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This has nothing to do with Fulop and everything to do with our obsession with potential and prospects. Instead of actually looking at what is there, we?re constantly in search of the next great thing. This allows people to prognosticate and talk about what could be instead of stating what is and should be.

In short, the article means nothing.

I like this article if only for the gnashing of teeth it is causing in some quarters.

Let's see after his first term in office how corrupt he is not. And you don't have to be on the take to be corrupt. Going back on your word is another slap to the voters.

This whole (non) story is being put pushed by people who need to limit Osborne's ability to influence her colleagues on the council in order to protect their own financial interests. A couple members of council (not Osborne) believe they have the inside track to the Mayor's office, should it become available in 2017. If Candice is being touted as the heir apparent (by Auggie, no less!), the self-annointed will start to freeze her out.

Claim Fulop is a dangerous socialist with no morals. It worked for Karl Rove in 2012. Oh wait...

But wait a second, long time activists did not see her speak at a city council meeting until she started running for office, until they produced footage of her speaking at a council meeting several years before she ran for office.

Please. No.

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Meaning what, Fulop was supposed to single-handedly turn JC into the City Upon a Hill in 6 months?

He's doing about as good a job as anyone could. Not perfect, but not bad. At a minimum, he is less corrupt than your average Hudson County politician, which is a refreshing change of pace.

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Why is it Fulop's fault that a journalist is speculating on his replacement?

Ill gladly take credit for being the first to predict this whole sequence of events. I've definitely got buyers remorse on this one.

The no loud music councilwoman?

Fulop is not Mayor for 6 months and they are already talking about talking about his heir.... WTF??? What is with self entitled NJ Politicians like Booker and Christie who think do absolutely nothing and think it qualifies them for the next big step with no track record?? No knock against Candice, but I guess we can start to see less of Fulop... just like what happened to Newark when Booker disappeared.

Political Insider: Councilwoman's politeness belies strong potential as Jersey City mayor

Story by Agustin C. Torres

Some time ago, I asked who should fill the vacuum if Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop leaves that post to become governor. I?ll give you a possible candidate, even though I can already hear the groans in some corners of the city.

Only a few people on the present City Council secretly want to be in Fulop?s shoes and, of course, there are some would-be mayors outside the present administration. Nobody would openly admit their coveting the title of king or queen of the city.

The person I?m thinking of has a ?slight southern? drawl with a bit of Pollyana-esque (or is that Scarlett-esque?) quality about her that can mask an inquisitive and intelligent mind. Yes, I never thought I would say it, but that was my male chauvinistic first impression of Councilwoman Candice Osborne, who replaced Fulop as the Downtown representative. She doesn?t seem afraid to tackle issues that affect her constituents and while her questions at council sessions are softer than those of say Councilman Richard ?The Grate? Boggiano, that is just their respective natures.

Osborne is a political fledgling but so was Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer. The Jersey City politician is a Georgia model of congeniality while the Hoboken mayor has a cooler Yankee background. To Hudson County residents, both exude qualities of outsiders ? members of an invading species that should be shunned by true locals. And yet Zimmer remains mayor and Osborne, in this insider?s opinion, has the potential to become one once she develops and learns from the burns and scars of four years in the City Council office.

Naturally, as an ?outsider,? Osborne would have to achieve name recognition in other parts of the city, although I?ve seen her attend functions at The Hub on Martin Luther King Drive. This city also has a number of families who have migrated up from the Deep South.

Rightfully, critics say she has taken communion from the Fulop chalice but that could be because she agrees with the mayor?s vision for improving the city and its public school system. Boggiano likes to say I write for ?The Fulop Times.? Sources very close to Mayor Fulop, when asked about who could replace him, gave it some thought and came up with her name ? and then swore me to secrecy because they don?t want any divisions in the governing body. Besides, who knows what will happen in a few years ? whether I?ll still be writing or even if Osborne is interested in higher office? Now that the bug has been placed in her ear, imagine the potential council jealousies.

Watching this week?s council meeting was interesting in that Osborne decided to tackle a difficult issue that will tell me a great deal about her as a politician and as a person.

Problem: Several residents of the tiny skyscraper at 77 Hudson St. complained to the City Council this week about another summer of concerts and ethnic festivals at Exchange Place where the ?music? travels up into their apartments and the ear-splitting sounds makes it impossible to even put their children to sleep.

Naturally, you also had some City Council speakers suggest that these people who chose to live in those buildings knew what they were getting in an urban environment. Still, I doubt they expected to move next to a jet engine testing plant.

What the councilwoman faces are tenants who probably have recorded those ?Oye Come Va? moments in their apartments as if they were sitting by the edge of a concert stage. On the other side are those who will argue that this is an attack on ethnic festivals and a city institution.

Osborne said she hopes to come up with some solutions, perhaps have concert stages face the river rather than away from it (with the audience in the middle). The city is also expected to pull the clock back on some of those events that end at midnight, shutting them down at 10 p.m. instead. The councilwoman expects to hold a community meeting Friday to discuss the issue. Good luck.