DeGise Wars (may the Stack be with you)

GA didn't used to pay attention to HudCo politics.  

That's because Zimmer didn't either; she wasn't a player, nor wanted to be.  As for rubbing elbows with HudCo bosses, the mayor did the bare minimum she was expected to do- if that.  Zimmer didn't play the game, didn't ask for anything, kept Hoboken's nose clean.   

Now we have a different kind of mayor, one who likes politics, who will engage, who will mix it up. That's not bad, just different. 

This mayor, Ravi Bhalla, is a progressive Democrat (not a DINO), all in with the Democratic machine, and knows how to (and will) access the state levers of power for Hoboken. He will be an activist mayor, and a political actor locally.  To follow, he has just done something totally unZimmer-like: Mayor Bhalla jumped right in on the DeGise civil war.  

What civil war? In short, Hudson County officials are choosing sides on keeping or ousting County Executive Tom DeGise.

Zimmer would have sat it out, or waited.  Bhalla dove right in, alongside Fulop, Roque and Stack, against DeGise. On DeGise's side: North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco and Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis.  

Interestingly, neither Stack nor Fulop supported Bhalla for mayor. Stack stayed out after endorsing Zimmer's re-election; GA heard that Stack was not enamored with Ravi, nor any of the Hoboken candidates. Mike DeFusco, in particular.

As for Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, he no-showed at Zimmer/Bhalla events, and was rumored to be helping Mike DeFusco.  

Not just Fulop (allegedly) but North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco's aide, Joey Muniz, gave vocal support for Mike DeFusco; Muniz  introduced DeFusco at a HudCo event as "Hoboken's next mayor!"   He also pulled out all stops to keep Freeholder Anthony Romano out of the race.

  

Uncle Nick babysat in Hoboken

Naturally, none of District 32's alleged interference in a District 33 election sat well with Mayor Stack.   

After he endorsed Dawn Zimmer, Stack told InsiderNJ that North Bergen's interference would be a "mistake." 
  

After that warning, North Bergen supposedly withdrew from the Hoboken election.

And just when you thought peace reigned over the land... we're in the DeGise Civil War!

Oy vey. What does this all mean for Hoboken? If DeGise wins, does Hoboken get screwed (tax-wise) more than we already are? If he is replaced, can we change that funding formula that's weighted against Hoboken residents? 

Mayor Bhalla will address the voting members of the Hoboken Democratic Committee this coming Monday, March 19th at Carpe Diem, with guest Mayor Brian Stack to discuss the DeGise heave-ho. 

Bhalla told the committee in an invitation, "...Hoboken contributes far more than we receive back from the County.  I am requesting your attendance this coming Monday to also explain why I am joining Senator Stack, along with Jersey City Mayor Fulop, West New York Mayor Roque and many other officials in seeking a new direction and progressive leadership at the County level."

I'd like to hear that, too.

We'd all like to know what's in it for us.  You know, risk and reward.

May the Stack be with you.