Wiley’s vote, and will try to help Roque win.
Hoboken still unsettled
Yes, it is true that Frank Raia fell into a pool during a party sponsored by Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer at the League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City last month. Raia wasn’t apparently the only Hudson County politician to fall into a pool during the convention. Raia’s people, however, said he was perfectly sober. He apparently simply slipped. The embarrassing moment was briefly the talk of the town, but will soon be lost to memory once the new election season starts.
It appears that Raia is one of a number of Hoboken people, including Beth Mason and Michael Russo, who would like to replace Carmelo Garcia as assemblyman if state senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack decides to get rid of Garcia.
Garcia, however, may be interested in running for Hoboken City Council in the 6th Ward next November, putting him at odds with Council President Jennifer Giattino, who would be in line to serve as acting mayor if the rumors are true that Zimmer could resign.
Although the election isn’t until next November, people are already positioning themselves for a possible run, not just for council, but also for mayor.
One question that still remains unanswered is whether Ruben Ramos will challenge Tim Occhipinti in the 4th Ward.
The fight is not over in the 31st District
Michael Alonso is reportedly considering a run for state Assembly in the 31st District that includes Bayonne and half of Jersey City. But some of his supporters believe this would be a mistake. His run in the Democratic primary for freeholder against Ken Kopacz and the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) served a purpose in getting him name recognition and helped to further his cause of getting an elected school board in Bayonne. But most believe running against Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell and HCDO-backed Nicholas Chiaravalloti would be a mistake.
“Alonso will get crushed and get nothing from it,” one source said. “He should run for the school board where he will most likely win.”
Alonso was instrumental in getting the referendum passed in November that allowed for an elected school board. In some quarters, he is seen as the voice of the elected board.
But the school board race, which has been pushed off to next November, is expected to be loaded with candidates.
Cerny doesn’t love Mayor Mikey
Popular Mayor Mike Gonnelli may finally have found someone who dislikes him. At least that’s indicated by Acting Police Chief John Cerny’s decision not to continue in his post.
This is a big glimpse behind the Wizard of Oz curtain, showing that things are not as perfect as they seem in Mayor Mikey’s world.
This is not to say that Gonnelli will face a political backlash over this. Cerny isn’t likely to lead an opposing ticket. So the Democrats who lost power with the resignation of former Mayor Dennis Elwell in 2009 will need to find another horse to ride.
Most believe that any opposition to Gonnelli will have to rise from his own organization, a political split that does not appear to be on the horizon at this point.
But Cerny and Gonnelli are clearly not on the same page any longer. If Cerny is to be believed his promotion hinged on his ability to get along better with the mayor. Even though he said he believed he was doing a good job, Cerny kept hearing rumors that there would be no permanent police chief named and that a public safety director would be hired. Because he had no contract by late November, Cerny decided to retire, but would stay on, he said, if named chief.
At a meeting of the public safety committee, he said he was told that he needed to improve his relationship with Gonnelli.
The issue appears to be a disagreement over personnel assignments, and possibly Cerny’s not signing off on new police recruits that the administration wanted to see assigned. This conflict has proven a field day for those who oppose Gonnelli, who hope beyond hope that they can make political hay out of this.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.