It is difficult to shed a tear over former Gov. Jim McGreevey’s resignation from the legal firm of Weiner-Lesniak after questions were raised over the propriety of his working for a firm with close ties to the Xanadu development project in the Meadowlands.
As governor, McGreevey had moved mountains to make certain that the project became a reality, with plenty of arm-twisting of local politicians who had come out initially against the $1.3 billion redevelopment of the Sports Complex in East Rutherford.
State Sen. Ray Lesniak, who served as a close political advisor to McGreevey, gave the former governor a job after McGreevey resigned office last year.
Lesniak and McGreevey had been engaged in the Xanadu dance for more than a year, meeting with public officials, union leaders and others clear possible obstacles to the project, but it was not until McGreevey left office – at a point at which he no longer had power to officially influence the direction of the project – did people question the close political ties between the two men.
The difference, of course, is that McGreevey, once he was in the formal employ of Lesniak, was now actually getting paid to represent the Mills Corporation, the developers behind Xanadu. Lesniak’s legal firm had represented several aspects of Xanadu at a time when he also was a close political advisor to McGreevey.
While Acting Gov. Richard Codey said he intends to close the loophole that allows ex-officials like McGreevey to take up employment on projects over which he had some influence while in office, this will hardly close the door on political ties that may have influenced officials like McGreevey prior to their leaving office.
King vs. Lipski?
Jersey City Councilman Steve Lipski is livid. Although he won his place on the ballot as part of re-elected Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s team, many people erroneously think Jimmy King, former Jersey City Parking Authority chief, is on Healy’s team instead.
Part of this has to do with the billboard located on Summit Avenue that shows that King, who is running against Lipski in Ward C, also supports Healy. There are even election signs in windows of homes throughout Jersey City Heights listing King and Healy together. For Lipski, this is a problem, since King has also picked up several key endorsements including the Five Corners Merchants Association and from the president of the Jersey City Firefighters Association.
Lipski is the one who has Healy’s endorsement, but King’s using him in his ads anyway. King’s explanation is simple – he thinks Healy should be mayor.
This may explain the confrontation two weeks ago between four young Lipski followers near his Summit Avenue headquarters and the 65-year-old King, who was campaigning in the area. King’s civic association has done a host of good deeds in Jersey City and poses a serious challenge to Lipski. While Lipski may get lip service support from the Healy campaign, King has an army of ready followers who may just win against Lipski.
Who speaks for the African-Americans in Jersey City?
Meanwhile, Healy has a fight of his own now that the courts have decided to allow Melissa Holloway space on the ballot.
While Healy has forged close ties to the African-American community through aides to former Mayor Glenn Cunningham, many voters in Ward F would have likely stayed home lacking a candidate they could put their hearts and souls behind. Holloway may not win, but she will do better than people expect. This also bodes well for the re-election of Councilwoman Viola Richardson, who may inherit the role as spokesperson for that community.
There also seems to be a groundswell of support for challenger Steve Fulop in Ward E, the council seat currently occupied by Junior Maldonado. While Madlonado should do well in the Latino community, the fact is that Latinos do not turn out at the polls in a large enough percentage for Maldonado to feel comfortable.
People from the former 111 First St. arts building are probably not happy that Healy’s campaign took contributions from many principles connected with the redevelopment of that property. Healy’s explanation is that anyone can give to his campaign; it’s not that he’s influenced by them.
Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone is still fighting to keep his two Jersey City Freeholder candidate allies on the ballot. With Chiappone running against the Hudson County Democratic Organization for assembly, he needs the additional candidates to help him cut into the Jersey City vote.
Chiappone has even asked the state to investigate the circumstances surrounding the county clerk rejecting Gary Garvin and Tyrone Ballon. Chiappone claims Hudson County Clerk Javier Inclan’s ties are too close to the Hudson County Democratic Organization to make him impartial in the matter. HDCO people, however, said Inclan doesn’t need to be impartial; he only needs to know how to count – and that if Garvin and Ballon do not have the correct number of legal signatures to get on the ballot, they should not get on the ballot.
Assembly notes
While everyone is speculating on just who will replace Albio Sires at Assembly Speaker, U.S. Senator Jon Corzine will apparently take his time and pick the person he is most comfortable with. Although it was said that Assemblyman Joe Roberts had the job, recent statements caught on tape by South Jersey Democratic powerbroker George Norcross seem to have doomed any chance for Roberts to continue the job if and when Corzine becomes governor.
Norcross was instrumental keeping then Assemblyman Joseph Doria from getting the post as Assembly Speaker. Doria had a reputation for not letting political bosses run Trenton, and the move to pick Sires was supposedly a blow against Doria. Four years later, the shoe is on the other foot, and Doria seems on top of the world.
Hoboken mayoral
Predictions for Tuesday’s Hoboken mayoral race vary, but generally show incumbent Mayor Dave Roberts with a slight lead over chief challenger Councilwoman Carol Marsh, with Councilman Michael Russo running third, Frank Raia fourth, and Evelyn Smith fifth. This would result in a runoff between Roberts and Marsh.
Some people believe Russo’s defense of Marsh in the recent debates may indicate his support for her campaign in the runoff. If he throws his support to Marsh, Russo could make the difference. Some speculate that Russo may have an eye on the Assembly seat Sires hopes to vacate. If he helps Marsh get elected, Russo may get her support in an Assembly run in the 33rd district – but any such effort would need the support of a powerful North Hudson official, and some look to Assembly and Union City Mayor Brian Stack as key.