Hudson County Executive Craig Guy today made his much-anticipated formal announcement that he would run for Democratic county chairman.
The incumbent, Anthony Vainieri, is not expected to run again but has not yet publicly stated his intentions. Guy appears to have the votes to win even if Vainieri were to seek re-election.
Speculation that Guy would take over the county Democratic organization post began last year, before he had been sworn in as county executive.
At a memorial service this week for Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark), it was Guy — and not Vainieri — who represented Hudson County as a eulogizer, along with Essex County Democratic Chairman LeRoy Jones, Jr. and Union County Democratic Chairman Nicholas Scutari, the president of the New Jersey State Senate.
Guy made his announcement at a Jersey City Democratic breakfast this morning.
Vainieri became county chairman two years ago after Amy DeGise declined to run. A former county commissioner, he is now a North Bergen town commissioner.