Just because Lawrence “Larry” Wainstein is running for mayor of North Bergen doesn’t stop him from being a shy guy.
This may explain why some of his followers asked a member of the press to stop taking pictures at a political fundraiser at which he announced he is running for mayor against incumbent Nicholas Sacco in a May election.
Of all the upcoming races, North Bergen is expected to be the liveliest, since Wainstein – as head of the concerned citizens of North Bergen – has been an outspoken critic of Sacco for years.
His announcement came with great flourish at Schuetzen Park on Feb. 13 where several hundred people gathered to cheer him on.
Attorney Mario Blanch, who introduced Wainstein, had no kind words for Sacco, setting a negative tone for the campaign from the outset.
The consulting firm Vision Media, representing Sacco, struck back with a release that was even more incendiary than Blanch’s remarks, trying to tie Wainstein to a previously discredited administration as well as disputing Wainstein’s residence – claiming he does not live in North Bergen.
Wainstein has described his Franklin Lakes home as vacation property.
Even without the harsh rhetoric, this will be a tough campaign. Sacco has been on the township commission since 1985 and served as mayor since 1991. His victories aren’t usually mere victories, but landslides. Sacco people seem to believe if they don’t totally overwhelm an opponent, it isn’t a win.
Some people in the past believed that Wainstein’s Concerned Citizens served as political shock troops for neighboring State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack during the political hostilities that rocked North Hudson for almost a decade.
At one point during the heat of the conflict between Stack and Sacco, two purported concerned citizens groups appeared at meetings in Union City and North Bergen in an ever-escalating war of words. Concerned Citizens of Union City appeared to be doing the bidding of Sacco, while the Concerned Citizens of North Bergen appeared to be working on Stack’s behalf.
If Stack did back Wainstein in the past (something that has yet to be confirmed), this cozy relationship appears to be at an end.
Stack, who worked hard to broker a peace with Sacco, apparently isn’t willing to risk another war on Wainstein’s behalf.
In a letter to the editor of the Reporter newspapers on Feb. 11, Stack said he wanted to “put to rest any rumors or gossip” concerning his relationship with Sacco.
“I can tell you, both Mayor Sacco and I have found common ground and the benefits of working together, as opposed to constant battles that distracts us from our work and leads nowhere,” he said. “We agree much more than we disagree and have come to a conclusion that with a phone call to one another or over a cup of coffee we can resolve our differences.”
In other words, Wainstein is on his own.
Who will run on the Wainstein ticket – if anyone – remains to be seen. Although Henry Marrero is also reportedly running for office, it is unclear which office, and if he would be willing to run on a ticket with Wainstein. If he does run with Wainstein, the two men will have to decide which one will be mayor if they are lucky enough to win against overwhelming odds. In a commission form of government, voters choose five commissioners, and the commissioners vote to decide who will serve as mayor.
Sacco people vehemently denied that any offer was made to allow Marrero to run on the Sacco ticket. Although rumors suggested the Commissioner Frank Gargiulo might not seek reelection, representatives of Sacco said he will be on the ticket when Sacco reveals his running mates at Schuetzen Park on March 9.
You can be pretty sure that no one will stop the press from taking pictures.
The opposition files in West New York
On Feb 17, the West New York United Team, consisting of current WNY Commissioner Dr. Count J. Wiley, Carlos Betancourt, Myrli Sanchez, Hector Hernandez, and Thomas Leung, submitted their formal petitions to run as commissioners in the upcoming West New York municipal election in May 2015. Although when originally announced, Michael Indri served as campaign manager, Pastor Ralph Sanchez has taken over the position.
With the decision of former Freeholder Jose Munoz not to seek election this year, Wiley’s ticket becomes – so far – the most prominent opposition to Mayor Felix Roque.
Meanwhile, Roque unveiled another candidate on his ticket at a fundraiser at Las Palmas restaurant, Susan Colacurcio, a popular teacher at West New York’s Memorial High School. She joins Gabriel Rodriguez and Cosmo Cirillo, who were previously announced. The fifth candidate on the ticket – who will replace Commissioner Fior D’Aliza Frias – is expected to be announced shortly.
Although at political odds with Wiley, Roque praised his opponent’s contribution as a commissioner saying that Wiley had played his part in helping to regenerate West New York.
“I have nothing bad to say about him,” Roque said during a telephone interview.
Wiley ran with Roque in 2011, but had a falling out with the mayor a year later. Wiley attempted a recall against Roque in 2013, failing to get the necessary required signatures. Wiley also backed candidates for the Board of Education that were in opposition to Roque.
While both Wiley and Roque are currently taking the high road politically, their confrontations at commissioner meetings in the past have been heated, and most expect the election to get heated as well as these tickets get closer to the May election.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.