Bayonne 3rd Ward council candidate Peter Franco is claiming “the real boss of our city” appears to be Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, not Mayor Jimmy Davis, due to certain members of the incumbent’s campaign apparatus.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Fulop endorsed Davis earlier this month at an event for the Fund for Quality Leadership at the Chandelier Restaurant, citing the Peninsula City’s improvements in social services and development during the fellow mayor’s tenure, as HCV first reported.
In a statement, Franco noted that John Minella, Fulop’s chief of staff, is serving as Davis’ campaign manager, and attended 2nd Ward council candidate Jaqueline Weimmer’s campaign kickoff on Saturday.
Additionally, Weimmer is dating Mark Meyers, a longtime Bayonne political operative that has done campaign work for Fulop in the past, and Jersey City Police Capt. Joe Olszewski, who lives in Bayonne, has been canvassing doors with Weimmer, Franco continued.
“Why can’t Fulop and his political underlings stay away from 14A? Maybe Fulop is seeking a higher position,” he added.
“I am concerned that Bayonne doesn’t become Ward G of Jersey City since the real boss of our city appears to be at 280 Grove Street and not 630 Avenue C.”
In response, Davis campaign spokesman Phil Swibinski again went after Franco for being convicted of having sex with a minor at a 2008 court-martial.
“Mayor Davis is proud to have the support of leaders like Mayor Fulop who have a clear record of delivering for their communities, just like Mayor Davis has done in Bayonne,” he said.
“It’s telling that while Mayor Davis is attracting support from Democratic leaders from Bayonne and Hudson County, Sharon Nadrowski’s most prominent supporter is a political gadfly who forced sex on a child in Peter Franco.”
In Bayonne’s 3rd Ward, Franco is running independently, Davis is support Councilman Gary La Pelusa, and Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, Davis’ chief opponent, is backing Board of Education President Maria Valado.
The non-partisan Bayonne municipal elections are May 10th.
