NJ Politics Now

Phone lines are on fire today with speculation that State Senator Sandra B. Cunningham is set to announce she is running for Mayor of Jersey City.

Cunningham is said to be making calls to possible supporters and will have a meeting with key advisors later this afternoon.

A list  of possible candidates for her ticket is being put together by those close to the Senator. 

We will have more on this as the details become available. 

Acknowledging that he is an alcoholic, Jersey City Councilman Steve Lipski issued the following statement regarding an incident on Friday night in which he is accused of urinating onto fellow concertgoers in a Washington, D.C., club.

Councilman Lipski's statement:

"First and foremost I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected by this mess, especially my wife, the mayor, my colleagues on the council, my constituents, my students and staff at CREATE Charter School and fellow Deadheads. I am truly sorry. Against my attorney's advice I have decided to give a brief statement about circumstances leading up to and following the incident at the Nightclub 9:30 on the night of November 7, 2008. I cannot and will not speak about what actually happened at the club because this matter is still under investigation.

On November 7, 2008, I, with two very close friends, one of whom I have known since kindergarten and had gone to Dead shows back in the '70s and '80s, drove to Washington, D.C., to see Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead cover band. Having had two years of sobriety, not having to drive, and being with two of my closest friends in the world, I decided to drink alcohol. This was my biggest mistake.

You see, I am an alcoholic, but I had not drunk for two years. I fell off the wagon. Flipped. Crashed. Burned. Whatever one might want to label it, I screwed up.

I'm unsure how the staff at Nightclub 9:30 can say that I had been belligerent and drunk the past few Dark Star Orchestra shows I had seen there when in fact I had been sober.

Since returning to New Jersey, I have gone to two AA meetings, found a new sponsor and have begun working a vigorous program with my wife and my higher power as the co-pilot and I do not plan on rationalizing away my sobriety ever again.

The media is correct in stating that I have not returned their calls. I did this for two reasons.

One, I'm on counsel's advice; and two, I wanted the opportunity to speak directly with you, my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, constituents, students and staff first.

These past few days have been some of the hardest in my life. I never want to relive them, so I am asking you to help keep me honest and sober. By sharing with you publicly that I am an alcoholic, I will no longer have to hide in the shadow of my disease but I can begin to be liberated. That is the most important reason why I felt I needed to be forthright with you.

To those of you who have comforted my wife and me, I thank you very much. I shall never forget it.

Regardless of the outcome of the legal aspect of this mess, I will still always be your friend and humble servant. Thank you!"

With the November Election now behind us it is time to start the next round.  The two biggest races in Hudson County will take place on May 5, 2009 when Hoboken and Jersey City will go to the polls to vote for their next Mayor.

In Jersey City incumbent Mayor Jerramiah Healy has a HUGE war chest (estimated to be over $1 million dollars) and is expected to seek reelection.    

The big question is whether or not he will have the support of popular State Senator Sandra-Bolden Cunningham.   On Friday morning Cunningham is reported to have met with Healy and County Executive Tom DeGise.  The dynamic duo delivered a harsh message to Cunningham; either she announces her support for Healy immediately or risks losing the Hudson County Democratic Organization’s support in her reelection bid.  In addition arguably her strongest political ally Assemblyman and Bayonne Councilman Anthony Chiappone is being dumped by the HCDO as State Assemblyman.  

What is interesting is that Cunningham is not up for reelection until 2011 and there is no guarantee Healy will even be the HCDO Chairman come then, nor is it a guarantee that DeGise will seek reelection for the County Executive post.

Sources say while Cunningham plans to explore the possibility of running for Mayor herself, she has also reached out to several other candidates about the possibility of forming a coalition of sorts against the HCDO.   There is also talk that Cunningham plans to reach out for Hudson County ’s other rogue State Senator Brian Stack about the possibility of joining forces against the HCDO.

It is going to be a long bumpy road until May...stay tuned for updates!

Bergen County Clerk Kathleen Donovan is rumored to be a possible canidate for Lt. Governor.  A moderate Republican, who seems to be the only member of the GOP to be able to carry NJ's biggest county, Donovan would be a political force to be reckoned with state wide. 

Depending on who is nominated this rumor could become reality.   Somewhere in Bergen County conservative Steve Lonegan is steaming at this possibility.   Stay tuned for more...