When Michael Lenz was appointed to Dawn Zimmer’s vacated 4th Ward council seat late last year in Hoboken, he said his primary goal was to get to know his ward, its problems, and its people, and to make sure that he was fully versed about the issues.
Although an ally of Zimmer for years and well aware of some of the issues, Lenz said he needed to see things for himself.
But with the recent defection of two people from the Kids First school board slate, a slate Lenz played a significant role in helping get elected to the board, he may now be forced to deviate a little from his plans – something his political opponents are counting on.
Behind the scenes, a campaign is being waged to claim that Lenz can’t win a special election for his seat in November. At risk, of course, is the 5-4 voting majority on the City Council that Zimmer needs in order to keep her agenda getting passed. The rumors are so effective that even some former staunch Lenz supporters appear to believe the hype and are getting cold feet.
Reports suggest that on-again off-again Lenz opponent Jake Stuiver, a Zimmer appointee to the housing board, may try to run instead. When contacted, Stuiver said that while he may consider it in the future, he hasn’t yet committed to anything. A handful of other names have emerged as possible challengers to Lenz from new and old Hoboken, including a possible movement to draft former Councilwoman Terry LaBruno. It is clear that Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, who still lives in 4th Ward and is the former councilman there, will have some say in the matter.
Hoboken Board of Ed battle brewing
The battle for the Board of Ed looms over the Hoboken political landscape, as board member (and Hoboken Housing Authority Director) Carmelo Garcia apparently has been trying to get a fusion ticket together for the board, a combination of old Hoboken residents and newly arrived. Carrie Gilliard, who recently defected from Kids First, is said to have talked with Garica, although it is uncertain if she would team up with him.
But if reports are true that the very outspoken Maureen Sullivan, also a former member of Kids First, is putting a school board ticket together, a war among newcomers could be brewing, giving Old Hoboken a chance to regain control of the school board.
Mayor Smith under fire to resign police post
A court ruling regarding the mayor of Wildwood has spilled over into a political dispute in Bayonne. A state Appeals Court ruled that it is a conflict of interest for a sitting mayor to be an employee of the town in which he or she is mayor, even if – as is the mayor of Wildwood – he or she takes a leave of absence.
Since Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith serves as director of the Police Department as well as mayor, and has taken a leave of absence from his position as deputy police chief, it would seem logical that he would come under fire to resign either as mayor or deputy chief.
Of course, Hoboken mayors have a history of dual duties, such as Steve Cappiello, who was mayor and a police sergeant, and Dave Roberts, who only recently retired as a firefighter.
Several officials in Jersey City have had to make choices between their political and personal careers, but it is unclear if Smith will have to.
Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli was rescued from a similar fate when the state legislature passed a law allowing volunteer firefighters to serve as mayor or municipal council person, although this ruling could force the legislature to update the law in order to give him and other public officials additional protection. Gonnelli was recently named the Chief of the volunteer Fire Department in that town.
Bayonne election
Bayonne is headed into a municipal election. Smith has yet to take out petition paperwork, causing the spread of a rumor that he might not run at all. But people close to Smith said he is running and will make an announcement in early March.
“The only question is, will he be running with a full ticket of council candidates or not?” a source said. “As it is, he will be running with Councilman Terrence Ruane.”
Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone, who is among the people calling for Smith to resign as either police director or mayor, is expected to take out petitions to run for mayor. At this point, the only actually declared candidate for mayor is Leonard Kantor, who came in second behind Ruane in last year’s special election for at-large councilman.
Chiappone, of course, still has to deal with his own legal issues. He has been indicted by a state grand jury for allegedly depositing checks from his legislative aides into his personal and political bank accounts. Reports suggest that charges against Chiappone may be downgraded to an election contribution violation, leaving him open to run for whatever office he wishes.
Republicans say they’ll run Perez if Democrats won’t
While Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez says he is pretty secure in his job, there is mounting pressure among Democrats to dump him from the ticket in two years.
Republican County Chairman Jose Arango called this a bad move, and said that if the Democratic Party doesn’t want to have Perez as their candidate, then the Republicans would be willing to run him instead.
It is clear that Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise will seek another term in the 2011 election, but rumors claim that there is a move to try and get Jersey City Freeholder Bill O’Dea to run in the Democratic primary against DeGise.
State Senator Sandra Cunningham putting out feelers for a possible run for mayor of Jersey City in 2013, but apparently has received a negative response. Meanwhile, Downtown Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop continues to build his own base for the mayoral run in 2013, and is seen by most as the current frontrunner, although Dan Levin has also said he would run for mayor.