Hoboken Councilman-at-Large Dave Mello will be seeking re-election on Freeholder Anthony Romano’s mayoral ticket, the campaign announced late this morning.
[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ZzhaNIzY0[/fve]
“He is someone that comes with a lot of successes and experience: eight-year Hoboken councilman, a former teachers union representative, currently a public school teacher in Jersey City, father, husband and an integral part of the successes Hoboken has achieved over the course of the last year,” Romano said of Mello in a Facebook video.
Romano announced 2nd Ward resident and New Orleans native Laini Hammond as his first running mate at a fundraiser last month and speculation began whether or not Mello, who was also in attendance at the Blue Eyes Restaurant, would be joining the slate.
On July 27th, two days later, Mello, a running mate of Mayor Dawn Zimmer in 2009 and 2013, announced he would be seeking re-election as an independent.
Evidently, those plans changed based on this morning announcement from Romano’s Washington Street campaign headquarters.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be joining this slate. For the City of Hoboken, I think Anthony Romano, in 2017, is the mayor of Hoboken the people of Hoboken really need,” began Mello.
“He has a wonderful, proven record of dealing well with outside parties. There are so many outside parties that are at the key to so many issues that are at the forefront of Hoboken and it’s citizenry today: whether it be Suez Water, New Jersey Transit, the county, the state or federal governments.”
Mello also noted that he plans on putting a focus on improving the roads and water system, as well as building larger residential development – point reminiscent of his kickoff speech from last month.
The filing deadline for the November 7th Hoboken municipal elections is September 5th, so the Romano camp would more than likely announce their third and final candidate before then.
Romano just lost the election. Way to go!!!
Waiting for Mike DeFusco’s comment…
Romano by just being in the race has gutted a very large and vital percentage of the old Hoboken voters that DeFusco was counting on even with the considerable amount of money that he has been able from those outside Hoboken will not be able to replace what he has lost.