Did you know your neighbors are running for office? It’s true! In every neighborhood throughout Hudson County at least two of your neighbors will be on the ballot for the June 4th Democratic Primary Election!
So… who are the people in your neighborhood? And what are they running for?
Let’s start with the “what” first. Each candidate is running for one of the hundreds of seats on the Hudson County Democratic Party Committee. With one male and one female member from each neighborhood electoral district represented, the Committee should ideally serve as the legislative branch or the board of directors for the Democratic Party in our area, where each committee person has a vote on important party business.
Ideally, this body should a) facilitate the vibrant and diverse debates that shape the party’s initiatives, b) listen to and advocate for its various constituencies c) ensure fair electoral processes for primary candidates and guarantee sufficient support for nominees, and finally, d) lead the mobilization of county Democrats to support local, state and national initiatives and candidates.
Ideally…. You see where we are going here. The reality is that the the committee is mainly comprised of loyalists to those already in power, candidates who are basically hand-picked for their acquiescence, and then easily elected. Once elected, these Committee-members are – on occasion – activated to help ensure that candidates favored by party insiders effectively crush all potential intra-party opposition. Besides that – the typical committee member conducts virtually no substantial business in terms of shaping the direction or values of the local party.
That all started to change in 2017 when local citizen activists – and now committee members – Emmy Tiderington (Ward E, District 13), Patrick Toussaint and Andrea Ducas (both representing Ward E – District 4) – came together to form the Jersey City Progressive Alliance. Quickly expanding beyond their initial scope beyond Jersey City – the group is now in the process of evolving into the Hudson County Progressive Alliance.
Finding allies and opportunities for the growth of a progressive contingent on the committee, the HCPA joined forces with local congressional advocacy group NJ-08 for Progress in 2019 to recruit, train and support a fresh batch of progressive candidates to re-shape the party committee for the politics of the 21st Century – pro-active, inclusive and action-oriented. Three of these new leaders were kind enough to answer our questionnaire and you can meet them below.
To learn how you can support these candidates and their campaigns visit NJ-08 for Progress’s Take Action Page.
To learn more about how you might plan your own campaign to join the fight in the future, access the Hudson County Progressive Alliance’s toolkit here. You can also follow the Hudson County Progressive Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.
I’m passionate about supporting my neighborhood and will advocate for my neighbors and our community.
Candidate: Rachael O’Brien
Age: 26
Occupation: Compliance Manager
District: Ward F – District 6
City: Jersey City
Where the heck is your district anyway?
We’re nestled in Bergen Hill covering a portion of Summit Ave, Clifton Place, The Beacon, and a snippet of Howard Ave and Storms Ave.
How long have you lived in the neighborhood? What do you like best about it?
I’m fresh to the neighborhood, having been here only since September. However, I am a NJ native originally hailing from Seaside Park. What I like most – from the neighbors I have talked to so far – is that they or their families have lived here for generations. The community is close knit and there’s a lot of history.
What inspired you to run for a seat on the committee?
To put it simply, I saw the great work being done by NJ-08 for Progress and immediately thought I needed to get involved. From there, I learned about the County Committee and felt that aligned with what I want to accomplish. I want to be a part of my community and to work with my neighbors to make sure our community’s voice is heard and represented.
Why should your neighbors choose you to represent them in the local party?
I’m passionate about supporting my neighborhood and will advocate for my neighbors and our community. I want them to know I will be there for support, resources, information, or whatever it may be. We’re on a team together and only together can we create positive and progressive change.
My neighbors deserves someone on the committee who will listen to their concerns and advocate for their interests, even when those don’t align with party leadership
Candidate: Ryan Moser
Age: 34
Occupation: 12th Grade English Teacher
District: Ward E – District 19
City: Jersey City
Where the heck is your district anyway?
In the “back corner” of Hamilton Park in downtown JC -from 8th Street to the highway, and from Coles Street to the other highway.
How long have you lived in the neighborhood? What do you like best about it?
I have lived in downtown Jersey City since 2008, and my wife and I moved to our current apartment in 2013. We are a quiet, residential area, but walk-able to anywhere downtown and convenient to Manhattan. We’ve got a few new developments in the district, but we’re a neighborhood of row houses and brownstones at heart. Our neighborhood includes the lovely Enos Jones Park, home to a softball field AND a baseball field AND a skate park. But the best parts of my neighborhood are the roses and the trees–I challenge anyone to find a more beautiful street in the spring and fall than our own stretch of 9th St.
What inspired you to run for a seat on the committee?
We live in an amazingly diverse, progressive metropolis, where the people really care about making sure we all have the chance to be healthy and taken care of. Unfortunately, the party that usually represents us–the Democratic Party–does not always really listen to those people. The way we can change that is through the County Committee, and I’m thankful for the people the Hudson County Progressive Alliance for inspiring me to join their efforts.
Why should your neighbors choose you to represent them in the local party?
Though I am a registered Democrat, I have no connections to Hudson County politics. I don’t want to be a career politician, and have no aspirations to any greater glory or fame. I want to represent my district because I think my neighbors deserves someone on the committee who will listen to their concerns and advocate for their interests, even when those don’t align with party leadership. I will be an independent and principled voice, and will always be available to listen.
I will ensure my constituents’ concerns are heard, whether it be local quality-of-life issues like improving traffic safety or county-wide good-government issues.
Candidate: Caitlin Sherman
Age: 35
Occupation: Apparel Designer
City: Weehawken
District: Ward 1 – District 3
Where the heck is your district anyway?
The South-West corner of Weehawken, bordered by Union City and the Palisade cliffs
How long have you lived in the neighborhood? What do you like best about it?
I moved here a little over 4 years ago. I love how peaceful it is, the great views from the reservoir, and how friendly all my neighbors are.
What inspired you to run for a seat on the committee?
I was inspired to run after learning about the important role the committee has in choosing Democratic candidates in our county, and how much influence “the line” has in our primaries. I believe that every registered Democrat in our county should have an equal voice in nominating our candidates, rather than a small handful of party leaders having so much control. I also believe that the committee could have a greater role in areas without formal neighborhood associations, and our municipality should have regular, public meetings.
Why should your neighbors choose you to represent them in the local party?
I will ensure my constituents’ concerns are heard, whether it be local quality-of-life issues like improving traffic safety or county-wide good-government issues. The committee should be more active in our town, and I will do my best to ensure that everyone is registered to vote and informed about upcoming elections. I will hold leadership accountable and demand a voice in the nomination process for the entire committee before the critical presidential election next year.
Best of luck to all these amazing candidates!
How did it go?
I believe 2 out of our 3 featured candidates won their seats, and many more besides in Hudson County.