Freeholder Balmir on the outs with Fulop after wife takes job with Sweeney

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District 3 Freeholder Gerard Balmir is on the outs with Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a likely 2017 gubernatorial candidate, after his wife took a job with Senate Pres. Stephen Sweeney (D-3) – another top NJ Democrat potentially seeking a gov run. 

Balmirs-Fulop

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Multiple county sources confirmed that Gerard Balmir’s wife, T. Missy Balmir, just accepted a job with Sweeney’s office – enraging Fulop and the rest of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

T. Missy Balmir currently lists her job as the Chief of Staff to East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor, according to her Facebook page, though the Balmirs likely have a relationship with Sweeney through mutual connections in the labor union.

Sweeney was a union ironworker prior to getting involved in politics, currently serving as the vice president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, while Gerard Balmir is the government and community affairs director of the Laborers’ International Union of North American (LIUNA).

While Fulop did not immediately return inquires for comment from Hudson County View, he told Politicker NJ earlier in the day that “I have never met anyone who’s more disloyal or dishonest” when asked about the situation.

As Politicker NJ also reported, and as sources have additionally confirmed, a recall of Gerard Balmir is now a realistic possibility. In that event, who would potentially replace him?

Why not the man who he defeated for the freeholder seat last year, Jeff Dublin? Dublin tells Hudson County View the scenario makes perfect sense.

“I’ve been involved in county government for 24 years, I know what it takes to run efficient county government,” Dublin said over the phone.

“During my time on the freeholder board, I had a great attendance record for both the general committee meetings and the subcommittee meetings and I was very active in the community,” adding that in the event of a recall election, he certainly wouldn’t rule himself out.

When asked to react to the Balmirs current woes with Fulop and the HCDO, Dublin said Gerard Balmir should have at least had the foresight to sit down with Fulop before even entertaining any type of offer from Team Sweeney.

“If it was me, and the mayor of my home town was thinking about running for governor, and he supported me for the freeholder seat, I would at least sit down and have a meeting with my mayor and the party leaders,” he explained. “That’s where it should lay before anything.”

Dublin currently works at the deputy executive director of the embattled Jersey City Incinerator Authority, a position he’s held since 2009.

His battle with Gerard Balmir came in at No. 9 on Hudson County View’s 2014 Feuds of the Year list.

Gerard Balmir did not return calls or a text message seeking comment, while Sweeney’s office declined to comment on the matter.

 


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1 COMMENT

  1. Karma is a beech! Was not just a month ago Fulop was disloyal and dishonest. He hasn’t met anyone more disloyal and dishonest only because he has not taken a good look in the mirror.

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