With so many changes occurring so rapidly over the last two years, 2001 may seem a little boring as politics focuses more on the everyday matters, although some interesting races are developing.
In Hoboken, Mayor Anthony Russo has recovered from his bout with cancer to face at least two challengers. In Jersey City, Mayor Bret Schundler will make a bid for governor, leaving the mayoral seat up for grabs. In Secaucus, Mayor Dennis Elwell will seek reelection, but who might oppose him remains unclear. More easily defined will be the election in Union City where Acting Mayor Brian Stack is seen as a likely winner.
Hoboken
The first half of the year will likely be dominated by the mayoral election. Mayor Anthony Russo, who has almost completely recovered from lung cancer that sidelined him for much of the year last year, has announced his intention to run for a third term.
His likely opponents include City Councilman Dave Roberts and former School Board President Michael Lenz. While Roberts hasn’t officially announced his candidacy, he and Lenz have been trying to capture the high ground in a number of city issues. Continued wrangling is expected next year over issues like developers’ proposals for residential apartment buildings on the piers and city finances.
In addition to the mayoral contest, the city’s three at-large council people, Nellie Moyeno, Stephen Hudock and Tony Soares, are up for re-election.
Contenders and pretenders in Jersey City
Look for several unannounced mayoral candidates in Jersey City to make it official or bow out in the next few months. At this point, the field could be as large as eight, with Council President Tom DeGise leading a field including Councilwoman Melissa Holloway, former council president and former freeholder Glenn Cunningham, Public Works Director Kevin Sluka, councilmen Robert Cavanaugh and Mariano Vega, former Mayor Gerald McCann and Freeholder Bill O’Dea.
Many council seats will be contested, as well. One of the high-profile races will be former Downtown councilman Jaime Vazquez, a frequent critic of the current council, who will make a run at incumbent Mariano Vega’s seat.
The real test in Secaucus
The unusual political union between Secaucus Democratic Chairman Anthony Impreveduto and Mayor Dennis Elwell will face its next text this year as Elwell comes up for re-election. Critics believe the union will part by the April deadline for primary filing, although Elwell and other Democrats claim no fractures have formed in the political unity. The real question for the new year may be whether or not 2nd Ward Councilman John Bueckner will run for mayor. Bueckner – whose two year term as councilman also expires in 2001 – would have to risk his council seat to make the move.
The mayoral election could also repeat the 1998 race in which Republican Frank MacCormack challenges Elwell and an independent candidate while Tom Troyer, former school board member and long-time critic of the Democrats, runs as a Republican.
Unfortunately for any challenger, Elwell can cite recent accomplishments in office. Under his watch, the town will see an expansion of the schools, the building of a new library and the reconstruction of Meadowlands Parkway.
Something of a letdown in Union City
Almost seeming like a let down after a year in which Mayor Rudy Garcia of Union City resigned, a special election for one seat on the Union City Board of Commissioners will be held in November. This election is being held because the current mayor, Brian Stack – who also serves as a commissioner – was appointed to his seat, not elected by the residents of Union City. In this election, anyone can run against Stack. If someone does run against Stack and wins, the board will hold a reorganization meeting to decide who will be mayor. The winner of the special election will hold office until the regular municipal election in 2002.
Guttenberg
Guttenberg is the only other town in North Hudson with a mayoral election in 2001. The big question is whether or not the 82-year-old incumbent, Mayor Robert Sabello, will seek re-election. The primary will be held in June, followed by an election in November.
Hudson mostly Democratic
The appointment of Gov. Christine Whitman as head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency changes nothing as far as Hudson County’s support for the 2001 gubernatorial race. The predominantly Democratic county will likely line up behind Jim McGreevey, who has been making the political rounds here for more than a year, showing up at parades in Secaucus and swearing-in ceremonies in Jersey City.