Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, also the chair of the county Democrats, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, and state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack had a meeting of the minds with Bayonne Mayor-elect Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski yesterday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Guy told HCV today that the meeting, which was held over breakfast, was about 50/50 when it came to discussing government and politics, including discussing Ashe-Nadrowski’s transition into City Hall when she and the new City Council are sworn in on July 1st.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, Ashe-Nadrowski, the first woman elected Bayonne mayor, announced John Minella as the chair of her transition team, with Maria Valado serving as the vice chair, as HCV first reported.
“We were getting to know Sharon a little better, talking Bayonne politics, talking her transition. James was about Jersey City and the budget, while myself and Brian doubled down as far as trying to help him. I’ve been down to Trenton two or three times, as well as the NJIT hearing. Myself and James also went down to meet the speaker last week,” Guy said over the phone.
“Overall, we talked about unity and we’re proud of it. She gets elected as the new mayor, we stay out of by design, let the Bayonne guys figure it out, and she wins first ballot. James and I have been working together since before the runoff, and I have to tell you, we talk once a day and it’s 80 percent about government. That breakfast was more of a ‘let’s just continue the good politics of where we are in the last nine months.’”
Guy added that Stack wanted to hear about any legislative priorities Ashe-Nadrowski had in mind, even though Bayonne is not part of his district.
A united front certainly has its benefits for Guy in the foreseeable future, though a second term as Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) chair appears academic with 10 mayors on board as of last month, with Ashe-Nadrowski potentially poised to join on soon.
The bigger prize is awaits in the June 2027 primary, where Guy is seeking a second term as county executive.
Having the support of Solomon, Stack, and Ashe-Nadrowski would make it difficult for a credible challenger to emerge from the left, though no one has formally signaled support yet for a race that is still over a year away.
For the elections coming up this Tuesday, Solomon, Stack, and Guy endorsed nine consensus candidates for Hudson County commissioner, with only the 9th District being contested, as well as backing Hudson County Register Jeff Dublin for re-election.
Perplexing why the state senator in attendance of this breakfast meeting was not the one who represents Bayonne, Senator Angela McKnight.