U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), the leading Democratic candidate for governor, joined the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) in Jersey City to rally supporters ahead of what’s shaping up to be a competitive June 10th primary.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We need Mikie Sherrill, remember that: Hudson County needs Mikie Sherrill down in Trenton, Hudson County needs Mikie Sherrill as the next governor. [Gov.] Phil Murphy has been a great partner to Hudson County,” HCDO Chair Craig Guy, also the county executive, said during a fundraiser at The View last night.
“Hudson County never did as well as they did under any administration until Phil Murphy became … the governor of New Jersey. A big shoutout to our friend Phil Murphy. Mikie Sherrill is what we need in Trenton. Folks, Mikie Sherrill cares about us … There’s some Democrats, quite frankly, who don’t care about other Democrats. They only care about themselves.”
The HCDO is embracing Sherrill over Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who appears to be giving the congresswoman a tough fight down the stretch according to recent polling that has him within the margin of error.
With Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney going after Sherrill recently as well, it is clear gubernatorial hopefuls are letting their hands go in the home stretch.
“We even have other people in this race who are only in it to serve themselves, who again, and again, and again have made it pretty clear. A couple that even said they might not vote for the Democrat if they don’t win. That’s not who we are,” Sherrill declared on the stage.
“That’s not who Hudson County is, that’s not what this state represents, and I can promise you that’s now who I am.”
Sherrill added that’s she’s running to address quality of life issues in New Jersey, such as affordability and flooding, recalling that there were naysayers when she said she aspired to be a Navy pilot and then a congresswoman.
The HCDO has a lot on their plate outside of the governor’s race, with all six state legislative seats and the county sheriff’s seat being contested.
” … I want everyone to leave this room tonight knowing that Jennie [Pu] and I have been doing the work, we didn’t just get up today and say ‘let’s disrupt the politics in Hudson County,’ we said it’s time to step out and do what’s right for our community,” said 32nd Legislative District Assembly candidate Crystal Fonseca.
Her and Pu are in a six-way dance that also includes Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, Jersey City Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh, who part of Fulop’s slate, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, and Jersey City activist Katie Brennan.
Other speakers included state Senator Raj Mukherji (D-32), as well as Assemblyman Will Sampson (D-31) and Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker (D-3), his running mate in the 31st Legislative District.
“One of the things our Coach Hurley told us is that offense wins games, but defense wins championships: That’s the truth, that’s the truth,” Walker stated.
“… You saw the picture that the picture that they posed of me: They made me look darker, that’s a racist undertone, they painted me with a Rolex watch – I don’t even own a goddamn watch. This is crazy, this is crazy, but I love it.”
Noting that he wanted to keep it short and sweet with the New York Knicks about to play, Walker and Sampson are looking to best Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato and Bayonne 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer – who are part of Fulop’s slate.
While Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez (D-33) and Larry Wainstein could not make it do to their own previously scheduled event, state Senator (D-33)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack made a rare appearance outside of North Hudson.
” … What I want to say to everybody is that to have a tremendous victory on the 10th, we must work hard. The Assembly candidates, [Bayonne Mayor] Jimmy Davis, our next sheriff: You see how dirty they’ve gone on Jimmy? That should make us work even harder,” Stack said.
While he believes Sherrill and the rest of the HCDO ticket will do well, he urged everybody not to take anything for granted.
Rodriguez and Wainstein are taking on Tony Hector and Frank Alonso, also on Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” slate, in the LD-33 Assembly contest.
Davis, who is looking to unseat Sheriff Frank Schillari, who is running with Fulop, appeared to be undeterred by the tone of his race thus far.
“They’ve been saying that shit for 10 years now. If you take my record just in the City of Bayonne, look where the City of Bayonne was 10 years ago and look where it is now! I knew nothing about politics when I became mayor and look at the job I did in the City of Bayonne.”
A retired police captain, Davis said his passion for law enforcement has never left and that the sheriff’s officers deserve to have a leader they can believe in.
How many times has this organization changed their endorsement? They have ZERO credibility under this Craig Guy character. Fulop had the organization’s endorsement initially (which would make sense, being he’s the candidate from Hudson County) before Guy took over as chair, but he forced a change to back Gottheimer. Why? I guess because he can, and Fulop is too independent minded and a threat to the HudCo bosses. It looks like they stuck their fingers in the wind and now think Sherrill is going to win. If I were Sherrill I would stay far away from these shady people.