Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32) made it clear that he is anticipating Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s candidacy when he proclaimed that the governor’s race goes through Hudson County next year at a Liberty House fundraiser for the mayor last night.
With about 150 in attendance relaxing with cocktails and enjoying gourmet food, Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones kicked off the program, exclaiming that Prieto and Fulop “have cornered the market on public service.”
Afterwards, Prieto gave Fulop a lot of credit for helping broker the Democratic union between Passaic, Bergen Essex and Hudson Counties, referring to him as “the standard bearer of Hudson County” who will make sure the 2017 governor’s race goes through Hudson.
“We will, after November, start into the next most important election, and that election is for the governor of the state of New Jersey. And I can tell you this: Hudson County will have a big say, along with our quad, that it goes through Hudson County.”
Fulop, who has previously stated he isn’t currently seeking the governor’s seat, didn’t touch on the governor’s race, instead focusing on the firsts Jersey City is responsible for under his leadership.
Other officials in attendance included Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, Bayonne Freeholder Kenny Kopacz, former Bayonne Councilman Ray Greaves, Hoboken Freeholder Anthony Romano (D-5), Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro, Jersey City Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera, Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea, Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, Jersey City Freeholders Bill O’Dea (D-2) and E. Junior Maldonado (D-4), Jersey City Corporation Counsel Jeremy Farrell, Mark Albiez, Fulop’s chief of staff, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp and Joey Muniz served as the event’s emcee.
