Healy says it's clear he's Jersey City Public Official # 4

by: Jason Springer

Sun Jul 26, 2009 at 04:32:47 PM EDT

"Based on review of the complaint, it is clear that I am Jersey City Public Official 4. I did nothing wrong at anytime. Right now we are going to continue to conduct open and honest government and are focused on moving the city forward. In fact, yesterday we solicited instructions and advice from the U.S. Attorney's Office on how to secure the offices and records of those officials who were charged and suspended," Healy said in a written statement.  "We are complying with those instructions and will continue to cooperate. We will make no further statements at this time due to the ongoing nature of this investigation."

The person identified as "JC Official 3" in the federal complaint against Jersey City political consultant Joe Cardwell is Carl Czaplicki, a former chief of staff to Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy who heads up the city's Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce.

Two Jersey City sources confirmed that Czaplicki is JC Official 3, who is identified in the complaint as "an official who had responsibility for housing and economic development matters in Jersey City government."  He served as Healy's chief of staff from 2004 until his promotion in 2007.

Cardwell, who is close to Czaplicki, allegedly solicited money from a cooperating witness - later identified as developer Solomon Dwek - to expedite "approvals" for a real estate project on Garfield Avenue.  According to the complaint, Cardwell told the witness that JC Official Three was one of his "guys."