The Hudson County Democratic Organization raised $549,848 in the fourth quarter of last year, with $311,413.12 cash on hand ahead of what looks to be a contentious primary, their January 22nd campaign finance report says.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
They technically had $464,263.59 cash on hand after the quarter, but they also have $152,850.47 in outstanding debts.
The majority of their large contributions came from elected officials and labor unions, which is fairly standard operating procedure for a local partisan county apparatus in the Garden State.
U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8), who had the HCDO’s backing in his re-election bid last year, donated $30,000, with U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), who also received the HCDO’s support, chipped in $20,000, according to the report, which was eight days late.
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin contributed $10,000, U.S. Rep. Nellie Pou (D-9), who represents Secaucus and part of Kearny and had the HCDO’s endorsement, wrote a check for $5,000.
The third U.S. representative for Hudson County, LaMonica McIver (D-10), whose district includes about half of Jersey City, donated as well, but just $500. The HCDO also backed her bid for Congress.
Furthermore, the Union County Democratic Organization gave $25,000.
The New Jersey State Laborers showed their vote of confidence with $50,000, as did the Operating Engineers Local 825. To that end, the Greater Carpenters PEC gave a total of $45,000.
William Melms, who owns Jersey City-based Guarini Plumbing, showed his support with $25,000, while RSC Architects, a county contractor, contributed $15,000.
Boswell Engineering, another county contractor, and Joseph Baumann, the chair of McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC, who works for various agencies throughout the county, donated $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
The law firm as a whole also gave an additional $3,000.
Other county contractors who donated include Secaucus’ Waters, McPherson, McNeil, PC ($20,000) and Little Falls-based Mast Construction ($15,000).
HCDO Executive Director Storm Wyche, their only salaried employee, was compensated $34,071.60, the Chandelier restaurant in Bayonne was paid $26,393.94 for an October fundraiser, and Ray Ferraioli’s H&P Consulting was paid $21,867 for fundraising efforts.
The organization spent a total of $192,697.97 between October 1st and December 31st.
This was the HCDO’s first big fundraising quarter in quite some time, which was necessary with at least one contested state Assembly race official in the 33rd Legislative District official, as HCV first reported, and others expected in LD-31 and LD-32 as well.
Additionally, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis is widely expected to be the HCDO’s candidate against Sheriff Frank Schillari for the June 10th primary.
And while it remains unclear what they will do in the governor’s race, it is fairly certain they will not support Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who has been on a warpath against democratic establishments across the state.
