Stack

Slapped with a subpoena last week by the U.S. Attorney’s office, Assemblyman (and Union City Mayor) Brian P. Stack today made ethical integrity his staple issue in the race for State Senate in district 33.

“It’s about defeating the political bosses in Hudson County,� said Stack, who appealed to the people – the 600,000+ residents of Hudson County in a kick-off ceremony in Jersey City’s Lincoln Park emceed by Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner.

Rep. Albio Sires confesses to having no life anymore. He spends most weekdays in Washington, D.C. and returns to New Jersey only on the weekends.

Apparently the Democratic Party politics of Hudson County prove too tempting to resist, however, as the one-time State Assembly Speaker and Mayor of West New York on Tuesday mounted a platform in Jersey City's Lincoln Park to declare his support for a roster of insurgent candidates in local, county and state Legislative races.

Standing at ground zero in arguably New Jersey's most contentious primary arena, Sires wasn't happy about it, but he did it.

"This could have been avoided," he said grimly of the latest round of factionalism in his home county.

Subpoenas were served on three Democratic legislators today in connection with a federal probe of legislators receiving an alleged personal benefit from state budget items.  State Sens. Joseph Coniglio of Bergen and Nicholas Scutari of Union , and Assemblyman Brian Stack of Hudson were served with subpoenas today, according to individuals with knowledge of the investigation.

What began as a brush fire could burn down the house. Brian Stack's successful insurgent bid to oust State Senator Bernard Kenny has the makings of one of those generational changes in Hudson politics. Stack has one of the formidable political operations in the State. It's not a question of just his candidacy. What's interesting is what follows. Joe Doria's decision to retire (average intellect of legislature drops as a result) opens the door of the State Senate to Sandy Cunningham. Former Mayor Harvey Smith now joins the team for the Assembly. Sal Vega has his own insurgency going in West New York against the forces of Albio Sires. It's quite a coalition. You do the math.

The smartest political mind in Hudson belongs to my old friend Nick Sacco. Nick and the new crowd are one meeting away from realigning the structure of Hudson politics. Everybody claims that it won't happen. I'll let you know when it's done.

Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny will announce today that he will not seek re-election to his 33rd district seat. The 60-year-old Hudson County Democrat had lost support of local party leaders.

The two Assemblymen from the district, Union City Mayor Brian Stack and West New York Mayor Sal Vega, are considered possible Senate candidates. Stack had been the leading contender, although published reports of a state Attorney General's investigation and a lawsuit filed by a developer who alleges pay-to-play violations could potentially change that.