Subject:

Comments:
<font face=arial size=2>: It's war! </font> <font face=arial size=2>: Democrats headed for primary fight over county executive</font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: By: Al Sullivan </font> <font face=arial size=2>: Reporter senior staff writer March 10, 2002 </font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: At a rally held in Jersey City Monday, Mayor Glenn Cunningham told his supporters on the city and county level that his opponents in North Hudson will either nominate Bernard Hartnett - the current acting county executive - to keep his position in the June 4 Democratic primary, or face all-out political war. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: At the same time, in a meeting of mayors in North Hudson, county Democratic Chairman Rep. Robert Menendez (D-13th Dist.) laid plans to nominate another candidate. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: While Hartnett, 72, might otherwise be a perfectly acceptable choice for all Democrats - considering his remarkable record in the past - Cunningham has apparently been making inroads on the county level that have made other Democrats elsewhere in the county uncomfortable. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: Cunningham and Menendez are clashing for control of the Hudson County Democrats and according to observers, the battle must be waged this year or else Cunningham - who took office only last May - might prove too strong next year and have too much power over choosing candidates for offices. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: While discussions are not settled on who will face off against Hartnett in June, someone will, and the short list according to an inside source includes former County Freeholder Lou Manzo, former Jersey City Councilman Tom DeGise and Jersey City Councilwoman Mary Donnelly. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: "Hartnett will not be elected county executive," one official high in the Menendez organization said. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: While rumors for a time named Hudson County Sheriff Joseph Cassidy as a possible Menendez pick and he said he would take on the role if asked, his position has lost ground during the last two weeks. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: In meeting with his troops, Cunningham hoped to reverse the shift in power from Jersey City to North Hudson, something that started in the late 1970s. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: "Cunningham met with county and municipal workers," said one observer. "He said if other Democrats didn't support Hartnett there would be war." </font> <font face=arial size=2>: But unless Cunningham can find another town to support him in his effort to retain Hartnett, the primary battle will pit Jersey City Democrats against Democrats in every other Hudson County town. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: "If that's the case, Cunningham's man won't win," said another observer. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: Cunningham cannot count on state Senator and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, who has shifted towards Menendez over the last few weeks. Mayor Dennis Elwell, another former Cunningham supporter, will follow Sacco, despite his own disagreements with Menendez. Elwell was a supporter of former Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia, who had his own war with Menendez in 1999. </font> <font face=arial size=2>: </font> <font face=arial size=2>: What's at stake?</font> <font face=arial size=2>: New Jersey - and Hudson County in particular - often operates under a patronage system of politics. Supporters of a winning candidate expect to get governmental jobs, contracts and other fringe benefits as reward for their efforts. At b</font>

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

New Jersey's First City

New Jersey Commentary and Short Stories