Despite a threat from Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s camp of an all-out war, Hoboken Democrats are still fighting over who – if anyone – should replace Jamie Cryan as chairperson of the Democratic Party in Hoboken. The Democratic committee will meet within a week after the June 2 primaries to vote for its officers, including chairperson. This is a two-year term of office.
The committee consists of a male and female Democratic committee person in each of 26 districts in the mile-square city. The committee is influential in helping choose Democratic candidates for regional offices.
Former City Council candidate Frank Raia apparently wants to keep Cryan at the top. But some Democratic powerbrokers in Hoboken think Cryan has had the seat long enough. Cryan has served two terms for a total of four years. The only other committee chairperson to have served as long was Michele Russo, wife of former Mayor Anthony Russo.
Last week’s column claimed that former Assemblyman Ruben Ramos and Freeholder Anthony Romano were behind a move to name Councilwoman Beth Mason as chair person for the Democratic Committee. This apparently was wrong. Other sources say Ramos and former Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia are pushing for her.
Councilman Tim Occhipinti, who has been close to Cryan in the past, appears to be staying out of the fray.
This has pushed Councilman Michael Russo (son of Michele Russo) to consider becoming the compromise candidate for chairperson.
But the conflict is heated, with more than a little bad feeling on all sides. This may leave people like Romano to serve as peacemakers in order to calm down all sides in advance of a critical municipal election in November.
This will affect the November elections
Whoever gets elected as chairperson could have a large impact on the municipal elections in November.
While the municipal elections are non-partisan, control of the Democratic committee could lend or deny election resources such as workers to those candidates opposing Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s candidates.
While Zimmer isn’t running in November, all six City Council ward seats are up for reelection. Anti-Zimmer council members make up the four-member minority. It is possible, but not likely, they might be able to unseat one or two Zimmer-loyalists.
But the infighting among anti-Zimmer people could actually result in them losing one, maybe even two seats in November.
If the rumors are true, the anti-Zimmer forces are at risk of losing the 4th Ward, where Ramos is expected to challenge Occhipinti in apparent revenge for Occhipinti’s forming a third ticket in the 2013 mayor election when Ramos opposed Zimmer. The divided vote allowed Zimmer to get reelected. Even worse for the anti-Zimmer camp is the possibility that Cryan could leap into the 4th Ward race. This might well give a strong Zimmer-supported candidate enough votes to steal another seat.
Garcia is expected to announce his intention to run against Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino in the 6th Ward. If so, he would rely on the support of voters in some of the larger buildings, such as Church Towers.
This may explain why someone has floated unsubstantiated rumors that Giattino wants to remove rent control protections for some high-income earners in that building.
Mason has not yet announced whether she will seek reelection. But she may also face opposition from her own side. Peter Biancamano, who ran at large on the Occhipinti ticket in 2013 and who serves on the school board, could be running in the 2nd Ward.
Peace in North Hudson is good for Fulop
North Hudson managed to get through two heated municipal elections without a flareup of hostilities between two of Hudson County’s most powerful political figures: state Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco and state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack.
This was no accident, according to sources close to both campaigns. Keeping the peace between these two heavyweights is critical to getting Fulop elected governor in 2017.
Meanwhile, while Sacco had his own battle to fight with political opponent Larry Wainstein during his May election, the real battleground in Hudson County was West New York, this same source said.
The mayor/commission coalition ticket led by Mayor Felix Roque in that town is far different from the one Roque ran with in 2011, combining talents of people who sometimes opposed him in the past. But insiders say changes will continue.
“There are going to be more changes,” this source said, “and some surprises.”
In a post-election interview, Roque said he was going to continue to focus on cutting waste, and making sure that there are no unproductive jobs.
For many who have been riding the gravy train over the last four years, this means that the ride is over.
Most people credit the West New York victory to two men: Roque’s campaign manager, Pablo Fonseca, and the town’s corporation counsel, Donald Scarinci. Fonseca, who has led successful campaigns for several years through the state, managed to get out the vote despite a ballot crowded with candidates. Scarinci is credited with helping to select the right mix of candidates as well as cleaning house and doing away with a lot of the issues Roque’s opponents could have used. Many of the issues that were raised during the campaign had already been addressed by the time voters went to the polls. Those that were not addressed will be addressed after the election, insiders say.
Who will replace Sacco next time?
Although nothing is written in stone, most political observers believe that this will be Sacco’s last run for commissioner/mayor in North Bergen. This leaves the question as to who will be groomed to take his place when and if Sacco decides not to run again.
This speculation will likely take up many political conversations over the next four years as people try to figure out just who they need to curry favor with.
Most observers also believe that this was likely Wainstein’s last bid for mayor, although most believe he will be behind the scenes in the next election.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.