Hudson County Democratic Organization people are being raked over the legal coals for advertising they did during the heated state Senate race in the 33rd District last spring.
Although West New York Mayor Sal Vega has not been named in the lawsuit, other prominent HCDO officials, including former state Sen. Bernard Kenny, have been.
German Diaz, who was depicted negatively in hand-out campaign literature, has filed a libel suit against the HCDO, and numerous campaign people are being deposed.
Initial reports claimed that state Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack was behind the legal move, but those in the know say that Stack was unaware of the suit being filed.
Diaz, who is apparently employed by Stack’s wife Katia Stack at a Union City daycare facility, was allegedly portrayed negatively in the handouts. But the HCDO people contacted stand by the handouts, saying the information they contained was accurate.
The legal case, however, has the potential of reopening political wounds that many claimed had healed since last June’s nasty Democratic primary race.
Stack, along with some of his key allies, were apparently taken by surprise by the lawsuit, since it was generated independently of the campaign.
Yet Stack will likely feel the heat of the lawsuit as the HCDO mounts its defense. Insiders claim that the suit can expect to generate some steamy headlines.
Mutiny on the bounty
Stack, of course, has a lot more to worry about, especially in Hoboken, where Councilwoman Beth Mason has just opened a can of worms in regards to the financing of the former St. Mary Hospital.
While Mayor Dave Roberts sought to derail Mason’s attempt to look into the financial records as to whether or not the hospital has become a patronage mill for some of Hudson County’s political elite, Mason manipulated the council into supporting her.
Saving the hospital has become the key piece in Robert’s legacy, and if reports are true that significant funds have been allocated to Old Guard political people, the hospital could become a scandal that keeps Roberts from being re-elected next year since taxpayers will bear the brunt of the loss if the hospital fails.
This bodes well for a potential run for a Mason mayor next year, although those close to her say she has not yet made up her mind whether or not to run. Mason could throw her support behind Councilman Michael Russo instead.
But Mason recently said that she is against candidates taking significant support from the HCDO – so presumably, that would also include those supported by other major political machines. That would mean that Russo might have to give up other support in order to get hers.
Meanwhile, Stack has come under fire by some including freeholder candidate Frank Raia, who are portraying him as Hoboken’s new political boss.
Stack can’t even rely on the support of old Hoboken, since those closest to Russo said that Russo will be supporting Raia over Stack-supported Anthony Romano.
This is a dramatic change from the beginning of the year, when everybody sought Stack’s support. Now, people seem to be avoiding Stack, partly because they see Stack as an unreliable ally.
Guttenberg becomes center of conflict
Shakespeare couldn’t have written a tragedy greater than the one that took place with the conviction of former Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna, who was betrayed by his close associate Javier Inclan, and dragged into jail by remaining loyal to his own wife.
Insiders say Delle Donna was convicted not because he did anything wrong, but because he would not give up his wife in the federal probe.
“David always respected the office of mayor,” said one prominent ex-official of Guttenberg. “I don’t believe for one minute he did what the feds said he did. I think David simply refused to turn against his wife.”
Delle Donna, of course, left a power vacuum in Guttenberg that has pitted Stack against state Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco.
In his landslide victory last June, the Stack-supported Guttenberg committee people won nine out of 12 committee seats. Since this committee is charged with naming three candidates to be submitted to the Guttenberg Council to select as interim mayor, Stack normally would have the advantage. The problem is a new committee election is coming up this June, and it appears that the Sacco people are stalling the selection of candidates to see whether or not they can take back control of the committee, and thus select the next mayor.
Sacco refutes anti-Andrews claim
Sacco, meanwhile, denied statements attributed to him in another political column.
“[The] column … stated that I personally ‘can’t stand’ Congressman Rob Andrews,” Sacco said in his statement. “This is completely false and there is no basis for such an outrageous statement. I know Rob Andrews, have supported him in the past and have a good relationship with him.”
Sacco said no one contacted him from the column to ask his opinion.
“The North Bergen Democratic Organization is supporting Senator Frank Lautenberg because we strongly believe he deserves to be re-elected based on his outstanding record, not because of any negative feelings about his opponent,” Sacco said.
Party Builder Award
Joseph Cryan, chairman of the NJ State Democratic Committee, will receive the Hoboken Democratic Organization First Annual Party Builder Award at a ceremony to be held at nine on May 20. Steve Lenox, former president of Democrats 2000, Juan Meli, editor of Blue Jersey, and Whitehorse Strategies are also being honored. Invited guests include Gov. Jon Corzine as well as a host of local public officials and Democratic supporters.