First let me reveal that I'm in Charleston, hopefully in fine health and in one of Rhett Butler's modernized gin mills. This column was written before April because I felt the need to leave something for Hudson County JJ readers while I'm away. This piece was inspired by Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo.

About a month ago, while kibitzing with some old Hudson County and new state sources, we discussed what could endanger Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop's run for the governor's office. It's obvious that the Hudson County politician carries his own target on his back so long as he "runs" for governor. Other than an unlikely self-destruction, it seems the mayor will have a strong kick in the home stretch of the Democratic Party derby.

DiVincenzo helped the what-if scenario by announcing in a typical political egotistical manner that he is not ruling out a run for governor in 2017. "I'm definitely considering it," he told PolitickerNJ. I would've thought he had plenty of opportunity in the past.

DiVincenzo says he's the best choice for the Senate. If he runs, he intends to run on his own vinyl (record). There is that little thing about giving Gov. Chris Christie some support but he explained that by saying he was like a prison trustee looking out for himself or in this case, his county -- or the devil made him do it.

There are so many conspiracy theories out there in connection with the upcoming governor's race that DiVincenzo is just another page in the Tales of Political Suspense comic book.

The latest (at least back when I wrote this) scenario is that eventually Senate President Steve Sweeney will be offered the Menendez seat by Norcross to step down for DiVincenzo. Supposedly Norcross believes that DiVincenzo will carve out enough north Jersey votes from rival Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop -- more than Sweeney could get -- giving the south a chance to rise again in the Democratic primary. Keep in mind that north Jersey has the majority of Democratic Party votes.

Many believe U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez's seat will become available after his federal corruption trial is completed, according to the conspiracy wonks. There are people who actually believe the Senate seat belongs to the public domain. Naturally there are some convinced it should be occupied by them. Just ask former Sen. Robert Torricelli.

A problem with all this, besides the large number of "ifs" is that Norcoss would rather give a vacant U.S. Senate seat to his brother, 1st District Congressman Donald Norcross, before anyone else. Also, any possible deal would be the one time Sweeney would defy Norcross because the Senate president is one stubborn guy when it comes to the office of governor.

What happens should Menendez come out on top in his federal trial? It would not only be the Justice Department that should be fearful. The Hudson County-bred senator can be very vengeful, and you know he has read what everyone is saying about his still very warm seat.

Meanwhile, Fulop is chugging along with few or no conspiracy theories surrounding his campaign. We can only wait for some super PAC revelation, either about the one supporting him or another PAC dishing dirt. In the meantime, we'll just watch the negative exchanges between Fulop and Christie -- pretty much a bigger version of the Bill Matsikoudis and Fulop relationship -- because every campaign needs a monster to fight "for the people" and street cred, even if the enemy has to be manufactured.

Once everyone announces their candidacy, the Jersey City mayor can expect a great deal of scrutiny late this summer after the national conventions, when everyone will weigh in with their opinions. This must be where the term "making mountains out of molehills" originated in the 16th century. Of course they had no video back then.

INSIDER NOTES

-- One thing to think about is, who becomes the Assembly speaker should Fulop become governor? Obviously, Congressman Albio Sire's seat is being kept warm for present Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, in keeping with the Cuban-American succession tradition. Prieto and Sires (and Menendez) think alike when it comes to Cuba.

Although it was pointed out to me that Prieto lives in Secaucus, Congressman Bill Pascrell's district, but it's nothing another address couldn't fix, as has been done in the past. Still it may mean someone else may move up.

It is the unwritten statewide political rule that a county cannot hold the governor's post plus any of the two leaderships in the Legislature. This alone should ignite comments.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Agustin C. Torres' columns appear in The Jersey Journal every Saturday.