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As the Board of Education races get closer there will be more information on candidates and we will handicap the races, but for now we will discuss the race for Hudson County Sheriff.
 

This week Hudson County Undersheriff Frank Schillari announced his plans to challenge incumbent Sheriff Juan Perez in what is sure to be an interesting race. 

Perez appears to have the support of Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy, State Senator Sandra Cunningham, Assemblyman Tony Chiappone, Assemblyman Charlie Mainor, and most of the Jersey City Freeholder delegation. 

Schillari has the support of North Bergen Mayor/State Senator Nick Sacco, Union City Mayor/State Senator Brian Stack, and Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith. 

Perez appears to have the upper hand because Healy can award him the Democratic line on the ballot, however there are numerous reports that Healy may step down before the end of his term as Chairman.  In that case look for Sacco, Stack, and Smith to put together a coalition to take the Chairmanship for one of their allies and award the line to Schillari. 

Rutherford’s Neighborhood Watch

I recently ran into my buddy the BergenBlueWhale on a hunting trip, and he is reporting that former Jersey City Mayor, and convicted felon Gerald McCann has surfaced in Rutherford to assist Republican candidate Todd Hennessy, in his race against Democrat John Parnofiello.  Doesn’t McCann have enough work to do in Jersey City as Board of Ed member instead of harassing the hardworking people of Rutherford with his political bile?   

Speaking of McCann, his nephew and fellow board of education member Sean Connors is in full damage control.  It appears that Connors followed McCann’s lead with regard to voting against the Teachers Union’s Contract only to see fellow police officers take umbrage with his lack of support for fellow Union members.  Now as Connors tries to right this wrong McCann is attacking him and claiming he is prohibited from voting for the contract since he received the endorsement of the JCEA.   What is the boy wonder Sean Connors to do?

Dawn Roberts???

When Dawn Zimmer won the election for Mayor many residents expected her administration and City Council Majority to resemble that of former Hoboken Mayor Thomas Vezzetti.  Instead, it appears to be more and more like the administration of former Mayor Dave Roberts with each passing day. 

The latest antics involve the no-bid contract of Hoboken Attorney Paul Condon, which has created quite the ethical firestorm for Zimmer and company.  Hoboken411 has done a brilliant job detailing this controversial matter, which for all intents and purposes has destroyed Ravi Bhalla’s credibility as a reformer in Hoboken. 

You see, Bhalla shares office space with Condon, which they occupy under a common lease, but he does not think that is a conflict.  This is also not the first office they have shared together, but he also seems to think that isn’t a conflict.  Last but not least, sources report they share the same receptionist, but again Bhalla thinks this is not a conflict.  

 Peter Cunningham’s wife Jen and Condon’s wife Renee market and sell real estate together in Hoboken and Renee contributed $1,250 to Cunningham’s Council Campaign in 2007, but they again claim there is no conflict 

The problem here is the Zimmer contingent act as if Pay to Play laws were passed for everyone to follow, except them.  How dare the Mayor and her buddies on the City Council spit in the face of the reform movement the way that they have.

Their latest act is to trot out my buddy Tony Soares, who has attacked Beth Mason for taking issue with what the Councilwoman calls “a blatant conflict of interest”.  Tony goes one further in his attempt to assassinate Mason’s character in his typical hypocritical manner.  He also makes several disparaging remarks about Councilman Michael Russo.  Okay Tony, lets examine your statements the way you pick apart everyone else’s.

You attack Mason because you allege Russo is an ally of hers.  Funny, I remember you and your pal Carol Marsh teaming up with Russo and Castellano plenty when you sat on the City Council with them.  You sought their endorsement in 2005 when you ran against the Roberts Team and accepted Russo’s support when you threw your name in the hat to replace Dawn Zimmer after she vacated her 4^th Ward Council seat.  Seems you have the attitude of: “I can but no one else can” here Tony.