The Hoboken Democratic Committee is scheduled to vote for a new chairman at a special meeting in Willie McBride’s this Monday, March 23, a source said today. The committee must fill the position vacated by Jeff Barnes, a relatively new chair who resigned earlier this month.
Reports suggest that state Assemblyman Ruben Ramos will become the chairman, at which point he may step down early from the City Council to assume the duties as chairman.
The Hoboken Democratic Committee is made up of two committee people – a man and woman – from each election district in the city. As a group, they set agendas for the Democratic Party in Hoboken, vote on rules of operation, candidates they will support for various offices and fundraiser for candidates.
Last year, the committee leadership said they wanted to get away from supporting a single candidate in Hoboken elections, and instead focus on statewide and national Democratic candidates, although not everyone agreed.
Officially, the body cannot raise funds for any mayoral or council candidate in the upcoming mayor and council elections, but Ramos’ election as chairman could be seen as a boost to the mayoral aspirations of Councilman Peter Cammarano.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
True enough what you say about many people around town not knowing who their councilperson is. But I wasn't trying to be snide or condescending to you there; I was genuinely surprised. Touche, though - I guess it was a bit wonkish of me to have forgotten how relatively overimmersed I may be in local politics this time of year.
Thanks for the clarification though, it helps!!
On a more suspcious note why are you having an argument with yourself? i dont think George could log in under your handle unless two people can use the same handle. Are you busted, or is this just a glitch in the system that needs to be fixed?
Interesting handle you used!
I mean Barnes was driven, i.e. run , by Maurice. And OF COURSE, Ramos being chair wouldn't serve true reform at all. His accession to the chair would fulminantly embarass the Party given the pay-to-play improprieties he's involved in. But forget about that: it'll never happen.
The Russos have no interest at all in helping Cammarano; they've already succeeded in supplanting Ruben as Stack's Hoboken favorite. And the biggest single bloc of votes by far on the committee is Reform/Independents who skinned Maurice alive in the first place.
Sure, Ruben might WANT to be chair, but it's just pure fluff rumor that he has any chance. Cammarano is trying to pretend he matters. If Ruben does make a run at the chair all he'll do is end up shedding a lot more light on his campaign-finance and election-law misbehavior. Essentially, Cammarano is way behind in this race. He hopes regaining some connection to the Party committtee here (now that their puppet Barnes is gone) will help him somehow.
Elsewhere - Maurice and Cammarano have long been tight; how is it you were unaware of that? I'd've thought everyone knew something like that. The friendliness with Lenz is a function of all three sucking up to HCDO on a regular basis.
Barnes left because he could do nothing at all to further Maurice/Cammarano's ambitions and becuase he (nor his wife) could no longer stand being caught between Maurice's absolutely feckless whining and the executive committee's commanding say-so over local Party direction (ie, reform).