In Jersey City, Lipski leaves possibility of return to council open

What’s bad for Jersey City Councilwoman Nidia Lopez could be good for her predecessor, Steve Lipski.  

If former council candidate Jimmy King’s challenge to the validity of Lopez’s May election is successful in forcing her to step down, Lipski might be willing to replace her.

“That option – this is the first I’m hearing about it.  I’m somewhat dismayed that the election would be questioned.  I think the world of Nidia Lopez and if in the end the seat becomes vacant, I would have to consider whether I would want to step back in and take it,” said Lipski, who declined to seek another term after being arrested for urinating from a balcony onto a group of concertgoers in Washington, DC – an incident that made international headlines and became fodder for late night television jokes.  

Lipski said he barely caught wind of the controversy surrounding Lopez and her Florida house, for which she received a tax exemption meant only for permanent residents.  He had been vacationing in Maine, where he stayed in a cabin without electricity or running water.  He talked to PolitickerNJ.com on the phone from a hospital, where he was at the bedside of his wife, who broke her leg on the trip.    

Former council candidate Jimmy King, who lost the Ward C election to Lopez last May, charged in a complaint that Lopez is technically a permanent resident of Florida, and Florida officials are reportedly seeking repayment of the exemptions Lopez claimed in her property taxes there.  Further complicating matters for Lopez, the Jersey Journal reported today that Florida election officials say Lopez violated the law by voting in a 2003 Orlando election after registering in Jersey City in 2001.

Lipski, who is the founder and director of CREATE Charter School, said he has not discussed running again with anybody, although Jersey City political circles have been abuzz about the possibility over the last couple days.  He did say that a friend at the incinerator authority text messaged him today saying “Did you see today’s paper?  I’ve got boys ready to do a recall.”

“Anything is possible,” said Lipski.  “I love the Party and I’d love to redeem myself, but I can’t make that decision right now.”

Mayor Jerramiah Healy backed up Lopez after King’s allegations came to light, saying that the lawsuit was part of a pattern by former mayoral candidate Lou Manzo and his political allies and has “no chance” of succeeding.  

If King’s challenge to Lopez is successful and she has to vacate her seat, the council will have 30 days to pick a successor.  A special election will then be held in November to fill the remainder of the term.