GET DRUNK,GET NAKED,GET ARRESTED GET ELECTED.

It ought to be a tee shirt.

HCDO unanimous: Healy's the leader

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Committee members of the Hudson County Democratic Organization unanimously elected Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy as the group's chairman last night at Ferris High School in Jersey City.

"I didn't really expect opposition," said Healy, who is succeeding state Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny of Hoboken in the prestigious political party county post.

As chairman, he will determine who runs on the HCDO ballot line, which in Hudson County once almost guaranteed victory in a county that is a Democratic Party stronghold.

"I want to make the HCDO better, and I'm ready and willing," Healy said.

Victory is no longer assured since a schism within the party that saw a rival group involving Union City, Hoboken and other Democrats splinter off to become Democrats for Hudson County.

Last night at the Hijos De Fomento Association in Union City, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner was named by committee members in the DFHC as chairman, but not without some shouting from supporters of Assemblyman Louis Manzo demanding a machine vote.

Political Editor Augustin C. Torres and staff writer Sana Saleh contributed to this report.