HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY—A group of Hoboken residents today announced the launch of a campaign to elect Artie Lange Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey.  Lange, a former longshoreman turned comedian, actor and Howard Stern side kick, resides on the north end of Hoboken.    “Hoboken has not received the respect it deserves from past and current politicians.  Corruption, incompetence and political grandstanding have taken the place of a sincere caring for its residents,” said Campaign Manager, Bob Abouey, “Instead of a candidate peddling hope, we want Artie to cut through the politics.”   The grassroots campaign to elect Lange Mayor does not have the endorsement of its candidate.  However, the organizers are hopeful that residents will recognize this opportunity to elect Lange Mayor, whether he likes it or not.    Lange has lived in Hoboken since at least 2001.  He is a former All Union County third baseman from Union High School who spent his early working years as a longshoreman in the Port of Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey.  In 2008, Lange wrote a New York Times best-seller entitled Too Fat to Fish.  Most recently, Lange was denied the role of Nick Volpe in the hit movie The Wrestler.    “A former longshoreman with a rap sheet should have no problem getting elected in Hoboken.  It’s practically a requirement,” said Bob Abouey, “The fact that he was All County in high school is icing on the cake.”   Hoboken, New Jersey, lies on the west bank of the Hudson River across from Manhattan, New York.  It is the location of the first organized baseball game in the United States and served as the location for the filming of the Oscar-winning film On the Waterfront and Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days music video.  It is also the home of Carlo’s Bakery, currently featured in the TLC reality series Cake Boss.  Current and former residents of Hoboken include crooner Frank Sinatra, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, the championship quarterback for the New York Giants, Eli Manning, and Mari Pepe, the first girl to play little league baseball.  The Campaign to Elect Artie Lange Mayor of Hoboken exists at http://www.mayorartie.com.  Supporters and volunteers can also join the campaign by joining the Facebook group “Artie Lange for Mayor of Hoboken 2009”.  The campaign also can be followed on Twitter under the name “MayorArtie” at http://www.twitter.com/MayorArtie.