Originally appeared in the Star Ledger on 03/23/01
BY RON MARSICO
STAR-LEDGER STAFF

Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler yesterday accused acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco of using his office for political purposes, contending the DiFrancesco administration is temporarily withholding more than $15 million in municipal aid to the city to embarrass him and hamper his effectiveness.

Schundler, holding a Statehouse press conference, said he cannot strike a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 because he has not been told whether Jersey City will be given $15.5 million in distressed cities aid later this year. In the past, he said, the Whitman administration let him know by December if he would get such aid, even though the money came later.

"He's misusing the office of governor and the power of the office to hurt Jersey City," said Schundler, who is opposing DiFrancesco for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the June primary. "And I think that's wholly inappropriate."

DiFrancesco's aides countered that Schundler is trying to blame Jersey City's fiscal problems on them rather than on his management of the city.

"That is a groundless accusation," said Charlie Smith, DiFrancesco's campaign manager. "After two terms as mayor, it is time for Mayor Schundler to stop taking credit for successes while blaming his many failures on the (gubernatorial) administration of the day."

Yesterday's charges were the latest in what is turning into a nasty race between DiFrancesco, who became acting governor at the end of January by way of his Senate president's post, and Schundler, who has led Jersey City since November 1992.

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