By Matt Friedman | February 4th, 2009 - 10:50am
| More

After turning down multiple overtures to join a mayoral ticket, Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop will run for reelection to his Ward E seat independently.  

“I had the opportunity to go on the (Mayor Jerramiah) Healy, (Former Assemblyman Lou) Manzo, (Assemblyman L. Harvey) Smith ticket, and at the end of the day, based on who else is on the ticket and the landscape, I thought this was the best route for me,” said Fulop.  

Shelley Skinner, a community and education activist who flirted with a run in Ward E while Fulop was considering a mayoral bid, will be Fulop’s campaign manager.  

Fulop said that he anticipates a hard fought and brutal campaign between Healy and Manzo – considered by most to be the main contenders in the contest -- and sees no reason to get involved with before the June runoff.  At least if he’s left alone.    

“At the end of the day, this is going to be, between Healy and Manzo, among the ugliest campaigns one can imagine, and I don’t really see the benefit for me to get involved in it,” said Fulop.  “If they start throwing bombs downtown, I will definitely respond, but as it is right now I just don’t see the need.”

Also running are Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, the former city council president and acting mayor, and good government activist Dan Levin.  

Fulop’s contentious relationship with Healy has improved over the last several months, which was highlighted by his attendance at Healy’s campaign kickoff.  Most observers speculated that the mayor would run a weak candidate against Fulop in exchange for him not joining Manzo’s ticket – a combination with the potential to pull big numbers in  city’s gentrified downtown.  Had Healy been successful in recruiting former municipal First Lady Lynn Schundler to run against Fulop, Fulop would have likely joined Manzo’s slate.  

Fulop said that he will likely back a mayoral candidate between the May municipal election and the June runoff.  

The Back Room

Buono officially chooses O'Donnell

ATLANTIC CITY – The Democratic Party’s presumptive gubernatorial nominee officially tapped Jason O’Donnell as chairman of the state party.

Read More >

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: May 17, 2013

  Morning News Digest: Friday, May 17, 2013 By Matthew Arco     Smith intends to fight for HCDO seat as Bernie Kenny's name re-emerges in Fulop era   Mayor Jerry Healy’s loss Tuesday night inevitably triggered intra-party discussions about consequences to the Hudson County...

Op-Ed

Time to have the talk we hope to avoid but can’t

By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about. When polled, about 90 percent of people presented with end-of-life scenarios prefer the prospect of dying at home with... Read More >

Contributors

Chris Christie's recent "Lab Band" weigh-loss surgery scoop remains the talk of the nation.... more »
(5-15-2013) Interpretation of Election Laws Should Further Aims of Democracy - Five Hoboken residents, obviously orchestrated, filed a lawsuit raising concerns about Carmelo Garcia’s eligibility... more »
Au Revoir, PolitickerNJ.com         Recently, I have been writing fewer columns as a contributing columnist for PolitickerNJ.com.  The reason:  I am busily involved with writing a new book.  The... more »
Women in Politics In 2013 men still earn disproportionally more than women, on average 30%... more »

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

“You represent the grit and tenacity that make Jersey City special. Thank you for believing in this great American experiment called democracy.” - Jersey City Mayor-elect Steve Fulop, to supporters at his victory party last night.

- PolitickerNJ.com

Poll

Grade Assemblyman John Wisniewski's chairmanship of the Democratic Committee
A. He was fearless; an attack dog and relentless party organizer
5%
B. Wiz was good, but not great.
15%
C. He was fair. I got tired of all the emails.
20%
D. Barely passing marks for an uninspiring leader
25%
F. He seemed more in it for himself than the Democratic Party
35%

Resources

Visit the PolitickerNJ.com/resources page for links to the best collection of information on New Jersey state government.

 

  • Polls
  • The best blogs
  • Columnists
  • State election results
  • Assembly election results
  • Local party websites
  • And more.

PolitickerNJ.com/resources