Fisher files ELEC complaint against Russo as Hoboken mayoral race heats up

Hoboken 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher has filed a complaint with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) against 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo, a mayoral opponent, as the race heats up one week after the primary election is in the books.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“It is well known in Hoboken that he [Russo] has been running and fundraising solely for mayor since 2023, yet he has funded nearly all campaign expenses through the 2027 Council account—even as he raised unusually large sums, mostly from developers and special interests giving at the individual maximum limit,” Fisher’s complaint says.

“These contribution amounts are atypical for a single-ward Council candidate and more consistent with a mayoral-level campaign. This misuse of the Council account to fund a mayoral bid is both irregular and concerning.”

Fisher continued that the request for an investigation came after she requested an advisory opinion in March, which ELEC offered in April, to prevent candidates from using multiple campaign committees to get around contribution limit laws.

“Unfortunately, as anticipated, Councilman Russo has engaged in precisely the type of fundraising and expenditure activity the Commission warned against — not only that, but also broader violations of ELEC law — necessitating this formal request for investigation and enforcement,” she added.

Specifically, she is asking the commission to investigate whether Russo transferred funds from his 2023 and 2025 council accounts to his mayoral campaign, determine whether expenditures paid for by his council account were expenses for his bid for mayor, and an audit of the $178,000 to date spent by his 2027 council account, among other things.

Fisher also points out that Russo’s fundraising dating back to 2023 is “years ahead” of what is typical in the Mile Square City, raising $239,000 in a race where he secured nearly 90 percent of the vote, where $81,000 subsequently went into his 2027 council account.

For the basis of comparison, in 2011, he raised just $32,000 and his opponent raised a measly $11,000, with Fisher asserting that even though Russo was unopposed in 2015, there were some financial irregularities.

“Although he ran unopposed, Russo loaned his campaign $17,500 and spent approximately $31,000. Notably, about $18,000 was paid to over 250 individuals labeled as ‘campaign workers’—including $16,000 paid to 230 Hoboken Housing Authority residents living outside the 3rd Ward, in areas where Russo supported other candidates,” she wrote.

“These payments were never reported as in-kind contributions—an omission that obscures the true source and intent of the expenditure.”

In short, Fisher declares that the facts are clear that Russo has skirted ELEC rules repeatedly in anticipation of this year’s non-partisan November 4th contest.

“Russo’s $383K raised and $178K spent well in advance of any ward election, vastly exceed historical norms for Council races,” she reiterated.

“These figures align with citywide mayoral spending levels and are strong evidence that Russo has been improperly using his Council committee (and 2023 account) to fund his 2025 mayoral campaign, in violation of ELEC regulations.”

Russo’s campaign did not return an email seeking comment on Tuesday, while ELEC Deputy Executive Director Joe Donahue said he could not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.

However, a late April OPRA request response from ELEC obtained by HCV shows that ELEC has been communicating with Russo and his team since September 17th, 2024, denying the release of letters and phone call summaries due to an “investigation in progress.”

The last email communication listed on the response sheet was on March 20th, 2025, with ELEC reaching out to Russo, his campaign counsel, and accountant via email.

Russo, the top fundraiser in the mayoral race by a wide margin, made several amendments to his campaign finance reports during that time frame.

His 2024 Quarter 1 ELEC report was due on April 15th of that year, but was amended eight months later, after the second and third quarter reports were already submitted.

Russo retroactively amended three contributions in that report: The first was a contribution by MBI Gluckshaw Partner and President Rudy Garcia, a former Union City mayor, who gave $2,500 on February 1st.

He amended that contribution in December 2024 to now show that Garcia donated $1,250 and his wife, Nicole Garcia, donated $1,250.

Similarly, Matthew Lefurge, who is employed by William Guarini Inc., who donated over $30,000 to Russo’s campaign through the company itself and their employees, donated $10,200 on January 17th, 2024, which was over the legal limit of $5,500.

This contribution was amended 11 months later to now show that Lefurge donated $5,100 and Tara Lefurge donated $5,100.

Similarly, Guarini Plumbing manager Michael Oriani donated a total of $20,400 from two donations on given on January 17th, 2024 and February 16th, 2024.

This was amended in December 2024 to show that he and Andrea Oriani both donated $5,200 on February 16th, with the remaining $10,200 returned to Michael Oriani as an excessive contribution.

This is not the first time Fisher called for a campaign finance investigation into a political opponent.

Backing Council President Jen Giattino for mayor in 2017, she asked the city to investigate 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco for alleged pay-to-play violations, though nothing ever came of it.

Furthermore, Russo said in a statement after ELEC issued their advisory opinion that his team has always played by the rules and will continue to do so.

“Our campaign has always been committed to transparency, fairness, and full compliance with the law. We will continue to operate accordingly and ensure that every step we take is within the framework set by ELEC,” he said at the time.