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Posted by Pepe Bonmot
on April 02, 2002 at 17:11:08:
Hartnett Announcement By Steven Glazer Urban Times 04/22/02 (Jersey City) Bernie Hartnett formally announced the kickoff of his reelection bid to fill a one year interim term as County Executive on Tuesday. An enthusiastic crowd chanted "Bernie, Bernie," as Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham introduced Hartnett to the apparently partisan crowd. Cunningham used the opportunity to declare "Independents Day in Hudson County," a barb apparently aimed ar Democratic Congressman Robert Menendez. Menenmdez has publicly declared his support for Tom DeGise for the County Executive's post. Cunningham defeated DeGise in the recent mayoral race. Hartnett told the crowd that though he had been in the post only a relatively short time he felt that he had already accomplished quite a bit and asked only for the opportunity "to finish what I started." Hartnett took office five months ago to fill the unexpired term of Bob Janiszewski who left the office under a cloud. Cunningham referred to the "big feud brewing," between factions of the County Democratic organization backing Hartnett and those supporting DeGise. One senior observer explained that Menendez is aligned with interests that do not support Jersey City amongst the other municipalities of the County. Rev. Ed Allen a member of the Jersey City Board of Education said the history of the socalled feud could be traced back to the term of former Republican Mayor Brett Schundler. The County Democratic leadership left a vacuum that in Allen's opinion. Menendez had filled, seeking to expand his sphere of influence. Rev. Allen said that Congressman Menendez is from Union City whose population does not equal even that of Jersey City's Word F, Bergen-Lafayette. "It is about minority representation," said Allen who characterized Menendez support for DeGise as "race-baiting- Jersey City is brown and black. Menendez is Cuban heritage and from Union City, but has aligned himself with those interests in the County that are the least Brown and Black. The children in the Jersey City Public Schools, the kids at Snyder High, are the ones who will get the short end of the stick." DeGise is currently the placement officer with the Jersey City Public Schools helping to find employment for students. Allen said that it Degise's performance could suffer if DeGise was involved in an election campaign for the County post. Several presents and former elected officials attended the Press Conference State Senator Joseph Charles, Freeholder William Braker, Councilpersons Mariano Vega, Viola Richardson, Junior Maldonado, and Peter Brennan. Former Mayor Gerald McCann attended to support Cunningham and Bernie Hartnett. McCann supported DeGise in the runoff election. A host of former elected official also we in attendence Former Councilwoman Mary Avagliano, Former Councilman Jaime Vasquez, and Former Council Presidents Bobby Jackson and Dominick Pugulise. One source added that it took Congressman Menendez to put Mayor Glenn Cunningham together with Former Mayor Gerald McCann. |
