Repeat after me: Torricelli is not a bad word. Torricelli is not a bad word. Torricelli is not a bad word. This sad mantra concerning the proposed reelection of U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli is something nearly every loyal Democrat will likely take up in the month leading to the November election. Each knowledgeable Democrats realizes with great dread how much rides on each vote cast in Hudson County, and how the balance of power in Washington D.C. could shift if New Jersey loses one of its two Democratic senators — if Republican Douglas Forrester beats Torricelli. Where as New Jersey is key to the national struggle for power — Hudson County is key to New Jersey. How well Democrats turn out at the poles in Hudson County may well determine which political party will control Congress.
And a lot of Democrats on the streets don’t like their choices.
While Republican is not a dirty word either — it may be difficult to convince traditionally Democratic voters to vote off-line. Many street people feel caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to choosing between voting for Torricelli — who is loaded down with legal issues involving campaign financing — and Forrester, who would help Republicans take control of the senate. Secaucus Councilman Bob Kickey believes these people won’t vote for either, leaving party leadership to yank out their hair in handfuls. No vote is as good as a Republican vote as far as the Democratic organization is concerned. As in the bad old days of party boss Frank Hague, the state level Democrats are looking to Hudson and other urban counties to turn out large numbers of voters to off-set expected heavy voting in the Republican-dominated suburbs.
While Democratic loyalists like Maggie Doyle have expressed hope that someone like Senator Jon Corzine will step forward as peacemaker to heal wounds from Democratic infighting over the last year, and Democratic strategists Paul Byrne thinks state Senator Bernard Kenny will, in truth fear of national humiliation might be the force that welds closed wounds left by last June’s primary battle.
Will Hudson County Democrats be able to hold their heads up if they help lose the U.S. Senate to their arch rivals: the Republicans?
This may explain why Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham — after meeting with Gov. Jim McGreevey in Trenton earlier — came out in sport of Torricelli and the Democratic Team in a public statement at a fundraiser in Puccini’s restaurant on West Side Avenue.The event which drew about 175 people also featured a Democratic cheerleading session from Freeholder Bill Braker who emphasized the importance to the election. Braker, although somewhat laid back at freeholder meeting, can stir up a crowd when motivated, and people at the event said Braker was motivated.
Freeholder Bill O’Dea strutted his stuff at a fundraiser at the Jersey City Knights of Columbus on Wednesday night. While Cunningham’s appearance there was no surprise, many looked up sharply when Democratic County Executive Candidate Tom DeGise showed up. This left some to ponder whether or not some future fundraiser might not feature a union between Lou Manzo and Rep. Bob Menendez. Even some Republicans might pay to see that.
Knights of Columbus help heal wounds?
Perhaps the healing of wounds should have been less of a surprise after the Knights of Columbus Foundation’s annual Gala Ball on Sept. 21 when allegedly warring factions came to the Casino in the Park for the award ceremony. The event saw 300 people from every political persuasion. Ton Grazioso, co-founder and the foundations current chairman, hosted the 10th annual event. Seventeen people received the prestigious Christopher Columbus Awards including Jersey City Realtor and Community activist Allan Roy Bardack, Mayor Cunningham, former Bayonne City Council President Neil DeSena, Sister Mary Felicia, principal of St. Anthony High School, Willie Flood (director of Hudson County Consumer Affairs), Frank Gargiulo, North Bergen commissioner and superintendent of HC Schools of Technology, Jersey City Councilman William Gaughan (soon to be DeGise’s chief of staff if DeGise wins in November), County Executive Bernard Hartnett, Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto (D-32nd Dist.), state Senator Kenny, Victor Perez, JC deputy police chief, and Assembly Speaker and West New York Mayor Albio Sires.
The interesting attendance saw Hartnett seated with Cunningham, Gaughan with DeGise, Kenny with Mayor David Roberts, Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons with Hoboken Councilmen Christopher Campos and Reuben Ramos.
And according to Grazioso, who also serves as the county executive’s director of communication, everyone was actually cordial.
Political strategist Tony Amabile received the traditional Edward F. Zampella “Voice of Columbus Award” — given to the person who best exemplified the ideas of a great Italian seaman. Amabile started the Columbus awards in 1973 for Italian Americans.
NY Waterways was honored with the newly established “Frank J. Guarini Jr. Corporate Humanitarian Award” for activities connected with the Sept. 11 evacuation of Manhattan. Arthur Imperatore Sr. — flew in from Rome to attend the dinner and receive the award.
Other awards were issued to equally deserving but non-political people, and remarkably, no one had to endure a single political speech.
Jersey City’s mayoral hopefuls increase by one
Although Jay Booth did not mention Cunningham by name this week, he did mumble something about “Rome burning,” an allusion to the famous Roman Emperor Nero who fiddled while Rome burned. We didn’t even know Cunningham knew how to play the fiddle.
With Council President Harvey Smith’s so-called “sell out” last week — Smith teaming up with Menendez and Gaughan to prevent the mayor from regaining control of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, Smith joins the less than exclusive list of people that may challenge Cunningham in 2004.
Oddly enough Senator Kenny has been seeking to heal wounds and has — according sources close to Kenny — met with Cunningham to help make peace.
Cunningham’s boat ride fundraiser, according to organizer Maggie Doyle, was a great success, proving that Cunningham is still a power to be reckoned with, despite early predictions of his demise. Doyle said she didn’t yet have a final tally, but estimated the total take could be a high as $400,000. Among the guests attending were former Gov. Jim Florio, powerbroker state Senator Ray Lesniak, Freeholder Bill O’Dea and others. Doyle said no other Hudson County mayors attended, but none had been invited.
“Perhaps we should have invited them,” Doyle conceded.