Like reader and talented contributor Infotainme, I too have considered becoming Mayor of Hoboken. The dream is a fleeting one of course because I am not at a stage in my career where I feel a full-time switch to politics would be beneficial to me or the community I serve. Besides, does anyone of right mind want to deal with all the B.S. that being Mayor of Hoboken entails? So for now, not to muddle the mix any further with the possibly fake write-in candidacy's of Artie Lange, and totally fake write in movement for Tony Soares, I am content to just be a political observer and blog away. Besides, if I were to become Mayor, there would be some pretty big shoes to fill after my departure. I wouldn't want to raise the bar too high. Ho, ho, ho! :)
My endorsement of Dawn Zimmer should be of no surprise. I do believe I have been honest with my readers from the get go that she still remains my candidate of choice. More on Dawn at the end.
Beth Mason - To date, based on her most recent ELEC reports she has spent $342K on this segment of the Mayoral Race alone. I get the fact that she has every right to run but after her 3rd place finish in May she could have become a very powerful ally of Dawn helping her enact progressive legislation. Perhaps the trappings of power were too much to resist. The stakes are high in this election but the massive amount of expenditure indicates that fiscal restraint may not be Beth Mason's strong suit.
Beth Mason really lost me on her irresponsible Church Square Towers vote. I am all for middle class housing for middle class incomes but not having an audit of incomes before renewing the PILOT for another 10 years was just flat out irresponsible to the Hoboken taxpayer. Her prior comments (paraphrased) of "Develop or die", "Reformers shoot holes in things" and her recent obstructionist tactics in City Council meetings have pulled me even further away. I know many potential voters that feel the same way.
As a citizen's advocate Beth Mason accomplished some very good things but as a politician she is tone deaf to the positions of the Hoboken taxpayer and hence has lost considerable base. Her negative campaigning with some notable lies has turned people off and granted, probably cost Dawn Zimmer a few votes along the way, but at what price to her political reputation? I guess we will find out on Tuesday.
There is an analogy between Beth And Dawn that I think is appropriate. Beth Mason is to Hillary Clinton as Dawn Zimmer is to Barrack Obama. Dawn is the upstart in terms of experience who stays on message even if she does not have Barrack's oratory gifts. Beth, like Hillary Clinton will politically triangulate and re-position herself based on consultant input. Well, we all know the outcome of the last Democratic Presidential primary. I rest my case.
With Beth Mason, I simply don't know what I am going to get. The unknown is a scary place in politics.
Frank Raia- Frank has run for the most part a very professional campaign with well done video and a polished website stating his positions. I do not doubt that he loves this town. It must be noted in all fairness that he has done much charitable work in town, particularly helping out young children.
Frank is running a campaign that tries to persuade voters to elect him because of his business experience. While business experience is relevant to some, actual performance in public office is even more relevant. This brings us to Frank's record on the School Board.
Frank Raia's fiscal record on the School Board was one of the big reason he did not get elected to a third term. Frank supported HOLA when it was later found out there was no money for the program in the first place. He voted yes on the pay increase for the teacher's union in a time where more fiscal austerity was warranted. Additionally, after defeat criticized the current school board for eliminating the HVAC coordinator position. This basically consisted of a guy making phone calls to get the one building AC fixed when it broke. Talk about a low-show job! Frank in his BOE defeat said "This town is out of whack". Frank, I disagree frankly, The BOE budget was out of whack.
I do like Frank Raia but a vote for him is the continuation of the patronage model. We have seen enough of the "friends and family plan" in terms of Hoboken's governance. Therefore Frank Raia is not the candidate of choice to move Hoboken forward in my opinion. I still hope I am welcome at his annual birthday bash however. As a private citizen, Frank Raia is a generous man.
Kim Glatt- On Glatt's candidacy: Where is the Platform? I met Kim Glatt and find her to be personable and easy to talk to. She has several things going for her in that she has been a judge in town for a long time and seems to have quite a bit of old guard support. Dave Roberts, Maurice Fitzgibbons and former Cammarano running mate Mike Novak are just of few former Cammarano supporters. With this type of support by the usual suspects and no stated platform to hold her accountable, I suspect that we will get more of the same patronage and culture of entitlement along the lines of a Dave Roberts or what a Peter Cammarano administration would have brought. The unknown is a scary place in politics.
Not surprisingly, Hoboken 411 made a last minute politically motivated revelation this week that Kim and her husband were in foreclosure on a Castle Point house in their name. Kim Glatt decided to rebut these allegations in the Hoboken Reporter. From what I see based on the evidence presented is that Kim and her husband held the mortgage for a family member which is not atypical. Many families do it. What is atypical is that a couple with their presumed wealth, that can afford a tax abated W Hotel residence, can let a few tax payments lapse as such on another property. Fairly or unfairly, this naturally begs the question of her ability to handle personal finances as well as Hoboken's Finances. My take is that this mortgage issue will be settled by the Kim and her husband once the foreclosure process completes. I do think Kim would have better served her own political interests by giving a more detailed response to the Hoboken Reporter.
In the end I can't support a candidate who is trying to run on personality and resume alone. Kim will get a good chunk of her base and perhaps some who want a new face besides the two current city Council members seeking Mayoral office. We shall see November 3rd.
Nathan Brinkman- He scored some points with his elocution during the Hoboken Candidate's Forum sponsored by POG and QLC on October 14th. While Nathan made some good points on issues during the debate he advocates an extreme position of stripping down Government to a very sparse core at the local level. I do agree with him that Hoboken needs to be more efficient but what we need is better more efficient government, not less government just for the sake of less government.
Patricia Waiters and Everton Wilson- have not mounted a significant campaign effort to warrant being considered viable and hence are not a factor in my assessment. I encourage both of them to stay involved and possibly build up a base for a future run if that is in their plans.
Artie Lange for Mayor - Must be a joke, right?
Dawn Zimmer- Dawn is my choice for Mayor echoed by the Jersey Journal's six points made in their endorsement of her accomplishments and characteristics to date:
1) Returning Zoning Board appointments to the City Council.
2) New Process for reviewing PILOTS.
3) Energy Audit completed with action plan.
4) Road-map to end State supervision created.
5) Modernization of City Hall with basic computer technology.
6) Dawn's energy and eagerness to serve the City of Hoboken.
Finally, Dawn has exhibited a quality that I find makes her the best choice for Hoboken Mayor. It is a Japanese word gambaru or for a lack better translation "stick-to-it-iveness". Dawn has persevered through many personal and political attacks and has stayed mostly on message and principles throughout her unexpected rise as Hoboken politician. She has been able to take the hits and shows no sign of letting up. That is a quality to be admired and is one of the main reasons I proudly endorse her in her candidacy for Hoboken Mayor.
Regarless of your opinion in comparison to my editorial, make sure you vote this Tuesday. As Hoboken Revolt likes to say - "Love your town - VOTE!" ◦
