April 2, 2009 - 8:58pm
Inside Edge

To keep Assembly seat, Chiappone pledges not to run for Mayor

Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) cut a deal to keep his seat in the Legislature, agreeing that he will not challenge Mayor Mark Smith in 2010.  In order to enforce the deal, Smith allies insisted that Chiappone give up his seat on the City Council – a move that keeps him out of city hall and distances him from local politics.   As part of the agreement for Chiappone to receive the Hudson County Democratic Organization line, State Sen.  Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Jersey City) is now expected to endorse the re-election of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, and Bayonne Democrats will continue to back Healy for Hudson County Democratic Chairman.

With the backing of Cunningham, who used veteran Democratic powerhouse Joseph Cardwell as her negotiator, Healy becomes an even stronger favorite to win re-election. 

 

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.