Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has heard from the teams of both Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19), urging him to keep Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti (D-31) in his seat.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Davis informed Chiaravalloti on Friday that he would not be running on the Hudson County Democratic Organization line for the June 8th primary and has not provided an explanation as to why, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke under the condition of anonymity.
The Hudson County Chronicles first made mention of this development in a Facebook post last night.
Chiaravalloti, a former state director for U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and the current New Jersey Assembly Majority Whip, evidently has support to run for a fourth term from some of the top elected leaders in the state.
However, that decision ultimately lies with HCDO Chair Amy DeGise, who could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday.
Davis, who was first elected in May 2014, tapped Chiaravalloti for the Bayonne assembly seat the following year. He has been regarded as one of the mayor’s closest political allies ever since.
A January 21st report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) shows that Chiaravalloti has about $44,832 on hand. He also has a fundraiser scheduled for next Monday, March 8th.
Additionally, Chiaravalloti is currently running unopposed in the primary, with the April 5th filing deadline about a month away.
At today’s Assembly session, Chiaravalloti co-sponsored a widely scrutinized bill that would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for crimes such as drug possession, burglary, and official misconduct.
That bill was approved by a vote of 46-20(4) and it will now be up to Murphy to either sign or veto the legislation.
The governor has previously expressed that he did not agree with the amendment to include official misconduct, which was introduced by state Senator Nick Sacco (D-32) in the upper chamber.
Both Davis and Chiaravalloti did not return inquiries seeking comment.
