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Hornik For Governor?

Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik. Photo via facebook.

Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik. Photo via facebook.

When the news broke that Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik was eyeing a run for governor,  he asked for MoreMonmouthMusings’ endorsement.

So here goes: MoreMonmouthMusings hereby endorses Mayor Jonathan Hornik for the Democratic nomination for governor in the next gubernatorial election, whenever that is.

Much of the political news out of the League of Municipalities Convention in Atlantic City last week centered around the developing race between State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop. Almost as an afterthought, PolitickerNJ reported, yesterday, that Hornik wanted his name added to the gubernatorial mix.

PolitickerNJ.com spied veteran Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik at the cocktail  parties and meet-and-greets in Atlantic City last week and as Democrats prepare  for Senate President Steve Sweeney versus Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Hornik  said he wanted to add his own name to the gubernatorial sweepstakes.

“I would definitely not rule out running in 2017 or before,” said Hornik. “I  love being mayor of Marlboro, and I am running again in two years, but I think  we have a story to tell.”

Hornik won re-election in 2011 with nearly 70% of the vote.

This year, Incumbent Republican Gov. Chris Christie won 75% of the vote in  Marlboro while Hornik’s Democrats went 3-0 in local contests.

 

Just weeks from Governor Chris Christie’s reelection, the race for the next Democratic gubernatorial nomination has already started because Christie’s presidential prospects could result in a Special Election for Governor in 2015 or 2016.  Should Christie resign as governor to become a full-time presidential candidate, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno would become governor. There would be a special gubernatorial election for the remainder of Christie’s term as part of the next general election, unless the resignation happens within 60 days of the next election.

No one expects that Christie will resign in 2014.

Some think that federal securities regulations that constrain financial institutions from making campaign contributions to governors will compel Christie to resign in 2015, if he is serious about running for president. Some think Super PACs will enable Christie to run for president without resigning unless he elected leader of the free world.

No one knows what will happen, but Democrats are following the Boy Scout Motto, Be Prepared, and are jockeying for position and preparing for every possibility.

If Christie resigns in 2015, before September 4, there will be a gubernatorial election on November 3. If Christie resigns after September 4, 2015 but before September 9, 2016, there will be a gubernatorial election during the 2016 presidential election on November 8, 2016.  If Christie resigns the governorship after September 9, 2016, the next gubernatorial election will go forth as regularly scheduled on November 7, 2017.

Sweeney appears to be serious about running for governor. He’ll want to create an inevitability around his candidacy to squeeze out serious challengers.   It’s too soon to say if Fulop, whose upset election over Jerry Healy in Jersey City last May propelled him to statewide prominence in Democratic circles, will challenge Sweeney. But the North Jersey Democratic bosses don’t want there to be a vacuum of power filled by the South Jersey Norcross faction of the party that Sweeney represents. So Fulop will keep his name in play.

Hornik is not (yet?) a serious candidate.  He hadn’t seen the PolitickerNJ piece when MMM talked to him yesterday.  “No, I am not raising money or building an organization to run  for governor,” Hornik said, “I love being mayor of Marlboro. I’m running for reelection in 2015.  I’m not ruling anything out , and we have a good story to tell, winning consistently in a Republican leaning town.  I want to help the Democratic Party win back the governorship.”

 

 

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Posted: November 26th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: 2016 Presidential Politics, 2017 NJ Gubernatorial Politics | Tags: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

4 Comments on “Hornik For Governor?”

  1. Monmouth Girl said at 4:20 pm on November 26th, 2013:

    Art,

    This just in “the other 564 Mayors in New Jersey have also not ruled out running for Governor.” Not to be out done the 120 members of the legislature and the 100 plus Freeholders from around the state have also not ruled out a run for Governor.

  2. Better that than said at 7:45 pm on November 26th, 2013:

    freeholder…no doubt the guy has ambitions..

  3. Lonegan for Congress 2014 said at 8:09 pm on November 26th, 2013:

    Is Lonegan moving to the Jersey Shore? PolitickerNJ reports Lonegan plans to move to either Monmouth or Ocean County, and may run for Congress in the third district. Or maybe he’ll challenge Chris Smith in a primary. Perhaps Freeholder. I hope he takes over the Bayshore Tea Party. They can sure use some effective leadership.

  4. Troubleinmarlboro said at 8:49 pm on November 28th, 2013:

    Hornick is so full of himself. He has spent 100,000s of thousands of dollars to get elected to a job that pays 6,000. It,s all about his law firm. He has gone thought Over 25 million dollars in just 6 short years as mayor between borrowing, and taking over the water auth, thus feeding decotis, the disgraced law firm a million for doing it. Now he wants to go to the next level to feed them even more. Where do you think he gets all his money to run for office, and run his turn coats, yes votes in Marlboro? God help us if he is the next governor of this great state, we will be back to Corrine on storiods. Or another Anthony wiener, this we don’t need.