Kenny

The 33rd district Democratic ticket in 1987 was Jackman for Senate, Menendez and Kenny for Assembly. The two Assembly seats had been won by the Republicans in 1985.From the West New York home of a Hudson County legend, Christopher Jackman, Silverio "Sal" Vega will announce his candidacy for State Senator in the 33rd district.  Vega, a freshman Assemblyman and the May of West New York, will be joined by the Hudson County Democratic Organization candidates for State Assembly: former Hoboken Councilwoman (and unsuccessful '05 mayoral candidate) Carol Marsh, and Nicole Harrison Garcia, the wife of indicted former Assemblyman and Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia.

The HCDO is backing Vega over Assemblyman Brian Stack, the Mayor of Union City, for the Senate seat currently held by Bernard Kenny, who is not seeking re-election. 

Lame duck Senate Majority Leader/Hudson County Democratic Chairman Bernard Kenny has taken back his public endorsement of Hillary Rodham Clinton for President.  He has endorsed Clinton and told her campaign that he would agree to have him name announced with other key Democrats, but then decided not to announce his endorsement until after the 2007 primary in Hudson County.  His name was included on the Clinton press release anyway, forcing a subsequent retraction.  

Previously, Kenny had strongly denied accurate reports that he intended to retire from the Senate; his denials were followed by a retirement announcement.  He is currently denying rumors that he will leave the Senate early to become Commissioner of Community Affairs; high ranking sources in the Governors office say that the job had already been offered to him, and that the longtime legislator has accepted.

The hot rumor in Trenton today is that Susan Bass Levin will become the new Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny will succeed her as Commissioner of Community Affairs.  Sources say they expect Governor Jon Corzine to move forward on these appointments, but caution that nothing is final until the Governor makes his announcement.

Back in 1949, just a few months after John V. Kenny ousted the legendary Frank Hague as the political boss of Hudson County, there was a perception that a victory by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Elmer Wene would return Hague to power. So Kenny, the new Mayor of Jersey City, sat on his hands and refused to help his party's candidate. Republican Governor Alfred Driscoll carried Jersey City by 18,000 votes.

The day after the election, Wene's press secretary sent a package to Kenny: a seven-inch carving knife stained with catsup, and a note: "Dear John: I pulled this out of Wene's back this morning. I thought you might need it for future reference."

There is some speculation among Democratic insiders that Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny may be under consideration for George Zoffinger's soon-to-be-vacant job as President of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.   Kenny is expected to announce shortly that he will not seek re-election to the Senate seat he has held since late 1992, and he is also not likely to run for Hudson County Democratic Chairman again.