In what some have called the most negative election in Bayonne in decades, Mayor Jimmy Davis was reelected along with his entire ticket. Davis won over challenges from former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell and Dr. Mitchell Brown.
The election in some ways resembled municipal elections elsewhere in Hudson County where development has become one of the key issues.
Davis touted the fact that new development has started to occur in areas of the city after decades of waiting.
O’Donnell tried to make abatements and development into a negative issue. Voters didn’t buy it.
Although not overly stated, O’Donnell’s campaign hoped to take advantage of a Davis sexting scandal that emerged last year, hoping the issue could ride the back of the current MeToo movement sweeping the nation. MeToo has become responsible for the downfall of a number of celebrities over allegations of sexual impropriety. Davis has been named in a lawsuit involving text messages sent to a former female employee.
But the issue did not make the national splash O’Donnell supporters had hoped for. Local voters didn’t buy it either. So, the O’Donnell campaign largely focused on development impacts, many of which have yet to occur. Voters chose to give Davis another four years to prove his theories right.
Stack wins at home, but perhaps not around the county
Despite getting more than 11,000 votes in his unopposed reelection bid for mayor in Union City, Mayor Brian Stack may face a serious deficit in the committee votes he will need to become the next chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO).
This is due in part to Davis’ victory in Bayonne. Committee members in each city tend to go whichever way the mayor does, and so with Davis as a strong DeGise supporter, the votes in Bayonne are expected to support DeGise’s candidate over Stack.
Another factor may be the Twitter battle between Davis and Stack ally Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop over Fulop’s plan to relocate a statue dedicated to a World War II slaughter of Polish soldiers and others. Stack might still prevail if Fulop can deliver Jersey City’s committee votes. But since DeGise has deep political roots in Jersey City, this might not happen.
In order to win the chair, Stack needs a majority of committee people to vote for him from throughout Hudson County.
Previously seen as a shoo-in, Stack’s plans fell apart when he, Fulop, and with the mayors of West New York and Hoboken, said they opposed the reelection of County Executive Tom DeGise next year. In turn, DeGise decided to put up a candidate to oppose Stack as chairman this year.
Already seen as a tight race, some Stack people had hoped for an O’Donnell win in Bayonne.
While Stack can count on committee votes from Union City, these are largely offset by North Bergen, which is expected to go with DeGise.
This means that Stack and DeGise much cobble together votes from the other towns. West Hudson’s town, East Newark, Kearny and Harrison, along with Weehawken and Guttenberg are expected to go with DeGise as well.
While West New York should have gone to Stack because Mayor Felix Roque is Stack’s ally, an internal squabble may steer many if not all of these votes to DeGise.
Hoboken has the same problem. Mayor Ravi Bhalla read the riot act to Democratic committee people there, but can’t guarantee he can deliver them all to Stack.
Turner reelected unopposed
In news that is not news, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner and his slate of commissioners were elected to another four years unopposed.
Weehawken has seen unprecedented development along its waterfront over the years four years, but it also underwent a revaluation of assessed property. This could have served as an opponent’s platform had anyone been brave enough to use it.
Can Democrats come back in Secaucus?
With former Assemblyman Vincent Prieto bowing out as chair of the HDCO in June, Democrats in Secaucus may be seeking a comeback.
Some of the potential organizers claim Prieto – who served both as the county and municipal chair – suppressed the Democratic Party to the benefit of Mayor Michael Gonnelli and his council members, all of whom run as Independents.
The Bid Rig III scandal in 2009 – which some believe was a campaign stunt to help get Republican Christopher Christie elected governor – brought down a number of prominent Democrats, including then-Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell. Elwell at the time also headed the local Democratic Party, which floundered after his resignation and later conviction.
Just who will lead the Democratic revival is uncertain. Gonnelli just won reelection last November. But there are three council seats up for election this November. While Democrats have not filed to run anyone in the June primary, they can possibly still mount a ticket to challenge in Gonnelli’s candidates in November.
Gonnelli, of course, is well-loved in Secaucus. But there are some calling for him to step aside and not seek reelection in 2021 on account of his health. Several years ago, Gonnelli suffered a massive stroke, making a recovery even he calls “miraculous.”
Berkes says he was following orders
The details behind the suspension of Secaucus High School Principal Dr. Bob Berkes and his assistant principal, and the reassigning of a security guard, have not yet been made public.
But Berkes this week said the truth will come out if and when he gets his day in court.
“I did what I was told to do,” he told The Hudson Reporter this week.
He did not elaborate on the issue, although there is some speculation that the suspension may have to deal with his alleged failure to properly document an incident at the high school, which may have involved drugs or possession of a weapon.
Berkes has retained an attorney, but has not yet filed a suit in regards to his suspension.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.
