I received this press release from the Zimmer Campaign at 12:23 PM today:
ZIMMER ANNOUNCES COUNCIL SLATE
Hoboken Mayoral Candidate Dawn Zimmer today unveiled her slate of at-large Council Candidates. Carol Marsh, Ravi S. Bhalla and Dave Mello will join Zimmer in her fight to set a new direction for Hoboken.Dawn Zimmer said, “Carol Marsh, Ravi Bhalla and Dave Mello bring the skills, energy and demonstrated commitment to fundamental change that will be essential to ending business as usual and building a better future for Hoboken.”
Carol Marsh said, “The budget tricks of the past are what helped get us in our current mess. We will work to ensure sound and honest budgets. That will give us the solid foundation we need to minimize the tax burden for all Hoboken residents.”
Ravi Bhalla said, “Together, we join Dawn Zimmer in standing for restoring fiscal responsibility, providing transparency, and modernizing city government.”
Dave Mello said, “We believe it is time to break with the failed development policies of the past. We must stop simply building more condos and instead emphasize responsible mixed-use development that brings jobs to our community and helps create the parks, ball fields, shops and restaurants that are essential to our quality of life.”
As a Councilwoman, Carol Marsh stood up against overspending and budget tricks. She ran for Mayor in 2005 on a reform platform against the incumbent Mayor Dave Roberts. A former Vice-President in the Financial Industry, Marsh recently went back to school and at age 50 received her college degree from Rutgers University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Library Science, also at Rutgers. Marsh has actively backed reform candidates for Hoboken Council and School Board. She served as Honorary Vice-Chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, a position she has now resigned from in order to devote all of her attention and energy to the campaign, and, if successful, to representing the people of Hoboken as a Councilwoman.
An attorney with expertise in local government law, Ravi Bhalla was recently named for inclusion in the list of Rising Stars in New Jersey’s legal community by NJ Superlawyers and NJ Monthly Magazine. Bhalla has used his legal skills to successfully defend the rights of Hoboken Council members to block the City from borrowing to pay current expenses. He served for two years as Hoboken’s Rent Board Attorney and Special Litigation Counsel for Rent Board matters and continues to serve as Union City’s Tenant Advocate. In addition to a law degree, Bhalla also received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics.
A middle school Teacher, Dave Mello recently received his law degree from Rutgers University, a degree he gained while working full time. Mello was formerly an active member of the Southwest Parks Coalition, and is currently an active member of Save Block 11, which he helped found last spring. He has recently been involved with Lower Hoboken Taxes and spoke at their rally held last week. He brings a business background having formerly worked in marketing and having earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware.
The candidates pledge an active grassroots campaign reaching out to voters in all corners of Hoboken. Dawn Zimmer and the slate will have a kick-off appearance tonight at 6:00 PM at a house party hosted by Doug and Mary Bowen who reside at 1219 Garden Street. ◦
