Jersey City Councilman James Solomon is calling on his city council colleagues — many who have indirectly benefited from the “county line” — to approve a symbolic resolution urging state lawmakers to abide by a federal court’s decision to abolish it.
The uniquely New Jersey voting ballot design has given a preferential placement to political party-supported candidates for years, greatly helping to keep party bosses in control of who sits in various elected positions. And while the “county line” has not had a direct impact on Jersey City non-partisan elections, Hudson County Democratic Organization-supported candidates consistently receive help via financial resources and endorsements.
Solomon, a long-time advocate against the county line, is concerned about the possibility of a state legislator sponsoring a bill that would re-establish the county line across the state.
“We want the Legislature to replace the county line with a truly democratic system that has the best practices from across the country,” Solomon said Monday. “We want the ballot to be fair and we want our Legislature to pass a law that codifies fair ballots.”
Three Jersey City political insiders are split on whether some council members could face repercussions should they support the symbolic resolution that is antithetic to HCDO strategy. While two insiders say no, one insider said even with a diminished role, “The party still very much matters in a tightly contested place like Hudson County.”
If they were to run for elected positions, like state assembly, which typically are hand-picked by the HCDO, they would face opposition from the HCDO, an insider said. HCDO will always be significant, “until there is something more powerful of an entity, more influential,” one insider said.
Councilmembers Joyce Watterman, Daniel Rivera, Denise Ridley, Mira Prinz-Arey, Richard Boggiano and Amy DeGise (the former HCDO chairwoman) are members of the HCDO. But as members of Mayor Steve Fulop’s council ticket, there may not be mutch to lose with Fulop, a gubernatorial candidate, already supporting the end of the county line.
Even as support of the county line ballot design was crumbling across the state , current HCDO Chairman Anthony Vainieri was supporting it, saying voters would be confused by a new ballot.
While the council won’t vote until Wednesday, Saleh and Watterman — who is already bucking the HCDO by running for mayor in 2025 — already support the resolution.
“The (state) should abide by the public really, it’s the public’s voice speaking,” Watterman said. “The public wants to make sure there is more transparency and make sure their voices are heard.”
The federal lawsuit had been brought by U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Bob Menendez’s U.S. Senate seat. Kim’s lawsuit was propelled by state Attorney General Matt Platkin’s refusal to defend the county line system. Platkin said there is no evidence “showing that these laws advance the relevant government interests,” and the record “confirms that they do not.”
The March 29 decision by U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi abolishing the line for June’s primaries was praised by Fulop as “a victory for the people, and proof that nothing can stop determined residents fighting for what’s right.”
Another insider said the council members are safe after the monumental blows the line has faced in the state.
“It is not going to be controversial,” an insider said. “If this was six months ago, it would have been interesting. I think when Fulop went all in to get rid of the line, it made it non-controversial in Jersey City.”
Fulop and state Sens. Raj Mukherji and Angela McKnight have come out against the line. Solomon believes his council colleagues will support the measure as “it is the right thing to do.”
“At this point, I think the leadership in Hudson County is leading to something more fair and balanced,” Solomon said.
