Citing 'Toxic' Hoboken Politics, Councilman Won't Run For Mayor

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Councilman Michael DeFusco, who ran against Mayor Ravi Bhalla four years ago and lost by under 500 votes, said Tuesday that he won't run for mayor again this November, but will support independent candidates for City Council. He also cited the "toxic" nature of Hoboken politics, noting that it had an effect on his mental health.

"Many know me as a passionate and effective politician, but at times over the past few years, politics became a toxic force in my life," DeFusco wrote in an email to supporters Tuesday. "Mental health isn’t something you typically hear those in elected office talk about but today, it’s a topic I want to address. I’ll be honest, when I lost the 2017 mayoral election by 400 votes after being wrongfully associated with a racist attack on the now mayor, it impacted me dramatically."

The case of the anonymous "racist flyers" in Hoboken four years ago was never solved, even after Hoboken police questioned four individuals. Finding the author of the flyers might have led up the chain to powerful New Jersey political players. READ MORE: Hoboken Asks Attorney General To Investigate Racist Flyers

Hoboken faces a new mayor/council election this Nov. 2. Mayor Ravi Bhalla is up for re-election and has a sizeable war chest. He announced Saturday that two-term Councilman Jim Doyle will join his mayor/council ticket, replacing Dini Ajmani, who dropped out after a few days for personal reasons.

However, Doyle had previously said he did not want to run for a third term. Jim Doyle Replaces Dini Ajmani on Bhalla's Slate

See prior coverage here: Who's Running For Hoboken Mayor And Council? Bhalla Reveals Slate

In Hoboken, municipal elections are not partisan (Republicans vs. Democrats). Instead, individuals or slates can run against each other.

'I Gained 40 Pounds'

DeFusco wrote on Tuesday that he has seen success so far as a councilman. "I led a referendum to bring democracy back to our elections, held the administration accountable for overspending, defended our hardworking city employees when they faced unnecessary layoffs, and spoke out against the mayor’s broken campaign promise to serve in a full time capacity," he wrote. "But while I was politically strong, my personal life and mental health suffered."

He wrote, "I gained 40 pounds, my eight-year relationship ended when I ran for re-election, and I lost touch with many of the things that mattered most to me outside of public service. I knew that I needed to make a change."

He said that just before the pandemic, he made a decision.

"I ... invested in myself and elevated my health, my family and my career in ways that I hadn't since before I was elected to City Council," he wrote. "This investment has paid off — I was nominated for two Emmy Awards, regained strength through daily workouts, spent more time with my aging parents and young nieces, and expanded my advocacy efforts volunteering at an LGBTQ+ center in Colombia for Venezeulan migrant youth."

He referred to recent criticism from the mayor's allies (some of which has come in a spate of press releases about his actions) and said he is trying to avoid responding. But he said he will endorse independent candidates running against the mayor's slate.

He did not name the candidates, but Hudson County View reported this week that Cheryl Fallick, Sheila Brenna, and Paul Presinzano are expected to run for spots on the nine-member City Council.

DeFusco said Tuesday that he initially heard from five independent candidates looking for his support, and he's since been working to help three get on the ballot.

Candidates for the mayoralty and for the three at-large seats on the nine-member City Council must file to run by Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.

Watch Hoboken Patch for updates.

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