Peace in Hudson County: Healy and Stack make up

Jersey City Mayor and Hudson County Democratic Chairman Jerramiah Healy and Assemblyman/Union City Mayor Brian Stack have agreed upon a peace treaty that seems to unite a party that was deeply divided just a few months ago.

Healy went to Union City yesterday for a one-on-one meeting with Stack, who won the Democratic State Senate nomination in the 33rd district with 75% of the vote against a candidate backed by the HCDO. Healy, who didn't want war in the first place, and Stack have agreed to avoid contested primaries in June 2008.

That means freshman Congressman Albio Sires can seek re-election with the support of both Healy and Stack, making him the strong favorite to win re-election to a second term.

Healy will support the re-election of two Hudson County Freeholders who are aligned with Stack: Maurice Fitzgibbons of Hoboken and Tilo Rivas of Union City. Jose Munoz, who won the Democratic Freeholder primary for an unexpired term running on Stack's line this year (and is certain to win the General Election) will also enjoy HCDO support next year.

The deal means that Healy won't have to help fund an expensive primary in 2008, allowing him to keep his warchest for his 2009 re-election campaign.

Specifically not included in the deal was a Special Election for Hoboken City Council next month between Christopher Campos and Dawn Zimmer. Zimmer had ousted Campos by a handful of votes last May, but by mutual consent amidst a series of irregularities, a Superior Court Judge ruled that the election should be done over. Campos is allied with Stack, and Zimmer has annoyed some HCDO insiders in recent months.