Freeholder Anthony Romano (D-5) rallied a group of supporters to get involved in the mayor’s race during a fundraiser last night, telling them “we have a chance to grab the brass ring.”Â
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“As Pablo said, we’re here, we’re 28 days out, and we have a chance to grab the brass ring. I was in a debate today with the other mayoral candidates and it’s intense, to say the least,” Romano said in front of a room of about 85 people at The Shepherd & the Knucklehead.
“We have to get to the finish line. We need messengers, we need volunteers, we need drivers with vehicles the day of the election: we need everyone’s help to make this happen.”
Romano appeared cautiously optimistic, a reasonable demeanor given the six-person race that includes three other elected officials and no incumbent – not to mention an escalating blood feud with 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco.
While it feels like anybody’s ball game less than a month out, the retired police captain’s running mates seemed to like their chances and feel confident in Romano’s leadership.
“I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, but I’ve lived in Hoboken for 10 years now and I could not be more honored to be on Anthony Romano’s slate,” said Councilwoman-at-Large candidate Laini Hammond.
“We moved here because this was a great place, a vibrant place we want to live in and it’s really caused me a lot of distress: we’ve got some great things done in the last eight years, we’ve also seen divides and we’ve seen people not representing all of Hoboken,” added Councilman-at-Large Dave Mello, who said Romano is known for bringing people together.
Charles “Buddy” Matthews, a popular retired coach in Hoboken, stressed the need to continuing to help people, a sentiment that echoes throughout team Romano.
Again reflecting on a debate from earlier in the day, Romano recalled what he wanted to see the thoroughfares of Hoboken, particularly Washington Street, look like.
“When I go up at the top of the viaduct and I get to Palisades Avenue, I look down at Mayor [Brian] Stack’s city and I see clean streets, paved streets, well-lit streets: that’s what we deserve and should have in Hoboken and we’ll work to get that done.”
While Romano and Stack, also the state Senator of the 33rd Legislative District, had a major failing out early in the campaign season, the Hoboken mayoral hopeful has remained cordial and taken the high road when speaking about the North Hudson power broker.
The Hoboken municipal elections are on November 7th.