Jose Arango

Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango supported Bret Schundler in his past gubernatorial bids, but whether he’ll support the former Mayor’s bid to return to Grove Street is an open question.

“I have to go to the Jersey City Republican Party and ask them what they want to do,” said Arango during a phone interview.

The mayoral elections in Jersey City are non-partisan, which made it possible for a Republican like Schundler to win in a crowded field in 1992. Now, with Schundler looking to run again, Arango finds himself with a tough decision. He’s the city’s Director of Economic Development, and has given significant campaign contributions to Mayor Jerramiah Healy, a Democrat.

But he’s also found Schundler to be a loyal ally in the past.

“Schundler always supported me, and I always supported him. I have to do what’s right for the people,” he said.

Bret Schundler has been tightlipped with the press about whether he's made a decision to run for mayor of Jersey City, but some Hudson County Republicans are under the impression that the former mayor has just about made up his mind to run again for the big office on Grove Street.

Schundler, who was mayor between 1992 and 2001 before running two unsuccessful gubernatorial bids, attended the party's reorganization meeting earlier this month in his role as a committeeman and, according to one person present, unofficially announced his intention to run.

"He basically said that he was interested in running, and that he will announce it at a later date," said Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango. "He said that maybe in the future he'll announce that he'll run for mayor. I know he's meeting with people."

In the state's most Democratic county, Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango today announced that his organization is awarding the primary ballot line to U.S. Senate candidate Andy Unanue.

“Andy Unanue is the change New Jersey needs in the U.S. Senate,” Arango said.  “He brings youth and energy along with the traditional Republican principles of lower taxes and smaller government.  Hudson County is proud to endorse Andy Unanue for U.S. Senate.”  

Atlantic County Republican Chairman Keith Davis and Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango both joined Anne Estabrook’s U.S. Senate campaign committee today.

“Change is coming,” said Davis in a press release.  “Anne Estabrook is the leader we need to provide a common-sense approach to finding solutions for New Jersey’s affordability crisis.”