Joe Cardwell

After federal agents arrested dozens of New Jersey politicos last month, some readers of the criminal complaints against them took solace in knowing that there was at least one public official who “could not be owned.” 

That person was briefly mentioned in the complaint against Jersey City veteran political consultant Joseph Cardwell who, discussing corrupt officials to hook an FBI informant up with, mentioned there was a “particular state government official who could not be owned.”  

In today’s Politifax, editor Nick Acocella writes he has “excellent reason to believe” that the official is state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Jersey City).

State Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Jersey City) confirmed that long time Jersey City Democratic strategist Joe Cardwell, a key advisor to public officials there over the last 20 years, was among those arrested in today’s wide reaching corruption bust.

Cunningham, who is close to Cardwell,  said she watched his perp walk on television.  

“Obviously I’m troubled by these allegations, but I’m just trying to reserve judgment until we have all the facts,” she said.  “I’m shocked.”

Cardwell sits on the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority – an unpaid position that provides health benefits.

Standing in front of city hall to honor a World War II veteran, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Heavy laughed off a question about whether he appointed political consultant Joe Cardwell to a position on the board of the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) in order to keep him from working too hard for Rob Andrews.

Cardwell is the closest advisor to state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, who in April announced her support for Rep. Rob Andrews for Senate and is considered a potentially strong mayoral challenger to Healy next year.

“I appointed Joe to the MUA because we had a vacancy, and I know Joe will do a really good job down there,” said Healy, who is also the chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has named a top advisor to his possible ’09 opponent to the Municipal Utilities Authority – a move that could affect the next mayoral race and tomorrow’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.  Cardwell was one of the architects of Sandra Cunningham’s 2007 State Senate race, and of the late Glenn Cunningham’s campaigns for Mayor in 2001 and State Senator in 2003.  Sandra Cunningham is reportedly interested in challenging Healy for mayor next year.  Cardwell is also the primary Jersey City/Hudson County operative overseeing Rob Andrews’ Senate campaign.  Will Cardwell, now a happy camper, not work terribly hard turning out Andrews votes in tomorrow’s primary – thus not embarrassing Healy, the Hudson County Democratic Chairman, who is backing Frank Lautenberg?

The PoliticsNJ.com Power List of the 100 Most Powerful People in New Jersey Politics will be released on Thursday.  This year, our readers get to pick the person who gets the final slot -- #100 --  from our last ten candidates.  Vote Tuesday and Wednesday to decide who gets on the Power List -- and who doesn't!

To an outsider it may seem extraordinary that a well-oiled political machine like the Hudson County Democratic Organization could mess up the petitions of a State Senate candidate in a hotly contested primaries, but there is some historical precedence to shabby petitions from Jersey City Democrats Bobby Jackson and Joe Cardwell that may explain it.