Beth Mason

Hudson sources say the two likely leading candidates for mayor of Hoboken both had trouble with their petitions this afternoon on the filing deadline.

Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer initially handed in incomplete petitions, which her allies say she later rectified before the deadline, while 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason didn't make the deadline.

Mason spokesman Paul Swibinski said Mason's situation was purely accidental.

"Beth was in this new county building long before the deadline," said Swibinski. "She was sent to the wrong room three times and trapped in a non-working elevator that maintenance people tried to operate. We have a number of witnesses, including public safety personnel, to confirm all of this.  A conspiracy theorist would think that Hudson County set up a gauntlet for Beth to overcome, but we believe that this was just a ridiculous set of circumstances. Dawn Zimmer on the other hand appears to have a much more serious legal problem.”

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(HOBOKEN, September 16) – Nathan Brinkman, co-founder of the Hoboken Republican Club, today joined the race for Mayor of Hoboken. Brinkman filed 173 signatures on nominating petitions at the Hudson County Clerk’s office.

Beth Mason launched her campaign for Mayor of Hoboken last night standing in front of signage that proclaims "Real Reform. Lower Taxes."  That's a similar slogan Peter Cammarano used earlier this year -- "Lower Taxes. Real Change." when he defeated Mason in the Hoboken mayoral race.  Cammarano was arrested a few weeks after taking office for taking bribes and resigned after just one month on the job.

The "Lower Taxes. Real Change." plan was also used in November 2008 when Mark Smith was elected Mayor of Bayonne.  Mason, Cammarano and Smith used veteran Democratic messagemeister Paul Swibinski as their consultant.

Photo courtesy of Paul Swibinski

2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason at her kickoff tonight with daughters Shipley and Virginia.

Updated 

HOBOKEN - Those exhausted by head-to-head Hoboken politics will have to gut out yet another round in the aftermath of Mayor Peter Cammarano's late July fall down, which cleared the way for now-Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer and 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason to recharge, reset and redo.

Zimmer hopes the result of an encounter with Mason will be the same as last time, when she quickened the Mason campaign's May meltdown and earned a berth in the runoff with Cammarano, which she lost by fewer than 200 votes.

Cammarano subsequently exited, resigning the mayor's office amid federal bribery charges - and now Mason's back, arguing that she has the best professional profile and public record to deliver a real era of reform to Hoboken - and a plan to win this time.

She formally kicked off her campaign tonight at the Brass Rail, chastising Zimmer for losing her way in the thicket of City Hall.   

Hoboken 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason will officially announce her candidacy for mayor at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, according to a statement issued by Mason spokesman Paul Swibinski.

Mason's family, friends, supporters, business associates and fellow activists will be present as she formally enters the race at the Brass Rail, Swibinski said.

Mason is challenging Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who took over in mid-summer when Mayor Peter Cammarno resigned amid federal charges of corruption.

2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason

Rematch. Hoboken.

It looks real right now as 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason picked up petitions to run for mayor, opened a campaign account, is assemblying a team and filing with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).

"Over the past few weeks, I have heard from family and friends from all corners of Hoboken asking about my future plans," Mason said in a statement. "Many have urged me to run for Mayor in the Special Election in November.

"She will make a final announcement next week," said spokesman Paul Swibinski.

Mason is looking to challange Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who assumed the oath of office on the day Peter Cammarano issued a statement of resignation following his indictment on federal corruption charges.

Democratic political consultant Paul Swibinski with U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park)

Veteran Democratic strategist Paul Swibinksi spent several hours this week in a conference with Beth Mason laying out a plan for her to win a November special election for Mayor of Hoboken against the new incumbent, Dawn Zimmer.    Swibinksi, who was the consultant on the recent mayoral campaign of Peter Cammarano, who beat Mason in the May election and Zimmer in the runoff, thinks Mason can win - if she hires him.  Mason has not hired a consultant yet in a race to replace Cammarano, who resigned last week after nearly a month in office.

Councilman Michael Russo

Third Ward Councilman Michael Russso greeted Dawn Zimmer warmly and stood with the coterie of councilpeople who formed a half circle behind her as Clerk Jimmy Farina swore her into office as Hoboken's first woman mayor.

Later, Russo wouldn't rule out a challenge to Zimmer, saying simply "no comment," when asked.

"I am supporting Dawn Zimmer to be our acting mayor," said Russo, son of former Mayor Anthony Russso and an emblem of old Hoboken with roots that stretch back into the pre Frank Sinatra era.

"This is about good government right now, we need to move our city into a positive light," added Russo, whose onetime ally and collegaue, Peter Cammarano, submitted his letter of resignation three hours earlier as he continues to fight federal corruption charges.

Russo said he had heard rumors of people who want to run Judge Kimberly Glatt for mayor in the November special election, but wouldn't confirm that they're going anywhere.

HOBOKEN - Trounced in her run for mayor earlier this year, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason today congratulated Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer - and all but announced that she will challenge Zimmer in a special election this coming November.

“While this is certainly another sad day for the City of Hoboken, Peter Cammarano did the right thing this morning by offering his resignation," said Mason. "This City deserves to move out from under this black cloud of alleged corruption and get on with the people’s business. 

"I wish acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer the best of luck and pledge to work with her in getting our local government back on track as we tackle the issues most important to our residents." 

Hoboken Council President Dawn Zimmer would become acting mayor in the event that Mayor Peter Cammarano resigns, and it does not appear, at least for the moment, that anyone's big enough to threaten her in the special election. 

Gov. Jon Corzine today said Cammarano will be gone tomorrow, but no one's yet heard that publicly from Cammarano.

If he steps down prior to Sept. 4th, the mile-square-city will hold a special on Nov. 3rd, the same day as the gubernatorial contest between Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie.

Most people assume Zimmer will run for mayor.

She was the top vote-getter in the May election, and in the runoff beat Cammarano on the machines only to lose by 161 votes after the Board of Elections factored in absentee ballots. Her supporters will be more revved up than ever with a sense of righteousness. Cammarano was already an opponent. Now, charged with allegedly taking cash bribes, he departs as an outright villain.