Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, also the chair of the county Democrats, explained why the HCDO endorsed U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill for governor, as well as his thoughts about the civil war that led to a contentious June 10th primary yesterday.
“I have confidence Congresswoman [Mikie] Sherrill will bring to Hudson, and to the municipalities in Hudson, what we need,” Guy declared during a question and answer session after his State of the County Address last night.
He said the decision came after speaking to hundreds of Democratic committee members, local advocacy groups, and residents, with the consensus being that Sherrill was the best candidate, despite the fact that Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is one of her opponents.
“The new brand that I would like to see go forward is inclusion. Gone are the days of making those decisions in the back room. By bringing Mikie in, numerous times, several times to meet these different groups, different people,” Guy exclaimed.
“She personally met and spoke to people on the phone, whoever we encouraged her to meet with, be it charity organizations, civics. We had a consensus at one point. We’re all rooting for her.”
There is no love lost between Guy and Fulop at this point, with the mayor of Hudson’s largest city announcing four of the six local members of the state Assembly as running mates of his in June when it was clear the HCDO wouldn’t back his statewide run.
While Assemblymen John Allen (D-32) and Julio Marenco (D-33) are no longer seeking re-election, Fulop is still expected to back a full slate in those districts, already running Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-31) with Bayonne 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer, as HCV first reported.
They will face off with Assemblyman Will Sampson (D-31) and County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-3), while the county Dems are with Jennie Pu and Crystal Fonseca in LD-32), and finally Larry Wainstein and Gabe Rodriguez in LD-33.
Fulop is also currently supporting Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-32), along with County Sheriff Frank Schillari, while the HCDO will endorse Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis against him.
“One of the biggest frustrations I have as an elected and as the chairperson of the party is, is some of the divisions that are created, that have been created. I think part of Craig Guy’s DNA is to be a consensus builder. It frustrates the hell out of me that after numerous, numerous, and numerous conversations that we could not get … to a consensus. All families have their family squabbles, right?” he noted.
He continued that he thinks Sherrill is the best option to have a Democratic governor, which he feels is pivotal with President Donald Trump (R) in his second term. Guy also blamed Fulop for the current civil war dynamic in Hudson.
“Having a sitting mayor who’s running for governor at this point, in Hudson, has helped create the division,” he asserted.
“My leadership for the party is pointed in the right direction. My motives, our motives as a party, are pointed in the right direction. I would not say that about others.”
Fulop responded in kind, indicating that Guy is the one who should look in the mirror in this situation.
“There is a reason that Tom DeGise, his old boss doesn’t trust him, there is a reason that Nick Sacco one of his former closest relationships can’t stand him, there is a reason that half the mayors in the county think his word means nothing,” he declared.
“There is a reason Josh Gottheimer thinks Craig’s word means nothing, there is a reason that the rest of the state thinks the HCDO is a joke. This isn’t from me this is from people that know Craig well. The talk around the state is Craig will likely be a one term county executive.”
Guy then reiterated some of the points from his speech, including making Hudson County more affordable for the middle class, as well as touching on some federal issues such as the funding freeze proposed by the Trump administration that is currently on hold.
“When Trump made that announcement, our phones were ringing off the hook, and rightfully so. My cabinet was … panicking because we know how quick Trump has been moving on various issues,” he recalled.
Guy explained they quickly sought advice from U.S. Senator Cory Booker, as well as U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez (D-8), LaMonica McIVer (D-10), since the county’s health care, public safety, and social services could have been hurt badly.
“All these programs were on the chopping block. That would have been a chaotic nightmare. They know for us urban cities, what it means for our Community Development Block Grants, our Ryan White grant, that would be a travesty… if that funding source was cut off.”
Guy further stated that the new county courthouse, the Frank Guarini Justice Complex, will be open soon. However, the judiciary wants to make sure that tech security is not an issue and that has caused a slight delay.
“It was refreshing to see how many union jobs were available. The businesses around here flourished,” he said about the construction.
He also touched on the Gateway Tunnel project, which will connect North Bergen to Manhattan, stating that construction is moving at “warp speed.”
“That project is moving swiftly, and that is going to relieve a transit bottleneck in Hudson,” he argued.
Guy also pointed out that the county is building a permanent food pantry in Bayonne on Broadway, which was mad possible after $5 million was secured from Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJ EDA).