Here is the original letter of endorsement by John Carey of Dawn Zimmer and team. This version was rejected by the Hoboken Reporter as per their final week editorial policy:
Don’t Feel You OWE Someone Your Vote!
For the last two months I felt, I “Owed” Beth Mason my vote for Mayor. There’s no doubt that she was the impetus for some changes in our mile square city. I talked to her about my concerns about the people she selected to run on her ticket. I talked to her about why she didn’t support or come out for someone, anyone during the recent school board election (this was prior to the election). I talked to her about some of the people she was aligning herself with in this campaign. And, I talked to her about how important it was to vote for a ticket that will make a difference in the years ahead. We can’t afford to have someone elected Mayor without his or her ticket, elected as well. Otherwise, it will be a repeat of what we now have, a Mayor with no council support. And we can’t have that...”It’s time for “REAL CHANGE.
After talking to her and some of her running mates, I still felt guilty about “Owing” her my vote. It was only after talking to Jim Vance, a key supporter of Beths’ that I realized I didn’t “OWE” anyone my Vote. Jim said and I quote, “I should never feel I “OWE” anyone my Vote,” and you know... he’s right. Our Vote is one of those rights we have and it shouldn’t be taken for granted, it shouldn’t be bought or owed to anyone. It’s time for change and your Vote can make REAL CHANGE!
Thus, I’m happy to report my months of procrastinating about how to vote are over. I’ve decided that Dawn Zimmer and her running mates are the answer for REAL CHANGE. Dawn along with her running mates, Carol Marsh, Ravi Bhalla & David Mello will make the CHANGES that our great city is crying for. The Zimmer team will listen to what you have to say and not pander to you. The Zimmer team will have to make some difficult decisions in the days ahead but rest assured, those decisions will be made intelligently and impartial for all of us.
So I ask all my friends and foes, to Vote for the Zimmer team. A team that will truly change the future of this city. Don’t feel as I once did, that your Vote is “Owed.” The Zimmer team “OWES” no one!
So on May 12th Vote the Zimmer team for REAL CHANGE, that will work for you and not certain groups. And you must agree, we certainly need CHANGE.
Respectfully yours,
John P. Carey, aka: Johnny Ricco
Original Story:
Hoboken Citizen/Veteran John Carey is still endorsing Dawn Zimmer I spoke with John Carey yesterday outside Dawn Zimmer HQ and he confirmed that he is still supporting Dawn Zimmer. He also let me know that he was very surprised when the Rev. Forbes reversed course and retracted his endorsement of Dawn Zimmer. John had been side by side with the Reverend and Dawn Zimmer when photos were taken on NJ.com supposedly showing their support for Dawn Zimmer.
John Carey is no way expressed any ill will about Reverend Forbes but simply stated it is hard to see how from his perspective there could have been any misunderstanding about what was happening at the time given the conversation, photo, and signature that was gathered.
Here is the original story on NJ.com for reference:
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2009/05/rev_anthony_forbes_no_im_still.html ◦
