Brian Stack

Despite his public flirtation with Republican Christopher Christie, State Sen. Brian Stack appears to have delivered for the gubernatorial candidate of his party, Democrat Jon Corzine.  In Union City, where Stack is mayor and heads the local Democratic organization, Corzine beat Christie 8,300 to 2,191 (77%-20%).  Four years ago, Corzine beat Republican Douglas Forrester 9,385 to 2,459 (79%-20%).  While turnout was down, Christie actually got less votes in Union City than Forrester did.  Some of the credit for this goes to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who leaned on Stack to stay entirely within the Democratic fold.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, right, with Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Jersey City) and Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus)

HARRISON - Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy agrees that North Hudson will be selfishly motivated to land decent numbers for Gov. Jon Corzine next Tuesday. 
 
But South Hudson?
 
"Corzine will be fine," said the Jersey City mayor, refusing to go into detail. "I think he wins the election by two points."
 
At the heart of North Hudson Democratic Party turnout is a fierce warlord rivalry between state Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-North Bergen) and state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City) for northern bragging rights.
 
In addition, operatives are confident that a mayoral race in Hoboken will drive numbers up in that overwhelmingly Democratic town and help the incumbent governor.

But broken local infrastructure in South Hudson (Jersey City and Bayonne), owing to summertime corruption busts; and political standoffs taking the heart out of intraparty rivalry mere months after local elections in Jersey City, dog the party, despite county coordinator Jason O'Donnell's best attempts to revitalize those towns for the governor and despite Obama hoopla.

Union City Saturday.

UNION CITY - In that most solemn moment of a solemn ceremony, the buzz of a single engine plane was unmistakable high above Union City where a singer tried to get the most out of every note of the National Anthem, and where Mayor Brian P. Stack tried to focus people on the grand opening of a new high school.

Arguably Stack's greatest achievement as mayor, the first high school in Union City in almost 100 years warranted a ceasefire in the ongoing trench and air political warfare to which Stack is accustomed, or so thought Stack's allies, and yet there was the little plane trailing a banner, obstinately broadcasting one message as the plane circled and circled above the crowd: "Crimes up, taxes up, Stack must go." 

Stack's teeth clenched. 

No one immediately knew who was behind the effort to step on this event with a political statement, or at least no one said he knew.

State Sen./Mayor Brian P. Stack (D-Union City), right, with former Gov. James McGreevey

UNION CITY - When state Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City) ceremonially kicked off the grand opening of Union City High School earlier today, he didn't forget to include an old friend, former Gov. James McGreevey. 

"No one was a bigger advocate for Union City than Governor McGreevey and we should never forget that," Stack told the massive crowd, mobilized for a Stack-led walk-through of the massive $200 million facility on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, the first high school built in Union City in 90 years.

The Soaring Eagles' media center is named for McGreevey, who during his short tenure as governor helped secure funding for the fledgling school project through the Schools Facilities and Construction Act.

Two Hudson County Democrats say they will support Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for Assembly Speaker.  That brings Oliver's hard count up to 20 votes.

Ruben Ramos (D-Hoboken) and Caridad Rodriguez (D-West New York) say that Oliver would be a groundbreaking choice who would bring passion and fresh perspective to state government.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the state of New Jersey to have someone of Sheila Oliver's background and vision in this important position," Ramos said. "She has been a champion for the average person who struggles every day and needs a strong advocate speaking for them in Trenton. It would be hard to imagine a better person to be our Speaker."

State Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), with Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, left, and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York), right.

UNION CITY - Having received the endorsement for Senate President of state Sen./Mayor Brian P. Stack this past weekend, state Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) tonight appeared in Union City to proclaim his support for Stack.

"I come from a part of the state very different from here, where there are more cows than people," Sweeney told the crowd at Stack's packed Union City First meeting. "When I got to the senate, they told me about Brian Stack. I am proud to be a supoorter of Brian Stack. He cares about working people. Some people give great speeches and others do something about it. I'm proud to be here with you, Brian."

Stack tonight.

UNION CITY - No stranger to political theater, renegade state Sen./Mayor Brian P. Stack played the unlikely role of Hamlet this summer as he projected indecision about who to support in the race between Gov. Jon Corzine and GOP challenger Chris Christie.

Tonight, Stack formally backs the governor - in his own way. He says the right things, but is brief in his assessment of Corzine while mostly - and heavily - promoting himself and his battle-tested organization.

"There's someone here who needs our support and we're going to work extremely hard for him. When I went to this gentleman as your senator or mayor, whatever town it was for, he was always there for us and now he's in a political fight and we need to be there for him," Stacks yells. "He doesn't put his interests first, he puts the people's interests first."

Targeted as part of a corruption probe that never resulted in charges while Christie was U.S. Attorney, Stack played footsy with Christie just long enough to create some insider buzz before U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) sat him down and told him bluntly it's time to back the Democratic governor.

So here he is this evening, backing him - in a jam-packed production at Scheutzen Park almost worthy of Apollo Creed's build-up in Rocky IV just before he fights Ivan Drago.

Although there are some Corzine/Weinberg signs tacked to the walls and the governor is on the schedule to formally accept Stack's endorsement, this Union City First event hardly radiates a Corzine-centric universe in a district where as a 2007 state senate candidate running against the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO), Stack crushed his opponent, 18,213 to 5,582 votes.

It's official: Jon Corzine has the support of the Democrat who represents him in the State Senate.  Brian Stack, who is also the Mayor of Union City, is expected to endorse the Governor tomorrow.  Usually a Democrat endorsing a Democrat at the end of September isn't news, but Stack had openly flirted with the idea of backing Republican Christopher Christie.  Indeed, that remained a possibility as recently as last week.

On Friday, at Corzine's request, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez - a former Union City Mayor and once a Stack rival - attended a meeting of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.  Menendez helped put some added pressure on Stack, who agreed to support the re-election of his constituent.

State Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City) campaigns this summer with Gov. Jon Corzine

State Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Union City) today issued his endorsement of South Jersey state Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) to serve as senate president.  

“I am confident in Senator Sweeney’s ability to lead the Senate, as we prepare to address matters that are critical to the residents of New Jersey," Stack said in a statement.

“Senator Sweeney has demonstrated both strong leadership and sound judgment during his tenure as Democratic Majority Leader, and I am certain that he will make an outstanding Senate President as he continues to fight for the families of our State. His prominent record as a labor leader conveys his understanding of the needs of New Jerseyans at a time when it is particularly important for working families to have their interests represented in the Statehouse."

Sources say that State Sen./Union City Mayor Brian Stack will announce next week that he has endorsed the re-election of Gov. Jon Corzine.  Stack, who had openly flirted with the prospect of backing Republican Christopher Christie, committed his support of Corzine during a meeting of the Hudson County Democratic Organization today.