Yes, they were on his ticket.

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Sorry, I'm not following the breadcrumbs, were they on his ticket?

hopefully, the mayor will stay long enough to accomplish some of the things that he has talked about over the years and during the recent campaign.

note that the county executive, Tom DeGise and his chief of staff, councilman Bill Gaughan were both elected to city council with Mayor Schundler.

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I think that was ultimately because Schundler didn't represent a constituency other than "anyone but the usual suspects". Not only did he not create a political entity that would outlast his incumbency, his ideology was not that of most JC residents.

Unlike Schundler's fluke 1st win, Fulop's was the result of a decade of careful planning. I trust when he moves on, (hopefully in 8 years) he leaves behind a strong reform movement not dependent on his personality.

I think Augie points out something important. It is unclear what legacy the Fulop movement has left in terms of new Jersey City leadership. I know a lot of people who were definitely inspired and got themselves involved in Jersey City politics because of Steve's run. But it was, understandably, focused on Steve himself. Can anything lasting result from it?

Schundler was able to wrest power away from the traditional democratic party power brokers. But even after 9 years in office, once he left then the HCDO moved itself back in.

The school board elections are one area where it looks like some people through Parents for Progress are creating a potentially lasting movement.

The next question is whether the various elected committee members can have a lasting effect.

If Fulop only stays one term and then runs for Governor, I suspect it would be hard to keep the movement behind him together. If he waits for a second term then hopefully something a bit more sturdy will develop.

I ask the same about Christie as I do about Booker. Well, they are politicians. has Christie done anything for NJ except set back development plans by 10 years or more.

Here's a much more appropriate question for JCListers...

How long will the empty suit Cory Booker stay on as Senator? Will he abandon the people of NJ once he smells a Presidential run, much like he's abandoning the people of Newark before the job is done?

We all know the answer, but the low information voters of NJ will still vote for this fraud anyway.

SMH...

Political Insider: How long will Fulop stay on as mayor of Jersey City?

By Agustin C. Torres/The Jersey Journal
August 24, 2013 at 9:03 AM

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has hit the ground running in his first term as chief executive of the second biggest city in New Jersey. It is not too early to ask whether this will be Fulop's last term in the Grove Street office.

Remember, Fulop has come out in favor of term limits for elected officials, preferably two terms per office. He may shorten his stay. There are some who believe the former Downtown councilman must make a decision now about a run for governor, otherwise he may have a long wait, about 12 years; including the next four.

Look for Gov. Chris Christie to announce his intention to run for president a couple of years before the Nov. 8, 2016 election. Now, should a Democrat win the 2017 gubernatorial race; which is the same year as the next Jersey City election ? then expect the new governor to seek a second term, thus 12 years of waiting for Fulop or eight after he completes the present mayoral term.

Just to throw this into the mix, we are talking about Fulop facing Democratic gubernatorial opponents that would probably include Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-West Deptford Township, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, and others. There will be a long line of Republicans headed by GOP Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who could be the next governor should Christie step down in a run for the nation?s top elected office.

We should get a confirmation of Fulop?s intention either by this fall or spring when he starts making those ?getting to know you, getting to know all about you? unofficial visits to promote name recognition, his name, statewide.

Only cynics would think, in hindsight, the Jim McGreevey appointment is starting to look good. Who better to mentor a promising governor than one who has been through those political wars?

If you accept the premise that Fulop wants to be governor, then the more interesting question for those living in Jersey City: Who leads this city in the future? The county seat cannot afford to find itself stuck in an event horizon. And what political decisions will be influenced by a bid for a Drumthwacket address?

The answer as to who would easily replace Fulop is no one.

I?m not saying that there would not be some interested parties. Let?s just again say that because of jealous and shortsighted leadership, the Jersey City Democratic Organization finds itself in this position. The JCDeadO (not to be confused with the HCDeadO) never encouraged political mentoring and failed to recruit new potential leaders.

It?s not like sources close to the Fulop administration are not aware of a potential leadership vacuum. The hope is that someone will develop their potential on the City Council. One person mentioned as having untapped leadership abilities is Downtown Councilwoman Candice Osborne. Osborne is an organizer who can rally people and can be hard-nosed when necessary, and she has a few years to mature on the council, so it was explained to me.

No offense, but right now I can?t see it. Politically, like most of the council members, Osborne is a political neophyte. Can time make a difference?

Now one member of the council I expect to make that run for mayor is at-large representative Rolando Lavarro. Veronica, the councilwoman?s wife, would expect nothing less.

And you wonder whether state Sen. Sandra Cunningham and Freeholder Bill O?Dea will finally take a shot at the Grove Street office. Sorry, but I see one of the two, more likely O?Dea, vying for Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise?s job in 2015. And yes, DeGise wants another term so he can move his office to the nine-hole golf course that will be constructed in Lincoln Park West.

Would you want the city post, where one can descend into madness, or the county job, where all you have to do is keep all the mayors happy?

There?s much more about this through next year, so we?ll save more on the subject, and to quote Alice: ?Curiouser and curioser!?

INSIDER NOTES

-- Al Chowanec, who has been a Jersey City Democratic Party committeeman for about 25 years, is being honored today at the Light Horse Tavern, where they will name one of their rooms ?Captain Al,? a Chowanec nickname. He was given the monicker for the years of having putt-putted around the Hudson in his small boat. The party loyalist will be feted by an impressive list of folks, including Mayor Steve Fulop, Councilwoman Osborne, Freeholders Jeff Dublin and Junior Maldonado, former congressman Frank Guarini, past mayor Gerald McCann, and ex-councilman Ben Lopez. Freeholder O?Dea was selected as master of ceremonies. I suspect that because it?s between 3 to 6 p.m., they?ll have the senior citizen blue plate special.

My sources say Chowanec has told every mayoral candidate in the past that he backs them, when in fact the committeeman probably supported an opponent of half of them. Unfortunately, between 1985 and 2001 Chowanec was on a mayoral losing streak. It could have been longer. One thing, though, his pals say the committeeman is a loyal Democrat ? in a Steve Lonegan sort of way. Congrats.

-- Hoboken police item: A large banner ? valued at $330 ? was stolen from outside mayoral candidate Ruben Ramos? campaign headquarters earlier this week, police said. Ramos, a Democratic assemblyman, told police this is the second time items have gone missing from outside of his headquarters. On July 18, two buntings, valued at $60 each, were stolen from outside the office.

OK, I always believe that this is the norm for Hudson elections. A candidate and voters should worry only when a candidate?s honesty and integrity is missing. I wouldn?t jump to the conclusion that this is the work of Dawn Zimmer backers. It?s always wise to suspect your "friends" first.

-- Politically speaking, Harold ?Bud? Demellier, director of the county Department of Roads and Public Property, has been very quiet ever since an FBI videotape surfaced in 2011 showing the county official and Dem in his county office in Jersey City talking development with Solomon Dwek, the infamous FBI informant ? during lunch hour. Since then, Demellier has been praised for his county work, including his handling of trucks and equipment during Superstorm Sandy. Will Bud stay dormant?

Well, there?s always Craig Guy to watch.

-- For those Fulop worshipers who are angry that I would suggest the mayor even thinks about a future in upper-tier politics after only about two months in the mayor's office, think about joining him on the ride to a brighter and better Garden State. He will ask you to take the ride to Trenton, I would expect.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was already dreaming of moving to higher office on the same day he was sworn in as mayor of Union City in 1986.

Meanwhile, there's much for Fulop to do here, if the mayor wants to point to a record of achievement.

-- In case you forgot what historic event took place 50 years ago next Wednesday, see below:

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... ong_wil.html#incart_river