The legendary rock and roll band The Rolling Stones have a song called “Tumbling Dice,” which should have been the theme song of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HDCO).
In a presidential election as unpredictable as the one currently taking place, endorsing any candidate is a roll of the dice.
For Democrats, Hudson County has always been Hillary Clinton country. Even if it wasn’t, local Democrats clearly feel more comfortable backing a political machine candidate than one like Bernie Sanders.
So it was no shock that the HCDO last week announced its support for Clinton over Sanders as the gears of the political machine engage for what could become a decisive Democratic primary in June.
In a culture of political favors, Clinton is predictable. If Clinton wins the Democratic nomination this year, she may well repay the favor next year when Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop makes his bid for the Democratic nod for governor.
Although the HCDO claims Sanders is making campaign promises he can’t keep, in truth, as an Independent, Sanders won’t feel as beholden to machine Democrats as Clinton. Sanders can’t be counted on to play the usual political game. This is his appeal elsewhere. But in Hudson County –as another Rolling Stones song, “Sympathy for the Devil” once pointed out – sinners become saints.
Sanders, like the GOP’s Donald Trump, is a populist candidate, someone who draws his strength from the unpredictable masses. This is a dangerous breed for machine politicians like those that populate Hudson County.
Eight years ago, when Clinton ran against Barack Obama, local Democrats were split over their choice. Some actually supported the populist Obama over Clinton.
This and other splits among local Democrats led to something of a quiet reformation inside the HCDO. Democrats cleaned house, ridding the party of anyone who would split the Democratic vote. Those who survived this purge learned early on to recognize the new political reality.
Hudson County to become powerful again?
The Democrats’ press conference announcing their endorsement of Clinton on April 4 demonstrated a renewed unity that some Democrats hope will last through the presidential election and help get Fulop the Democratic nod for governor in 2017
While State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco said it is time for a woman to become president, Sanders supporters and others might well question why it has to be Clinton. Her ties to Wall Street have made Clinton a target elsewhere in the country. But in Hudson County, where Jersey City is vying to become Wall Street west, these ties become a badge of honor.
As with New York, New Jersey will most likely fall in line and support Clinton partly due to the huge economic interests Wall Street plays in the region.
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise tried to play up the fact that Hudson County has historically been a Democratic powerhouse in the state, often deciding who will be the nominees for state and national elections – the bluest county in the state.
While Hudson County has a lot of votes, it is no longer the political machine it once was. Much of the last eight years has been an effort by local Democrats to regain that position.
In selecting Jersey City Councilwoman Joyce Watterman and former Assemblywoman Joan Quigley to run the Clinton campaign in Hudson County, the HCDO has tied together two of the more powerful municipal machines: Fulop and Sacco.
This powerhouse will support Jersey City Councilwoman Diane Coleman in her bid for county register. She will be opposed by Moses Salem and Esmeralda Trinidad. Pamela Gardner, who currently holds the position, got the message and will not seek reelection. This may well be one more bit of house cleaning, and a message to state Sen. Sandra Cunningham. Gardner was a Cunningham pick. But Cunningham appears to be supporting State Senate President Stephen Sweeney for governor, not Fulop. So this move to get rid of Gardner may also be the first move by Fulop to unseat Cunningham.
The HCDO also announced that it would support a third term for Hudson County Sheriff Frank X. Schillari, who is opposed in the Democratic primary by Andrea Espinal and Juan Espinal (not related).
Is Stack crazy enough to run for county executive?
Rumors claim that state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack may be thinking about running for county executive when DeGise’s term expires in three years.
While Stack can legally hold two public offices because he was elected prior to a change of law, he could not continue to be mayor or state senator if he was to successfully win as county executive.
For anyone who knows Stack, this is a crazy idea.
Most people believe Stack can remain mayor of Union City for life, if he so chooses. He is loved that much by residents there.
Although the county executive has often been called “the mayor’s mayor,” in truth, it is far less powerful a position than mayor of a municipality. Technically a higher office than mayor, politically the county executive doesn’t run Hudson County – the 12 mayors do.
DeGise has his power base. But this pales in comparison to the big three: Fulop, Sacco, and Stack.
The next county executive will be chosen by these and the other mayors. But with the current peace treaty holding between Stack and Sacco in North Hudson, it is unlikely that Stack would get the nod.
DeGise was allowed to run again partly because he was able to keep the peace.
Will Sacco stand by and allow Stack to take up that post? Stack and Fulop have become very close allies as it is, and should war break out again between Sacco and Stack, a union of Stack and Fulop would be disastrous for Sacco, who seems to use the Hudson County Schools of Technology and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department to provide patronage jobs.
A recall in Bayonne?
Opponents of Bayonne Mayor James Davis have filed signatures this week for a recall against him and two council members.
This is the last best chance to unseat him before redevelopment starts helping revive the Bayonne economy and raises Davis’s political stock.
Opponents are apparently hoping to use the anti-incumbent sentiments of the national campaigns for Sanders and Trump to unseat Davis.
Trump, if he is the GOP candidate for president, will likely win Bayonne, and bring out an anti-Davis vote.
This is a desperate move, because if Davis survives, he will be that much more unstoppable when he runs for reelection in 2018.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.