Hoboken 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo raised $67,200 and had $119,834.85 cash on hand after the fourth quarter of 2022 when he was still council president, according to an April 29th report filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Alexis Investments and Funding LLC, the owners of the Northern Soul restaurant, donated $2,000 on November 14th, while 32nd Legislative District Assembly candidate John Allen wrote a check for $300 on December 6th, the report shows.
Former Board of Education Trustee Peter Biancamano donated a total of $800, while former 1st Ward Councilwoman Theresa Castellano, Russo’s cousin, donated $1,000 on November 22nd.
Craig Guy, the frontrunner to be the next Hudson County executive, donated $500 from his campaign account on December 13th, with former Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia chipping in an aggregate amount of $4,500.
The Fund for Quality Leadership, a Jersey City-based super PAC linked to Mayor Steven Fulop, also gave $1,000 on December 6th, as HCV previously reported.
The Hoboken Firefighters Union Local 1078 contributed $900 overall, with the Hoboken Policemen’s Benevolent Association adding $500 of their own on December 1st. Acting Fire Chief Anton Peskens also wrote a check for $500 on November 14th, records show.
JMJ 135 Management LLC, who owns the Brass Rail, donated $1,000 on November 18th. Similarly, the owners of 10th and Willow Bar and Grill, Maurizi Inc., donated an aggregate of $3,600.
Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director Marc Recko supported Russo, also a housing authority commissioner and the chair of the cannabis review board, with a total of $600, with former Mayor Dave Roberts adding $1,000 overall.
Frank Mazzone, the landlord of the Blue Violets cannabis dispensary, donated $500 on November 22nd, as did Yi Lung Huang, a partner of the Village Hoboken LLC dispensary, on November 12th.
While the state has since significantly loosened campaign finance rules, Russo will likely have to issue at least a couple of refunds since the individual contribution limit at the time was $2,600.
As far as expenditures go, he is paying $1,340 a month for his campaign office, something he listed as a personal expense in his bankruptcy filing last year.
He also paid for two fundraisers: one at the Pilsener Haus and Biergarten on December 7th ($2,667.96) and the other at Dino and Harry’s Steakhouse on December 19th ($3,096.10).
Furthermore, his only contribution to other candidates or committees was $313 to 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen’s campaign account on December 28th.
Russo’s fourth quarter filing came about four months late and he has not yet filed his 1st quarter report for 2023.
Nevertheless, he would appear to be leading all council members and candidates in the non-partisan November 7th ward council races, with only Mayor Ravi Bhalla reporting a higher cash on hand: $130,965.56.
While Russo hasn’t officially declared he will be seeking re-election this fall, it appears to be a foregone conclusion, as he is already being floated as an early contender for mayor in 2025.
Mikie donated $313 to what councilman last December?
A PAC connected to Mrs Fulop’s husband to the head of the Hoboken Cannabis Board.
Can Russo use all that loot for a bankruptcy attorney or defense counsel?
Weed is green, dollars are green, there must be a connection!