Sal Vega

A major political feud between Congressman Albio Sires and his hand-picked successor, Sal Vega, is setting the stage for yet another potential war in Hudson County this spring. Vega, who succeeded Sires as Mayor of West New York and as the Assemblyman from the 33rd district in November, has fired some of Sires' people at City Hall and replaced them with allies of the late Mayor Anthony DeFino -- who was (and is, posthumously) Sires' bitter political enemy. Vega has even hung a portrait of DeFino in City Hall -- something Sires steadfastly refused to do, even though that honor is traditionally extended to former Mayors.

But Vega's allies say that the fight is over Sires' insistance that Vega allow him to influence -- or dictate -- who will run on the slate in the next election. One insider says that Sires is pushing his wife, Adrienne Sires, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools.

Vega has been a bit of a maverick during his two months as an Assemblyman. He has reportedly annoyed some of his Democratic colleagues by "shooting his mouth off in caucus" instead of taking some time to learn the ropes, and has voted with Assembly Republicans on some procedural motions -- viewed as a capital offense in the Democratic caucus. Vega has still not received a committee assignment.

Sires views Vega's actions as a personal afront, and is now talking about opposing his re-election. But despite the enormous popularity of the former Assembly Speaker, the power in Hudson County politics lies with the Mayors -- and with Vega in City Hall, some insiders say the others will protect him. The key player in this drama will be Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who serves with Vega in the Assembly and is seeking a seat in the State Senate. If Stack backs Vega over Sires, there might be little the freshman Congressman can do to protect his hometown turf.

For the 33rd district, this is like de ja vu all over again. Just seven years ago, then-Congressman Robert Menendez, a former Mayor of Union City and ex-State Senator, sought to influence local politics through a protege he picked to run for the Legislature and supported for Mayor.

The meltdown of Rudy Garcia's political career will probably become one of those stories old time politicians tell young up-and-comers for years to come. Garcia was a promising 29-year-old lawyer when he was selected to fill a vacant seat in the State Assembly in 1993, and when incumbent Union City Mayor Bruce Walter died in 1998, Garcia was popular enough to win the support of Menendez's political organization to be appointed Mayor.

Within a year, Garcia split with Menendez and sought to exercise the clout that comes with being Mayor. He forged an alliance with County Executive Bob Janiszewski and dumped Menendez ally Neftali Cruz from his seat on the Hudson County Board of Freeholders; Cruz's seat was filled by Stack, who was a local rival of Menendez and Garcia, and who ran unsuccessfully for City Commissioner the year before. And he fired Menendez's best friend, powerful North Jersey lawyer Donald Scarinci, as the City Attorney.

|But Garcia's own ambition proved to exceed his own leadership abilities, and he quickly lost support in Union City. Stack forged a relationship with Menendez and together they engineered a recall effort that forced Garcia's resignation as Mayor in 2000 and took away his seat in the State Assembly in 2001.

As expected, Hudson County Freeholder Silverio "Sal" Vega has succeeded Albio Sires as the Mayor of West New York. Sires, the former Assembly Speaker, is expected to take his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives tonight.

Sires' seat as a West New York Commissioner was filled by Claridad Rodriguez, who has served as Sires' secretary for many years.

Vega is widely expected to also take Sires' seat in the State Assembly. Democrats in Hudson County's 33rd district must hold a Special Election Convention within the next 7-35 days to fill the vacancy.

While Vega could continue as a Freeholder while serving as Mayor and as an Assemblyman, Hudson insiders suggest that West New York Commissioner Gerald Lange is headed to the Hudson County Board of Freeholders.

Sal Vega, West New York Commissioner and Hudson County Freeholder, is the leading candidate to replace Congressman-Albio Sires as Mayor of West New York -- and possibly as the 33rd district Assemblyman as well. Sires is eligible to take his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as soon as the state certifies his election -- as long as the House returns for a lame-duck session. (In 1988, Frank Pallone won a Special Election to fill the remaining two months of the late James Howard's term, but never took the oath of office.)

If Sires' running mate, Assemblyman/Union City Mayor Brian Stack runs for the State Senate next year against Senate Majority Leader/Hudson County Democratic Chairman Bernard Kenny, look for Hoboken Councilman Christopher Campos to run for the State Assembly.