An ethics reform bill that will require greater financial disclosure from legislators has won the support of State Sen. Brian Stack (D-Union City), whose own family's income came under scrutiny last year.

Stack, who’s also the mayor of Union City, hasn’t always been one to vote for ethics reforms legislation. He abstained on the dual office-holding ban, even though it grandfathered in legislators like him, who already held more than one elected office.

The bill Stack just signed on to would require legislators to disclose income that both they and their families receive from public sources or private companies with government contracts,

“We must act quickly and boldly to clean up our own house, to set the highest standards for the entire legislature – and this bill goes a long way toward getting that done,” said Stack in a press release “Legislators are here to serve the people, not their own personal interests. Any income sources relevant to their official duties, as well as the income sources of their immediate family members, should be on the table for the public to see.”

STACK-CUNNINGHAM MEASURE TO CREATE PROPERTY TAX GRACE PERIOD FOR FIXED-INCOME SENIORS APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Brian P. Stack and Sandra Bolden Cunningham which would establish a 21-day grace period for property tax installment payments for seniors on fixed incomes was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 37-0.

“Even in strong economic times, seniors on fixed incomes have a hard time meeting the State’s high cost of living, especially soaring property taxes,” said Senator Stack, D-Hudson. “This measure is intended to give our senior homeowners a little flexibility in budgeting their limited incomes to pay their health care expenses, energy bills and all the other cost drivers associated with living in the Garden State. Seniors shouldn’t have to face financial penalties – in addition to the other costs of living in New Jersey – for being a few days late in paying their property taxes.”

At-Large Councilman Peter Cammarano: Politicker photo 

HOBOKEN - Even members of his inner circle swear that they don’t yet know whether Mayor Dave Roberts plans to run for a third term in 2009.

Whatever his intentions, other Hoboken diehards are surfacing. No one’s announced yet, but fierce political battles now will undoubtedly have political consequences next year in this city stung by the embarrassment of a state takeover of its finances.

There are all of the usual speculations surrounding possible candidates. A sighting of former Councilwoman Carol Marsh at a municipal meeting provokes the conclusion in come corners that she’s definitely running. A recent inundation of photos of Mayor Roberts on the Hoboken website prompts someone else to opine that Roberts is running - bet on it.

Businessman and neighborhood kid made good Frank "Pupie" Raia?

Of course, he’s running, say Hoboken insiders. He always runs, and no doubt he will perpetuate his longstanding animus this year with Councilman Michael Russo, who clubbed him last year in their 3rd ward showdown.

Union City Mayor/Senator Brian P. Stack (D-Hudson): Politicker photo

UNION CITY - They call him "24-7," and on a brutally hot summer Friday when several other Hudson County public buildings look like the fixtures of a ghost town, Union City’s Brian P. Stack bounds down the steps of City Hall and keeps on the move.

"Yo, BPS," a kid wearing a headband cries in greeting, and he gives the mayor a fist pump as he cruises up 49th Street leading a contingent of the under 15 crowd.

"Go, Brian!" the kid shouts over his shoulder.

As he does every Friday, Stack presided over wedding ceremonies in the morning. Now he oversees mobile constituent services ten blocks away from City Hall in the concrete center of this Hudson County city of 70,000 densely packed people - mostly Latinos - where City Hall sports dual busts of George Washington and Cuban hero Jose Marti.

Police barricades stand at either end of the street, at Hudson and Palisade. A hot dog vendor gives out free dogs and sodas, courtesy of Stack - and under a tent in the middle of the block, the mayor in a tie with his suit jacket slung over the back of his chair, calls out the next name on a long list of names.

State Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex).: Politicker photo 

Nothing’s ever rock solid in politics, but the top of the Trenton power heap may contain more potential for movement than usual in the lead-up to Statehouse reorganization come January.

Two possible factors include Speaker Joseph Roberts’s (D-Camden) imminent departure from the Assembly, and the possibility that a newly crowned Obama administration would haul former Wall Street guru Gov. Jon Corzine out of New Jersey to crunch numbers in Washington.

In the thicket of this political drama, it’s difficult not to identify Senate President and former Governor Richard Codey (D-Essex) as a protagonist.

"I’m just a kid from Orange," Codey told a packed auditorium in his native Essex County town last month - but he’s also a former governor, who by all appearances liked the job and enjoyed great popularity.

The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) will conduct mass demonstrations on Friday at the offices of thirty State Senators to protest legislation they say targets teacher and school employee pensions. NJEA officials say that thousands of union members will participate.

“We stand ready to work with the Legislature to root out the real causes of pension abuse and corruption that genuinely harm the state’s finances,” said NJEA President Joyce Powell. “But we will not tolerate – not now, not ever – any attempt to scapegoat teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, crossing guards, and other school employees for sins they have never committed.

NJEA members are sending legislators a message, Powell said: “We aren’t the problem. Craft legislation that eliminates the abuse you have tolerated for so long, and don’t target innocent people who educate New Jersey’s kids and keep them safe.”

The Guttenberg town council will meet either this week or next to decide on who will fill the office of former Mayor David Delle Donna, who stepped down late last month after his conviction on corruption charges. 

The Municipal Democratic Committee submitted three names to the council: Margarita Batista; former Vasilios G. Scullous; and James Hannon. 

The mayor will serve until November, when he or she will have to run again in a special election.       

When Jersey City Detective Sean Connors took on the task of running against North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco for the state Senate seat in the 32nd District last year, he really had his eye on a different position: 4th District Freeholder.

Connors, 39, expected that he'd have the backing of powerful Union City Mayor/state Sen. Brian Stack in exchange for undertaking that kamikaze mission on Stack's rivals at the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO). But now, with a tenuous semi-peace holding between Stack and the HCDO, Connors is alone in his freeholder fight against incumbent Eliu Rivera. Even without that support, Connors has surprised local political insiders by running a truly competitive campaign.

STACK - GANG PREVENTION PROGRAMS A SUCCESS STORY FOR NEW JERSEY

However Urban Lawmaker Raises Concerns about Future Spending of Gang Crime Resources

TRENTON – Senator Brian P. Stack, D-Hudson, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement today on the Committee’s hearing of the FY 2009 Department of Law and Public Safety Budget, in particular focusing on the funding New Jersey spends on anti-gang initiatives in New Jersey’s urban communities:

The private agony of Brian Stack goes on, according to sources close to the Union City Mayor and State Senator. Stack received sizeable campaign contributions from George Norcross and Raymond Lesniak, and looked close to backing Rob Andrews for Senate. But Stack ally Albio Sires' decision to put his own career at risk by standing with Stack against the HCDO last year now has Stack hesitant about going with Andrews. Sires pledged to run on the HCDO line with incumbent Frank Lautenberg. Today, Stack's freeholder candidates filed with the HCDO -- but Stack continues to meet with allies. "We elected him because he is a strong leader," said a source. "But all it's been since he was elected is indecision."