In a vote that has huge political implications for the future of Jersey City, the City Council voted 7 to 1 Thursday to appoint John J. Hallanan III as the councilman for Ward B. Hallanan was nominated by Mayor Steven Fulop.
Hallanan, an attorney whose family has lived in Jersey City for generations, fills the seat vacated by Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal, who resigned as part of a plea deal to avoid jail time as result of a car accident in March 2015. He will serve until a special election is held for the seat on Nov. 8.
Although all every member of the City Council sang his praises, his appointment became a political issue when councilmen Richard Boggiano and Michael Yun questioned the selection process.
Yun said his “no” vote was to protest the process used to select Hallanan, not against Hallanan himself.
Both councilmen said they believed Mayor Steven Fulop, who nominated Hallanan, had overstepped his authority and intruded on a process that the state constitution assigns to the council.
Yun claimed the council members were not given enough time to interview and review resumes for the job. Ramchal resigned on May 12, and the council had up to 30 days to vote on a replacement. Yun attempted to allow other potential candidates to speak before the vote on Hallanan was taken, but the majority of the council voted against it.
“John will be able to give us a legal opinion of our own.” – Diane Coleman.
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Hallanan, a 35-year-old attorney, is seen as an asset to the council, which has at times been at odds with legal opinions issued by various city agencies.
Hallanan, an attorney in the corporation counsel’s office since 2013, would presumably provide insight into various issues on which the council currently gets advice only from hired professionals or city attorneys.
Hallanan will have to leave his other city post to take this job.
“John will be able to give us a legal opinion of our own,” said Ward F Councilwoman Diane Coleman.
She said Hallanan’s familiarity with operations of the council means he won’t need time to learn the ropes as she and other council members did when they were elected.
Council members Joyce Watterman and Daniel Rivera said council members had all received resumes from potential candidates, and reviewed them.
“I even met with John,” Watterman said. “He is Jersey City born-and-bred. We need someone who can reach people.”
‘I’m not a rubber stamp’
A graduate of St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, Hallanan received his law degree from Rutgers School of Law. He was deeply involved in local environmental issues prior to his hiring by the city.
His municipal responsibilities often involved working with the city corporation counsel and business administrator, key people involved with presenting resolutions to the City Council. He has previously worked in the law department in City of Elizabeth, as well in the office of Bergen County Superior Court Judge John J. Langan and a private practice in Englewood.
His personal legal practice focuses on a number of issues relevant to Jersey City, such as real estate and landlord and tenant disputes.
In speaking after the vote, Hallanan tried to dispel suggestions that he would become an automatic “yes” vote for Mayor Fulop’s agenda.
“I’m not a rubber stamp,” he said, vowing to make individual decisions based on the issues.
Hallanan honored his predecessor
Hallanan praised Ramchal’s record for community involvement, saying he would continue the effort to make the West Side of Jersey City the best side, a theme of Ramchal’s term as councilman.
Ward B, according to Council President Rolando Lavarro, has one of the most diverse populations of any ward in the city, and Lavarro hopes Hallanan will reach out to the various groups.
Hallanan said he intended to meet with all the neighborhood and civic associations.
“I will listen to their concerns and use my resources as a councilman to resolve them,” he said, predicting that many of the issues will involve public safety, municipal services, and taxes. “As many of you know, my family has lived on Gifford Avenue. I know that there is a difference between one end of Gifford and the other. They are two different worlds.”
Hallanan, who worked on Ramchal’s 2013 campaign, hoped that Ramchal will be able to “rechannel his energies” in a productive way.
Conflict behind the scenes
Informed sources said, however, the appointment was racked with a behind the scenes conflict over two ordinances the council tabled last month that deal with working conditions for private employees servicing office buildings. Some members of the council had reservations about the legality of aspects of the two ordinances, which pertain to employment conditions for private businesses.
Behind-the-scenes negotiations ensued, the sources said, in an attempt to trade Hallanan’s appointment for a majority vote to pass those ordinances. Those sources said the negotiations failed, and left some residual bitterness on the council that threaten to cause a leadership change at the reorganization meeting in early July when the council gets to vote on president and other key assignments.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.