Mayor Steve Fulop is looking more and more like Goldilocks from the famous fairy tale when it comes to his potential choices for state Assembly candidate in the 31st District. But instead of the temperature of porridge, Fulop is trying to gauge the political temperature his choices could have on his potential run for governor. To date, he appears to have heated up the political kettle, rather than settling it down.
The 31st District is divided between Bayonne and Jersey City. Each mayor historically gets to choose one of the two Assembly candidates.
Bayonne Mayor James Davis has agreed to back Nicholas Chiaravalloti. While this hasn’t sat well with a number of Davis people – partly because of the extremely close relationship between Chiaravalloti and former Bayonne Mayor Joe Doria – Davis has accepted the political reality, since backing Chiaravalloti is the very powerful U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.
Indeed, Chiaravalloti and Menendez both walked with Davis in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Bayonne, a clear signal of public support. And Davis needs Menendez to help unravel some of the legal problems associated with the redevelopment of the former Military Ocean Terminal.
Did you ever have to make up you mind?
Fulop, who has been the Prince Charming of Jersey City politics since his election as mayor in 2013, can’t get a candidate to run. Rumor suggests that Fulop became disenchanted with incumbent Assemblyman Charles Mainor when Mainor sought support for his reelection from state Senate Pres. Stephen Sweeney, seen as Fulop’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination for the governorship in 2017.
Fulop apparently sought to replace Mainor as Assembly candidate with Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman. But Watterman, an extremely competent minister and councilmember, came with some unexpected baggage. She was too popular, and that positioned her as a potential rival to state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, an ally of Mainor.
The perception that Fulop might want to unseat Cunningham in some future election has caused significant ripples, not just in Hudson County but among African-American legislators throughout northern New Jersey. It also may explain the break between Fulop and state Sen. Ray Lesniak. Lesniak has been a mentor for Cunningham over the last decade.
Suddenly, Watterman’s name was withdrawn, and Michele Richardson’s name was suggested.
Richardson, who serves as a director in the Hudson County government, also happens to be the wife of a very powerful former assemblyman, Joe Charles.
But then Richardson withdrew from the race, for reasons that are unclear. Having worked side by side with her husband through elections in the past, she certainly knew the ropes.
To replace her as a candidate, Fulop apparently picked Denise Ridley, who was even announced at a Hudson County Democratic Organization event. Printed materials bearing her name as candidate appeared. But unexpectedly, she also withdrew from the race. She claimed she didn’t want to get in the middle of a political war between Fulop and Cunningham.
Bruce Alston, who is among a handful of alternative candidates, apparently made a bid get Fulop’s support, but Fulop decided to back Angela McKnight instead. McKnight is considered politically safe. But the political damage may have already been done.
The perceived threat against Cunningham – whether intended or not – seems to have strained Fulop’s relationship not just with Cunningham and members of the African-American community, but also among Fulop allies, some of whom may see themselves as pawns in a political chess game.
Watterman, who apparently sincerely wanted to run for state Assembly, may think twice about agreeing to future Fulop political moves.
This may have pushed Cunningham closer to Sweeney and Lesniak at a time when both men have said they will likely seek the Democratic nomination for governor in opposition to Fulop.
Fulop stumbles
More serious is the damage to Fulop’s reputation as a leader. This comes on the heels of several other political blunders, such as the recent plan to allow Greenville Yards to become a trash transfer area near the African-American Greenville section of the city in an effort to fund the development of a park in the Heights section of the city, which is largely non-African American.
Fulop’s agenda to tie tax abatements to development of pre-K classroom development ran afoul of a Board of Education that he largely got elected last year.
Fulop also may face opposition in Jersey City. Far from discouraged, Alston said he intends to continue his efforts to seek the nomination.
Unfortunately, his potential running mate, Bayonne firefighter Pat O’Brian, withdrew his nomination the day after he announced he was running.
Fulop also has to worry about Mainor, who may well decide to run with the backing of Sweeney and Lesniak, forcing Fulop and the HCDO to spend money on the campaign.
All this, of course, leaves Jason O’Donnell, the current assemblyman from Bayonne, laughing at the folly.
O’Donnell’s close association with former Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith has put him at odds with the HCDO and Davis. He hasn’t announced whether he will try to defend his seat against overwhelming odds. Yet it is clear that not everybody in Bayonne or Jersey City is happy with the current choice of candidates.
Rumor has it that John Minella might step in and run against Chiaravalloti for the Bayonne seat, although that is unlikely.
Real challengers for the Jersey City seat, however, include former Jersey City Democratic Chairman Joe Conte, Jersey City Police Officer Ray Regalado, and Jersey City Police Det. Dejon Morris. Petitions for the nomination are due on March 30.
R.I.P., Dr. Epps
The death of former Jersey City Schools Superintendent Charles Epps may finally end the campaign against his administration waged by many former Fulop-backed Board of Education members.
Epps in some ways has become the Rodney Dangerfield of Jersey City politics. Epps became a poster child for all the ills in the Jersey City school district in campaigns that had wrested control of the board several years ago. Replacing Epps become a mantra for the new board, which they successfully accomplished.
But Fulop showed restraint in his remarks.
“Dr. Epps dedicated his life to the Jersey City community as an educator,” said Mayor Fulop. “He leaves a strong legacy and will be remembered for his decades of service to the students and families of Jersey City.”
Sacco supports school ticket
In one of the few remaining April school board elections, North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco announced his support for the “Our Children First 2015” ticket for the upcoming North Bergen Board of Education Election, featuring longtime Board Trustee Ruth Shaw and newcomers Sam Jaafar and Claudia Rodriguez.
“This school board ticket represents the diversity that makes North Bergen such a dynamic place and it features three candidates with strong ties to our community who care deeply about public education,” said Mayor Sacco.
Jaafar and Rodriguez are running in the place of Board of Education President Julio Marenco, who is not seeking re-election and is running on the Sacco ticket for the Township Commission, and longtime trustee Maurena Luzzi, who is retiring from elected office.
The North Bergen school election comes a few weeks ahead of a contested and by far more interesting municipal election in which long-time Sacco critic Lawrence Wainstein is heading a ticket of commissioner candidates with the hope of unseating Sacco.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.