Maurice Fitzgibbons

The Jersey Journal has endorsed outsiders in three contested Democratic primaries for Hudson County Freeholder.  They are backing former Acting Hudson County Clerk Mary Jane Desmond, an ex-Bayonne City Councilwoman, against the Hudson County Democratic Organization incumbent Doreen McAndrew DiDomenico in District 1.  Also running is David Longenhagen.

The Hudson County peace agreement was meant to be formalized in Jersey City today, with virtually every major elected official in the county coming together the put the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) together again.

This morning, citing scheduling conflicts among several officials, the HCDO postponed the event to an unscheduled time next week. But multiple sources say that the real reason the presser was cancelled was because the most important player – Union City Mayor and State Sen. Brian Stack – refused to attend.

Hudson County Democratic Organization Executive Director Craig Guy said, however, that Stack did not refuse to attend the press conference.

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.