When state lawmakers voted Monday to postpone the scheduled gubernatorial, state senate and state assembly primary from June 5 until June 26 in order to give politicos a better opportunity to understand the new alignments of the state’s 40 legislative districts, the move also had an effect on the Guttenberg mayoral primary.
Traditionally, New Jersey has always held its primaries – on all levels of government – on the first Tuesday of June. However, with the redistricting of the practically the entire state taking place, changing the demographics of each district, state senators and assemblymen voted to delay the primaries in order to get more acclimated with the new formations.
The Senate approved the bill to change the primary dates by a vote of 21-11, with Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco voting the bill into law an hour after the vote passed. The assembly voted 43-30 to pass the bill. But what does the extra three weeks mean for the local primary? It means that the heated Guttenberg Democratic primary for mayor is about to stay warm for an additional three weeks, making each of the three candidates work just a little harder to get elected.
Councilman David Delle Donna, who is the Hudson County Democratic Organization’s choice in the mayoral race, believes that the delay will have no effect on the race.
“I don’t think it means anything different,” Delle Donna said. “I don’t think it’s an advantage or a disadvantage to any one of the candidates. Personally, I would have liked to see it take place on June 5, but I have no problem with it taking place three weeks later. I think it gives all of us more time to get the word out, more of a chance to be heard.”
Delle Donna was asked if his ticket had somewhat of an advantage because they are receiving the financial backing of the county’s Democrats.
“I guess it will help us a little,” Delle Donna said. “I have enough funds to carry us through the extra week. But I’m proud to be on the county line. Sure, it helps. Our ticket has the help and they’re [opponents Ramon de la Cruz and Thomas Rizzi] out there on their own. I’ve spent a lot of time making ties with county and state officials and those officials have benefited Guttenberg. I think that comes from being able to work with those state and county leaders. Making ties with [State Sen. Bernard] Kenny and [Assemblyman Albio] Sires certainly helps.”
Rizzi agrees that his ticket is at somewhat of a disadvantage, in terms of funding and support.
“I think having enough funding to reach the masses always gives them the advantage,” Rizzi said. “We have an uphill battle ahead of us.”
Added Rizzi, “I think the delay has both a positive and negative effect. The good point is that we have more time to prepare. The bad part is that on June 26, kids will get out of school by then and a lot of people already have planned vacations, so that will mean there will be less voters. I’ve heard that people are looking for a change and hopefully, the voters will consider us to be that change.”
Attorney de la Cruz believes that the delay will only help his ticket’s efforts.
“From my point of view, it helps us,” de la Cruz said. “We have a grass roots effort, going door-to-door. We have a low budget campaign, so I think the whole election will be decided on the effort, which we will do door-to-door. It means more to me than empty endorsements. People in Guttenberg want to know what we’re going to do and the only way to do that is door-to-door.”
Added de la Cruz, “It gives us three more weeks to continue to do what we’ve been doing. Our intention is to continue to do it through Election Day. Giving us more time only helps our campaign effort more.”
Delle Donna agrees with the time issue.
“I think it gives me more time to talk to the people and tell them some of the things we’re doing and some of the things that we intend to do,” Delle Donna said. “I’m only asking people to give me a chance to head this town. I think we’ve made some positive strides. We’re not perfect, but we’re trying. The changes are being made for the better and we need more time to keep it going.”
Delle Donna also thinks that the added campaign time will benefit his opponents.
“It gives them more time to get their names and issues out there,” Delle Donna said. “It just means that we all have to work a little harder.”
EXTENDED CAMPAIGN – Councilman David Delle Donna, who is seeking Guttenberg’s Democratic nomination for mayor, believes that the three-week delay in the Democratic primary gives all three candidates a chance to speak to the voters. Popout “I think it gives all of us more time to get the word out.” – David Delle Donna SIDEBAR District changes Proposed adjustments to be made to the three Hudson County voting districts as a result of the 2000 Census would only slightly alter the state political landscape. Hudson County has three state legislative districts: District 31, which includes Bayonne and part of Jersey City; District 32, which includes East Newark, Edgewater, Fairview, Harrison, part of Jersey City, Kearny, North Bergen, and Secaucus; District 33, which includes Guttenberg, Hoboken, part of Jersey City, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York. The 32nd District, which is represented by Democratic Senator (and North Bergen Mayor) Nicholas Sacco and Assembly members Joan Quigley and Anthony Impreveduto, would shrink slightly in geography. This district would give up Edgewater as well as the downtown section of Jersey City, but would move further east from its current boundary of Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City Heights towards Central Avenue. The 31st District, currently represented by Senator Edward O’Connor Jr. and Assembly members Joseph Doria Jr. and Joseph Charles Jr., would expand northward and eastward to take a large piece of Jersey City. The 33rd District, represented by Senator Bernard Kenny and Assembly members Raul Garcia and Albio Sires, would move slightly south to take a share of Jersey City’s riverfront. – Al Sullivan