Sen. Cunningham weighing run for Jersey City mayor

Sunday, October 16, 2011, 11:44 AM
By The Jersey Journal


State Sen. Sandra Cunningham, left, is weighing a run for mayor of Jersey City, according to The Auditor column in today's Star-Ledger.

State Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham has been meeting with influential politicians and consultants in recent weeks to gauge their support for a potential run for mayor of Jersey City in 2013, according to The Auditor column in today's Star-Ledger.

The widow of former Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham who died in office in 2004, Cunningham has long flirted with the idea of running for mayor but has now begun assembling a campaign team, according to the column.

An announcement early next year on her part could stem the tide of endorsements and campaign contributions flowing to Downtown Councilman Steven Fulop who has already announced that he's running.

Hurt by the Operation Bid Rig III sting -- which counted among its bribery convictions former Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini -- Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy hasn't said if he's running for re-election.

Cunningham, meanwhile, isn't making the rounds by herself. She is calling upon the powerbrokers with attorney Elnardo J. Webster in tow. Webster is a close ally of Newark Mayor Cory Booker and his presence could be a sign the Jersey City state senator would snag the endorsement of the well-known Newark mayor