If anyone deserves to be named political man of the year for Hudson County, it must be Republican Gov. Christopher Christie. His changes on the state level after he was sworn in early this year will have an indelible impact on the future of local government and local politics.
Cuts in state aid to schools and municipalities, the killing of the ARC tunnel project from Hudson County to Manhattan, and the creation of a governmental tool box for cutting taxes, all leave Hudson County – especially its largest municipality, Jersey City – in a precarious economic position. On the other end of the spectrum, Christie’s decision to fund rebuilding or replacing the Bayonne Bridge may positively impact up to a quarter million jobs in northern New Jersey.
Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, and to a lesser degree, Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith will benefit from their close association with Christie.
Anger on congressional and local level
Taking a line from the classic film “Network,” voters in Hudson County and beyond were “mad as hell” at Democrats in Congress this year and altered the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. While all three Democratic congressmen from Hudson County were reelected, a sizable part of the voting public chose to support Republicans, and nationwide voters put House Democrats in the minority, making it even more difficult for Democrats to bring home federal funding.
While the predicted Democratic primary challenge to Rep. Albio Sires did not emerge in the 13th district, a congressional district that includes a majority of Hudson County municipalities, he did face a strong challenge from Republican Henrietta Dwyer and some lesser-knowns.
More importantly, the word “recall” continued to be a rallying cry for political protestors, even though the state Supreme Court ruled against the NJ Tea Party’s efforts to recall U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. On the municipal front, Dr. Felix Roque’s effort to recall Mayor Sal Vega a year ahead of the municipal election there failed.
By year’s end, however, a recall movement against Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy seemed to be gaining steam.
Sheriff’s shootout
The county sheriff’s race proved unusually contentious before the June primary and November election.
Perez was defeated despite his decision to run as a Republican instead.
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Chiappone’s assembly seat goes to O’Donnell
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises on the 2010 political season was when Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone pleaded guilty to charges involving campaign irregularities from 2005. He entered the plea shortly after he lost his mayoral bid.
The plea set the stage for his resignation in August, and his replacement in the Assembly by Bayonne Public Safety Director Jason O’Donnell. In a special election held in November, O’Donnell beat Republican Joseph Turula and two independents, Robert Mays and Denis Wilbeck, to keep the seat.
During the post-election celebrations, O’Donnell threw down the gauntlet and challenged some of Christie’s policies – something of a futile effort, since Christie seems to have developed a strong working relationship with state Senate Pres. Democrat Steve Sweeney to help move the Republican agenda forward over the next year.
May municipal elections held a few surprises
There was never a question that Union City Mayor Brian Stack would bring his ticket to victory in the May municipal elections; it was merely by how much. Challenger Frank Scarafile knew he wasn’t going to beat Stack for mayor, but hoped to make a good showing. Stack’s ticket romped over Scarafile, bring in his fellow commissioners Tilo Rivas, Lucio Fernandez, Maryury Martinetti, and Christopher Irizarry. In Union City’s form of government, five commissioners are elected and choose a mayor from among themselves.
Relatively new Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith desperately needed an overwhelming victory in May elections, partly to prove that he was worthy to replace Healy as chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. Although it took a runoff to accomplish it, Smith carried his full ticket of two at-large and three ward seats into office, and defeated Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone and Leonard Kantor for mayor in the first round.
The big surprise was the victory of Terrance Ruane and Debra Czerwienski in a large field of at-large candidates that included popular vice principal Denis Wilbeck. Smith also brought in Joe Hurley in the first round. In the June runoff, Smith’s candidates Agnes Gillespie and Ray Greaves also won, with Greaves beating incumbent 3rd Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa. Smith was named HCDO chair within days of this victory.
The most difficult part of this year’s election for Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner was waiting to see if anyone actually ran a ticket against his. When no one did, everything went as expected. Turner has been mayor since 1990.
Hoboken was a political circus
Hoboken’s special election for 4th Ward councilman was billed as a test of the political strength of Mayor Dawn Zimmer and a bellwether for the reform movement’s strength in the upcoming May 2011 municipal elections. In a contest that included extensive, sometimes nearly insane conflicts broadcast over the city’s local blogosphere, newcomer Tim Occhipinti managed to upset Zimmer’s candidate, political mainstay Michael Lenz. The Lenz camp alleged fraud in the absentee balloting, a matter that may now be investigated on the state level – but Occhipinti won on the voting machines.
Special election in Jersey City
David Donnelly, who was appointed to the City Council after Phil Kenny pleaded guilty to corruption charges, beat challengers Isaiah Gadsden, Raymond Skop, Earlin Thomas, Diane Verlingo and Esther Wintner.
Donnelly will remain in office until the May 2013 regular municipal elections, when terms for mayor and the entire council expire.
Councilman Steven Fulop has already announced his candidacy for mayor. Healy has not officially said he is going to run again, but has told sources that he wants to run again.
Secaucus election was a cakewalk for independents
Already in tatters because of the arrest and resignation of Mayor Dennis Elwell in 2009, the Secaucus Democrats were unable to save even one seat on the Town Council, giving Independent Mayor Michael Gonnelli total control of the council.
By year’s end, Democrats were talking about finding a new municipal chairman to replace Assemblyman Vinnie Prieto. Richard Steffens, a former councilman and acting mayor, is one name that has been suggested.
Corruption trials
And of course, not to be left out – the 2009 political corruption busts that stung 46 New Jersey and New York elected officials and religious leaders resulted in several trials and sentences this year.
At least 18 of the 46 have pleaded guilty, including former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano. Cammarano pleaded guilty in April to one count of “conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion under the color of right,” a felony, and was sentenced to 24 month behind bars.
Former Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini was convicted in April on two counts of bribery for accepting $20,000 from a government informant. She was sentenced to three years.
But former Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, who had been accused of taking $10,000 in bribes from a government informant, was acquitted in December after a trial lasting almost two weeks.