Even though the election for Secaucus mayor won’t take place until November, partisan primaries will be held this June. The race officially got underway last week after UNICO President and town Public Defender Peter Weiner announced that he will challenge Mayor Dennis Elwell in the Democratic primary.
Weiner’s announcement, which came in the form of an ad in a local newspaper, had been expected for several months.
Much of the political drama in town has stemmed from the anticipated November showdown between Elwell and Town Councilman Michael Gonnelli, an Independent who is expected to announce his candidacy for mayor later this year. As an Independent, Gonnelli does not have to file petitions with the Hudson County Board of Elections until June and will not participate in the earlier Democratic and Republican primaries.
Motivated by ‘mismanagement’
By challenging Elwell in the Democratic primary, Weiner’s candidacy ensures that the race won’t simply focus on the Elwell-Gonnelli dynamic.
If Weiner’s interest in the mayor’s job seems sudden, he insisted in an interview last week that it is not.
“I’ve been thinking about doing this for some time,” he said. “My wife and I have been talking about my doing this for more than a year. You know, I saw all these lawsuits, and as an attorney I knew these were costing the town money. And the town keeps getting sued because of mismanagement.”
He said he was specifically referring to the lawsuit filed by a gay couple who used to live in Secaucus and were allegedly harassed by men from the firehouse next to their home. He was also referring to the ongoing legal battle involving Damascus Bakery.
Last June, a Hudson County superior court jury awarded the gay couple a $2.8 million judgment, in addition to legal fees that could top another $2 million. The owners of Damascus Bakery are currently seeking about $1 million in damages due to revenue they say they lost after the town allegedly blocked their attempts to move their wholesale pita bread bakery to Secaucus.
“I also think the Recreation Center should have been approved by taxpayers and it should have been put up for a vote before it was built,” Weiner said, addressing a complaint often heard by critics of the facility. “Again, the way that it was approved and built just shows a lack of respect for taxpayers and their money.”
Weiner, a resident of the 2nd Ward, said his mayoral platform will promote “efficiency in municipal government, independence from the Hudson County political machine, and will represent all residents, regardless of who they support politically.”
Weiner said he also supports efforts to curb pay-to-play and he has recently expressed support for a pay-to-play ordinance before the Town Council. Pay-to-play has become a signature issue of the Independent faction on the council that includes Gonnelli and councilmen Gary Jeffas and John Bueckner. Much of Weiner’s platform seems to be a preview of what voters will get from Gonnelli in November. Should Weiner score a political upset of Elwell, voters may be faced with two very similar mayoral candidates in the fall.
No deal with Gonnelli
Weiner denied the rumor that Gonnelli has promised him a job as municipal court judge if he runs against Elwell and bloodies him in the primaries, leaving the mayor damaged as he heads into the general election against Gonnelli.
“Mike Gonnelli hasn’t promised me anything,” he said.
Gonnelli also recently denied that such a deal was in the works.
Weiner said he isn’t concerned about going up against Gonnelli, whom Weiner described as a “good and honest councilman.”
“People assume Mike Gonnelli is going to run for mayor,” Weiner said, “but he hasn’t announced that yet. And anything could happen. He could still decide not to run.”
Weiner admits he has an uphill battle to topple Elwell, given the mayor’s well-oiled political machine and access to money. But, he said, “I believe I have enough grassroots support to win, and I intend to knock on every door in Secaucus so that voters can get to know me.”
In response to Weiner’s candidacy Mayor Elwell said last week, “He certainly has the right to run for mayor and I take his candidacy seriously. I think everyone who runs for office is serious about winning.”
Weiner hesitated when asked whether he was putting together a platform of candidates to run on his slate for the Town Council. Three council seats will be up for a vote in November.
“I may have an announcement to make about that soon,” he said.