This year’s League of Municipalities week in Atlantic City could well forecast how local officials are lining up for the 2017 Democratic primary for governor.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is expected to throw his hat in the ring. But he will need a lot of support from Hudson County political figures, as well as those in urban areas around the state.
If the meetings that took place this week in Atlantic City are any indication, his Hudson County support may not be unanimous.
Outgoing Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason and state Sen. Sandra Cunningham co-hosted an event for state Senate President Stephen Sweeney. Sweeney is expected to be one of the candidates running against Fulop for the Democratic nomination. Mason and Cunningham apparently met during a Sweeney event elsewhere in the state earlier this year and decided they would like to host an event in Atlantic City.
Meanwhile, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer reportedly attended an event for Phil Murphy, a former ambassador to Germany, who would also like to run for governor of New Jersey. A former Goldman Sachs executive, Murphy could siphon off Wall Street funding Fulop might need.
Zimmer needs to find new statewide allies. At one point in the past, she had good relations with Republican Gov. Christopher Christie, but Zimmer may no longer be welcome in the GOP after she accused Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno of tying Superstorm Sandy relief aid to her potential help with a development project in Hoboken favored by Christie.
In the endless swirl of rumors in Hoboken, the latest has Hoboken Parking Authority Director John Morgan moving to replace outgoing Public Safety Director Jon Tooke. Morgan, according to these rumors, would be replaced in his job by West New York Parking Authority Director Jamie Cryan, who used to lead the Hoboken Democratic party.
Fight over council presidency in Hoboken looming?
The next big political question in Hoboken will involve who will serve as council president when the council reorganizes in January. Will Councilman David Mello finally get named? He has been passed over so many times you have to wonder if the Zimmer camp still loves him.
This also foreshadows questions about who will run for Hoboken mayor in 2017. Some insiders believe Zimmer, who has in the past seemed less than enthusiastic about keeping the seat, will still run for reelection. This may test the loyalty of some council members who have ambitions beyond merely sitting on the City Council. Council President Ravi Bhalla is one of the princes in waiting. He has tried more than once to seek a seat on the state Assembly. So it is logical to assume that he may try again if denied an opportunity to run for mayor. Some believe Mello might like to become mayor as well, which may explain why the Zimmer administration has kept him out of the council presidency. The most logical challenger in the Zimmer camp would be 6th Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino. She would likely be the frontrunner if Zimmer were to decide not to run for reelection. Giattino, a Republican, might even be able to repair political wounds with the state GOP.
On the other side, the anti-Zimmer forces may be able to take advantage of some of the minor divisions in the Zimmer camp.
Newly elected 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, who might be seen as the head of the anti-Zimmer faction, has supposedly met with newly elected 1st Ward Councilman Michael DeFusco to – as one source put it – “to talk about issues.”
Although DeFusco successfully ran against Councilman Terry Castellano with Zimmer’s blessing, DeFusco is not seen as a Zimmer diehard. Reports suggest that the anti-Zimmer forces might be seeking to sway Mello into changing sides. This could rob Zimmer of the super majority she needs on the council to issue bonds and other spending legislation.
Prieto gets nod as speaker
Assembly Speaker and Secaucus resident Vincent Prieto was reelected last week, giving Hudson County significant clout. But reports suggest that local officials would like him to move up to the House of Representatives, replacing Rep. Albio Sires.
Unfortunately, Sires is not yet ready to leave the seat, and so this may have created some bad feelings among local Democrats. This may explain some of the chill recently felt between Sires and Fulop, at least behind the scenes. Some political observers see Fulop as the chief force seeking to remove Sires.
This is no slight against Prieto, who has been a strong speaker, pushing for expansion of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail line as well as seeking restoration of Urban Enterprise Zone funding taken by Christie. Most agree Prieto would make a good congressman. Not everybody agrees Sires should be shoved out of the way, however.
School board will see changes
Reorganization meetings for school boards in Hoboken, Jersey City, West New York, Secaucus and Bayonne are all slated for early in 2016. Expect serious fights for board president in Hoboken and Bayonne.
West New York, Jersey City and Secaucus will likely have tame reorganization meetings. But some questions remain even in the sleepy towns. Will Marilyn Roman, who serves as vice president of the Jersey City board, be named president?
For Bayonne, this is the first elected board since the 1970s. Dissatisfaction with the previously appointed board was seen as instrumental in the upset win of Mayor James Davis over incumbent Mayor Mark Smith. Teachers, outraged over a lack of contract, overwhelmingly supported Davis.
While there are some holdovers from the appointed board, none are expected to remain in leadership positions once the five new board members are sworn in.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.