The gubernatorial primaries are about 14 months away. As always, our interest lies with the Democratic Party side of things in which Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is expected to run.
And everyone does believe there's an unannounced "Fulop for governor" campaign on the horizon. Otherwise, why get all worked up about a super PAC unless critics are concerned that someone -- for example, a local big developer -- is trying to get around election donation laws? Or why have feathers been so ruffled about the mayor trying to change the season of city elections from spring to fall?
It's all a part of the plan, a campaign blueprint, helpful even for the unannounced variety. It can be complex, but these days picking a playbook to follow is not so difficult because there are a few on the shelf. Fulop appears to be using pages written by Cory Booker and former Gov. Jim McGreevey. It's a combination of the new and old with early chapters written with "progressive" fonts reflecting a sailor's heel to the left, necessary if you're a Democrat in New Jersey.
The Booker method -- besides including the bearing of a constant Pepsodent smile -- involves showing off progressive credentials while fundraising out of state. It is difficult for Fulop to copy the Newark flash, but you can get noticed by providing paid leave for municipal workers, extending health care by providing transgender services and supporting an increase in minimum wages. Some are also suggesting some out of state funding, say as far as Delaware, but laced with some eau de Jersey.
In his last campaign, Booker became gruffer and was in attack mode. However, it was wasted on his soft target, senior citizen Republican challenger Jeff Bell. Fulop, too, is capable of letting his Mr. Hyde out, but he needs to use it sparingly -- no matter what his biggest critic, Bill Matsikoudis, says.
BTW, some folks who believe Booker could be on a short list to be a Democratic Party vice presidential candidate are dreaming. I just can't think of what he would bring to a national ticket.
As for the McGreevey model, we said his campaigning was old school, right? Right. This is why Fulop constantly travels in the evenings to multiple locations for face to face meetings with Democratic Party leaders and those who are influential. McGreevey was known for canvassing every inch of New Jersey real estate.
The difference between McGreevey and Fulop is that the former governor was the master greeter. The ex-gov is a large scale version of former Jersey City Mayor Thomas F. X. Smith. For the spread-armed, huggable McGreevey, everyone was a long lost friend. At funerals, the sly politician exited his car as if he had been peeling onions in the back seat. On the road, Fulop is getting closer to a Hope and Crosby balance.
Fulop's Optimus Prime rival is Senate President Steve Sweeney. This South Jersey resident is trying to show off a progressive side. Always a union man, Sweeney is now making headlines by pushing a constitutional guarantee for a $15 minimum wage increase, gradually at a $1 per year pace. It sounds like everyone wants constitutional guarantees for pensions, transportation funds and anything else that has difficulty coming up with a funding source.
While Jersey City locals are developing issues to fight Fulop's gubernatorial campaign, Sweeney will certainly face Fulop criticism for making too many deals with Gov. Chris Christie, a governor who is considered by Democrats to be an enemy of the working class. Sweeney's built-in problem is that senators are always forced to take positions on important statewide issues.
Somewhere along the way, Fulop will also have to take a stand or two as he leans back toward the middle -- should he survive the Democratic primary. He may even have to come up with a theme for his crusade. I'm not saying he should wear a baseball cap declaring "Make New Jersey Great Again," but look for his campaign to go more Madison Avenue as he comes under sharper media scrutiny, once he officially declares.
Forget all of the above if it turns out Fulop has no opposition in the Democratic primary. Anything is possible. ;)
MERCER NEEDS HUDSON?
Last Saturday, five Mercer County freeholders took a tour of the Hudson County correctional facilities in Kearny. The visiting lawmakers are expected to vote next month on an agreement that would allow them to send 600 Mercer inmates at $97 a day per guest to Hudson County. Hudson freeholders have already approved the agreement. Mercer County officials claim it will save them perhaps about as much as $500 million, which I presumed includes savings realized from laying off 200 Mercer employees, reducing salaries and avoiding the construction of a new jail.
The Mercer County Board of Freeholders regular meeting held Tuesday was packed with corrections officers, their union officials, and others who blasted the proposed deal with Hudson County. Mercer's claims about the amount of money it could save with a two-year deal were panned as fiction.
As in Hudson County, there were those freeholders who were sympathetic (playing) to the upset crowd. Some Mercer freeholders said they were not bowled over by the Hudson facilities and that their jail, an ancient structure but newer than the Alamo, is just as good as the more modern facility up north.
There were some complaints by Mercer people that visiting inmates means traveling a greater distance, which reminds me of when Union County decided to make use of the Hudson County Juvenile Detention Center, part of the deal was that Hudson would provide transportation for visitors. Local sources told me no one from Union ever used it.
Still, there's pressure on Mercer officials. The only other facility that could possibly help Mercer is Essex County, according to several sources in several counties. Really, do you want your relative or buddy behind Essex County bars? The only other alternative is for Mercer to build a new correctional facility with a price tag that is almost criminal.
SILVER SCREEN
It's Oscar weekend so I decided to ask the readers to connect a political personality in one column with a nominated movie in the other. I decided to keep it somewhat civil by keeping "The Danish Girl" out of it.
A. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop 1. "Sicario"
B. Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer 2. "The Martian"
C. Union City Mayor Brian Stack 3. "The Big Short"
D. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez 4. "Mad Max: Fury Road"
E. North Bergen boss Nick Sacco 5. "Straight Out Of Compton"
F. Assemblyman Vincent Prieto 6. "Trumbo"
G. Freeholder Bill O'Dea 7. "Ex-Machina"
H. Ward F honcho Gene McKnight 8. "The Revenant"
INSIDER NOTES
-- A letter appeared in The Jersey Journal from 14 neighborhood and civic associations demanding that the city undergo a national search for someone to replace retiring city planner Robert Cotter.
These associations are The Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Association, Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association, Harsimus Cove Association, Historic Paulus Hook Association, Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association, Van Vorst Park Association, Village Neighborhood Association, Duncan Avenue Neighborhood Association, West Side Community Alliance, Riverview Neighborhood Association, Jersey City Parks Coalition, Bergen Communities United, Civic JC, Storms Avenue (remember Nick Adams and the Paris Bakery) Block Association.
There must be someone south of Communipaw Avenue who would be interested in the city's future development? It would also be nice to have some more imaginative architecture without the "match the old bricks" of surrounding buildings mentality. Most of the Downtown architecture, to put it politely, sucks.
-- I should note that West New York Mayor Felix Roque has been in the national news not so much for his state indictment on bribery related charges but rather for his "humanitarian" efforts in Central America for Cubans trying to enter the United States. The New York Times asks whether Roque is trying to help Cubans or trying to rehabilitate his image. He says the former. What I find more interesting in the reporting is that he has a life-size portrait of himself, and it's not a Fathead.
-- Enjoy the Oscars, but there's a possibility that the preaching you'll hear could give you a "Concussion." Also, there is no specific answer to the movie quiz. It's what you think it should be. I did have connections in mind when suggesting it. For instance, "Compton," "Mad Max," and "Ex-Machina" are stereotypical.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Agustin C. Torres' columns appear in The Jersey Journal every Saturday.