Peter Cammarano

At-Large Councilman Peter Cammarano: Politicker photo 

HOBOKEN - Even members of his inner circle swear that they don’t yet know whether Mayor Dave Roberts plans to run for a third term in 2009.

Whatever his intentions, other Hoboken diehards are surfacing. No one’s announced yet, but fierce political battles now will undoubtedly have political consequences next year in this city stung by the embarrassment of a state takeover of its finances.

There are all of the usual speculations surrounding possible candidates. A sighting of former Councilwoman Carol Marsh at a municipal meeting provokes the conclusion in come corners that she’s definitely running. A recent inundation of photos of Mayor Roberts on the Hoboken website prompts someone else to opine that Roberts is running - bet on it.

Businessman and neighborhood kid made good Frank "Pupie" Raia?

Of course, he’s running, say Hoboken insiders. He always runs, and no doubt he will perpetuate his longstanding animus this year with Councilman Michael Russo, who clubbed him last year in their 3rd ward showdown.

Hoboken’s 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason is trying to carve out  a reputation for filing lawsuits in the pursuit of “open government” –  to date filing at least eleven such suits over access to public records.

But yesterday, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously smacked down  Mason – who has filed 125 separate requests for public records from the  City of Hoboken, saying those who seek records must do so in timely  manner. In the Court’s unanimous ruling, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote of Mason’s 17 requests for city records – including every single  financial transaction by the City of Hoboken in 2003 and 2004: "Citizens  are entitled to swift access to public records, and both the public and  governmental bodies are logically entitled to have any disputes brought  and addressed in the same, rapid manner."

At-Large Councilmen Peter Cammarano, left, and Ruben Ramos: Politicker photo 

At-Large Councilman Ruben Ramos today responded to Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason in a letter in which he addressed the self-styled government watchdog as "Boss Mason."

"As a lifelong member of the Hoboken community, I am appalled that Ms. Mason thinks she can mask her intention to be a political boss, by having the audacity to call herself a reformer," Ramos said of the likely mayoral candidate.

Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason: Politicker photo 

HOBOKEN - Taking a nod from Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop, freshman Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason intends to introduce an amendment that would ban city elected officials from receiving more than one public salary or pension.

"I am sure that Councilman Fulop recognizes, as do I, how difficult it is to create a more responsive and responsible government when the primary interest of many elected officials lies in perpetuating a cumbersome, costly bureaucracy that rewards the few, at the expense of the many," Mason said.

Elected last year to fill a vacant seat in the city’s second ward, Mason - like Fulop in Jersey City - is a likely 2009 mayoral candidate.

I am amazed that the chairman of the public safety committee has not acted to demand a further investigation into the chief’s conduct before agreeing to let him ride off into the sunset with millions of dollars of taxpayer money,” said Mason.  

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg flew up from Washington last night to attend a fundraiser for Hoboken Councilman Peter Cammarano, a good friend – but blew off an invitation to attend another fundraising event the same evening for Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Hoboken at-large Councilman Peter Cammarano is campaigning to stop a fair hike on the Port Authority Trans Hudson rail system (PATH).

Cammarano, who counts Gov. Corzine and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez among his constituents, launched the Web site www.stopthepathhike.com today. The site includes news on the fare hikes, dates for upcoming public hearings, form letters to send to the Port Authority and a 600 word biography of Cammarano.

At a news conference today held at the corner of 6th and Jackson, former Hoboken Councilman Chris Campos wanted to make sure that he had his own ward appear behind him – a housing project, not the relatively new and up-market apartment building across the street in the neighboring ward.

“That’s my ward, that’s what I represent,” he told the cameraman, pointing to the drab brick building.

The point was obvious. Campos, who grew up in a housing project nearby, was a home town guy. Now, after losing a runoff election against Hoboken newcomer Dawn Zimmer, who moved here five years ago, he’s facing her for a third time after she agreed to step aside and run again rather than battle Campos’s in court. Now Campos is clawing his way back to the seat that he thinks is rightfully his.

Congratulations to Hoboken City Councilman Peter Cammarano and his wife, Marita, on the first of the daughter, Abigail, on June 4 at 4:00 AM.  Abigail.

Peter Cammarano, who served as Chief of Staff to Governor Richard Codey, is considering a bid for the State Assembly in the 18th district. The incumbent Peter Barnes is has been appointed Chairman of the state Parole Board. He is expected to resign after the Senate confirms his nomination, which will trigger a Special Election Convention within 7-35 days.

Barnes' son, Edison Councilman Peter Barnes III, has already entered the race. Cammarano, a Metuchen resident and longtime Codey aide, has close ties to Edison Mayor Jun Choi.