Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, and although he wasn’t on the ballot, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise all had something to smile about after the results came in last night.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
WINNERS
Jimmy Davis –Â Grey-bearded Hudson County mainstays will tell you that there are three certainties in life: death, taxes and close Bayonne mayoral races. Davis and his slate crushed it at the polls, with the mayor defeating Jason O’Donnell by 19 percentage points.
Brian Stack – Few politicians are as talented at running up the score as Stack, securing 11,208 votes in an uncontested race. What else is there to say, he’s untouchable on his home turf.
Richard Turner – As usual, no news is good news in Weehawken. Turner and his “Weehawken and You” slate were the only names on the ballot last night. They haven’t squared off against a full slate since 2002 and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
Team DeGise – While the Hudson County executive won’t be on the ballot until June 2019, the Davis win is a huge boost, to the tune of 102 Democratic committee votes, in his quest to keep Stack from running the HCDO. State Senator (D-32)/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco and his PR team of choice, Vision Media, also played a role in getting Davis re-elected.
LOSERS
Jason O’Donnell – Fans of political melees were expecting Rumble in the Jungle and instead they got Mayweather vs. McGregor. The majority of Bayonne voters didn’t see a need for change in a race where the ex-Assemblyman failed to break 40 percent of the vote.
Stronger Foundations, Inc. – After helping push Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla over the finish line in November, the labor super PAC was unable to come anywhere close to replicating that success in Bayonne – despite dropping six figures on O’Donnell.
The Anti-DeGise Team – Stack’s other worldly GOTV operation won’t help him become the next HCDO chair. Stack and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s call for new county leadership before the June 12th vote is now even more perplexing since they didn’t do anything to help O’Donnell.
Anyone who enjoys competitive elections – Bayonne was a blowout, while North Hudson continues to be as predictable and boring as ever with no one even considering to take on Stack and/or Turner.
