Busy Monday

You're only as good as your "Mile Square sources;" apparently, Augie's stank

It is a busy, busy Monday in Mile Square politics.

First, the lovely and talented HHA Chairwoman and HDP Treasurer, Dana Wefer, has officially thrown her hat into the 4th Ward ring.  

And it is pronounced Wee-fer, not Way-fer or Weh-fer.

Congratulations to you, Dana Wee-fer.

Next, at 8 PM tonight is the much-discussed Hoboken Democratic Party re-org; we will learn who gets annointed (by ballot) Chairman.  Al Sullivan wrote 2 weeks ago: 

Some of the political power brokers are bound and determined to remove Jamie Cryan as chairman. Although these disaffected political figures claim they are doing it because they are unhappy with the job Cryan has done during his four years as chairman...At this point, the likely replacement for Cryan, if he is removed at the official committee meeting in June, will either be Councilman Michael Russo or Freeholder Anthony Romano.  

Interestingly, the question of who will prevail may not be decided by the Russo faction, but instead by a voting machine.  Or,  the privacy accorded by machine voting vs. a public show of hands. 

Bringing in a machine was a brilliant move by Cryan, who improved the odds of keeping his seat with a vote by secret ballot.  The Russos can't be pleased.

And Romano?   

GA thinks our Freeholder needs to focus on reducing Hoboken's burden of County taxes before he takes on other responsibilities, such as Democratic Party chair.  Romano has a lot of work to do to help Hoboken at the County level. A 24% tax increase in 2 consecutive years?  Unnacceptable. Nope, Romano needs to focus on lowering taxes for Hoboken residents, not taking another office.  Coming up with cuts to County expenditures should keep him plenty busy.  

As for Beth Mason, Horsey reports she's lobbying hard for the Honorary Chair, a position that normally goes to Hoboken's mayor.  GA heard a rumor that Mason will run for 2nd Ward council after all; gotta keep that incompetent anchovy on the payroll, right?

Well, as hard as Mason wants to leapfrog over Hoboken to bigger, glitzier political jobs, if her support for Sweeney doesn't pan out, she'll be blackballed locally and politically DOA in New Jersey.

What a shame!

So, later this evening we'll see if the 'secret ballot'  impacted results.  In 2010, there was no secret ballot, and Augie Torres' hyped "support" for Garcia Keim bottomed out, as noted in this discussion about the Democratic Committeee election results between Bajardi v Pincus Plaintiff Kim Cardinal Bajardi and Sara Stojkovic.