Ward A is up for grabs, here's a chance to know more

Ward A, long the red-headed stepchild of Jersey City politics, has a chance to reset what they want as a ward when they make their choice on election day. Whereas in Ward E you have candidates within a shade or two of each other politically, Ward A offers choices on vision and the topics the would-be councilperson, (Frank Gajewski is not running again after four years playing Boo Radley) would move to the forefront.

As always, Terrence T. McDonald has you covered with quotes from the candidates on their strengths and ideas.

Charles Mainor drops out of Mayor's race to concentrate on Ward S council seat

Charles Mainor, who said he recently suffered a 'stroke-like event' and was told by doctors to cut down on stress, has dropped his mayoral bid (which lets face it was starting from way behind) for the Ward A seat (where he starts from way ahead). Mainor is very familiar with the Ward A territory having served it in the state assembly for three terms starting in 2010. Current Ward A councilman Frank Gajewski is not running for reelection. Terrence T. McDonald has much more on Mainor's run and most importantly his health, just a click away.

Place your bets, place your bets

As mentioned yesterday, all the city council seats are up for grabs this November and just whom does Johnny think will win in which ward and who exactly will win? Let's take a look:

Ward A: If there is to be some big surprise it may well come from Ward A. Councilman Frank Gajewski told the Jersey Journal said he remains undecided. He'd be getting a late start. He's not the most social media friendly guy, what has he gotten passed? Not that Gajewski won't win if he runs, he'd more than likely be the biggest name in the race in Ward A but warning signs are there if a new hot candidate came forward. A real firecracker. Like most races though, the question before us is who will challenge these incumbents and have a real shot.

Ward B: Councilman Chris Gadsden won in a special election last November after Chico Ramchal was forced to vacate his seat for legal reasons, will face another race this November and has told the JJ he's in. We'd like to see what his new energy will bring. All noobs elected anywhere are most vulnerable in that first re-election run so that one needs watching.

Ward C: Councilman Rich Boggiano, despite signs around the Shop Rite Plaza on Marin, has not yet decided if he's going to run again, seek an at-large seat, or if he may also run for mayor. We'll know when Boggiano tells us. Like Johnny has said before, Boggiano gonna Boggiano.

Ward D: Councilman Michael Yun is tossing around a serious bid to challenge Steve Fulop for Mayor but hasn't made up his mind on the mayoral run yet. We'd expect Yun to run again and win Ward D as he has become quite popular in his stands (with Boggiano) against the otherwise rubber stamp council towards the current administration.

Ward E: Councilwoman Candice Osborne has said she's running again and if you want to waste a lot of time, effort and money, you can challenge her. Lock.

Ward F: It's up for grabs as Diane Coleman stepped down from the job. While council will name a new member, it'll be a quick turnaround with less than a year to defend the seat before November's elections.

The three at-large seats held by Council President Rolando Lavarro, Joyce Watterman and Daniel Rivera have all said they are running again for their seats. Rivera seems safe, Lavarro seems safe but with him you never know. That sheen wears off pretty quick. He leads a protest at Bay St. Towers (dba Trump Towers) but has he followed up or been back? He started to take a stand on spending but that was before Mayor Fulop smartly bagged his run for governor and the job of mayor was never going to be Lavarro's in 2017. Will he continue on his newfound penny-pinching mindset or will he now revert to another yes for Fulop spending? If Joyce Watterman can avoid running her campaign out of her office again, we'd say she's the favorite.

What a weak Jersey City Council

The Jersey City council, it what should be a slam dunk revocation of a law firm contract in CLEAR violation of Jersey City's pay-to-play law, is having all kinds of difficulty in either learning about, caring or commenting on this clear violation:

The Jersey Journal first reported on Friday that the contract — worth $50,000 and awarded in December to Morristown firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter — was given six months after a managing partner of the firm contributed two $300 donations to Fulop's re-election campaign. Critics, including a man who helped to craft New Jersey's pay-to-play ban, say the city's ban requires the city to revoke the contract.

Now Fulop could have returned these funds before 30 days were up and everything is jake, except he didn't and trust us, nobody on this green Earth should have known the law better than Steve Fulop:

When Fulop was a councilman, he attempted to pass a pay-to-play ban first by a council vote, and when that failed, he qualified the measure to be put on the November 2008 ballot, which spurred the council to act. At the time, he said the law would "eliminate the conflicts of interests and at the same time create a council strictly to serve the public."

When the council unanimously passed the measure in September 2008, Fulop received a standing ovation from a crowd of about 100 at the council meeting.

So, the law firm's contract should automatically be forfeit except Hudson County's slickest politician isn't moving to void it.

Good thing we have a city council to revoke it right taxpayers?

Yeah, pretty much weaklings. Johnny's picturing the former football coach at Florida State Bobby Bowden when learning of some of the serious transgressions of his players used to look down, kick a rock or two and give us the "Well shuckins' there isn't much I can do watch all these kids and their shenanigans, I'm just one man" routine. What does the Chilltown Council think of this slam dunk revocation? Awwww shuckins':
Daniel Rivera didn't return calls asking about it.
Rolando Lavarro, Joyce Watterman and Chico Ramchal? Whatever are you talking about, we don't read local news n stuff.
Frank Gajewski reads the news, he just needs more of it.
No word from Councilwoman Osborne on revocation, just that she trusts everyone turns in truthful paperwork.

It shouldn't matter all or part of the money was returned. This one is easy. The contract gets opened back up and everyone at 280 Grove St. gets a free civics lesson.