Hoboken 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo is still the top fundraiser in the five-person mayoral race, hauling in $165,940 in the first quarter of this year with $156,758.41 cash on hand, his April 21st campaign finance report shows.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This campaign is powered by real people—working families, union members, local businesses, and neighbors who believe in a more fair and sensible approach to government,” he said in a statement.
“I’m proud to have the support of so many across different income levels who share our commitment to common-sense solutions and responsible leadership.”
Toresco Holdings managing member John Amorosa contributed $5,250, Ironstate President David Barry and Ironstate Co-Founder Michael Barry each donated $5,000, as did the KRE Group’s Jackson Barry and Columbia University Medical Center’s Jordan Barry, the report says.
David Barry’s wife, Kyra Tirana Barry, also of Ironstate, chipped in $5,000, as did Jennifer and Courtney Barry, who did not list employers.
Joe Barry, the co-founder of Applied Companies (which is now Ironstate) who went to prison for bribery in 2004, donated $1,000.
Former NBA Star Al Harrington, the co-owner of the Village Dispensary, showed his support with $5,000, while the Hoboken Firefighters IAFF Local 1078 gave $1,000, and the Hoboken PBA Local 2 donated $500.
Alex and Daniel Cocoziello, of Advance Realty Investors, both gave $2,500, as did the Greater NJ Carpenters PEC, former West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi, the president of RD Parisi & Associates, donated $2,000, as did North Bergen’s the Alamo Group.
Additionally, former 1st Ward Councilwoman Theresa Castellano – Russo’s cousin – wrote a check for $1,000 and Russo also chipped in $17,300 from his city council account, though he later refunded himself a $1,000.
On the expenditure side, his largest expense was a March fundraiser at City Bistro where the campaign spent $4,653.61.
He also raised another $9,500 into his city council account, according to his April 15th report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC).
Russo reported $46,986.69 in expenditures and has another $285,226.84 cash on hand in this account.
Springfield-based Activate Media was paid $10,000 for consulting and Basad Management was paid $4,320 in rent, along with the aforementioned disbursement to his mayoral account.
The longest serving councilman in the Mile Square City, Russo is the top fundraiser in the mayoral race thus far, with former U.S. Treasury official Dini Ajmani with the second most cash on hand, though that is due to the strength of a $200,000 loan, as HCV first reported.
The other candidates in the non-partisan November 4th contest are 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, and Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour.
Shortly after this story was published, Fisher intimated that at least some of Russo’s big contributions go against ELEC’s advisory opinion from earlier this month (both Fisher and Russo previously said the other’s interpretation was wrong).
“Two campaign accounts. Same developer donors. Double the legal limit. Mike Russo knows the rules — he just doesn’t think they apply to him. But they do. And the state will hold him accountable,” she said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Hoboken 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher.
Well, there you go, huge big developer monies $$$$ flooding into the clown prince of Hoboken corruption. Oh and weed money which is no shocker either. All we’re missing is an endorsement from Solomon Dwek of the Jersey Sting.
No shocker that Russo gets funded by The Barry Brothers
Both must’ve consoled each other while Dad’s were in prison fpr selling out Hoboken and Hudson County and paying/ Taking BRIBES
http://www.russocorruption.com
https://betterwaterfront.org/hoboken-developer-joe-barry-targeted-by-federal-investigators/
Russo only wants to wet his beak like the big developers who have their fangs out for Hoboken. They are getting behind Russo, Jabbour and Ramos in a big way!
The only one who can’t be bought is Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher.
Tiffanie is also the only one who has zero chance
Mayor Ravi S.Bhalla and his City Council handed Mike Russo for some reason the control of Hoboken Housing Authority which will be writing a hundred million dollars in construction contracts to redevelop and mid-town West and and the senior buildings.
Russo term is up in the Hoboken Housing Authority in May of this year. The council should appoint someone else and not reappoint Russo for that reason alone.
Russo would not like that. He loves to strong arm the HHA Hoboken people. It’s a family tradition. If the City Council would end it, that would help. They never should have put him there in the first place. Smarten up!