Councilman DeFusco Drops Out Of Hoboken City Council Race

HOBOKEN, NJ — After having run for mayor in 2017 and serving on the Hoboken City Council, 1st Ward Councilman Michael DeFusco announced in a message to constituents on Tuesday afternoon that he has changed his mind about running for re-election in November.

Last year, DeFusco, who had shown independence from the administration of Mayor Ravi Bhalla, had been blasted by Bhalla's team for being out of the country and renting out his residence as an AirBnB during the COVID pandemic.

But lately, rumors have said he has become more friendly with the administration.

Still, his dropping out has come as a surprise, and may inspire speculation over who else will oppose Presinzano, another potentially independent voice, this November.

2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said in response, "I know how difficult a decision this is for Mike. He loves Hoboken so much and has fought hard and done a lot for his constituents and to make our city better. He has been a great partner on the City Council and I look forward to our
remaining months working together and our continued friendship in the years beyond.”

DeFusco wrote in his newsletter:

Over the past 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving the City of Hoboken, first as a Zoning Board Commissioner and for the past 8 years as your City Councilperson. I’ve grown so much since my first swearing in at 26 years old, and like many, life has taken me in so many new and exciting directions. Many of you know I work as a media executive in the private sector as my “day job.” Over the past three years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to grow in my professional career, leading social justice awareness campaigns for a major media brand and being nominated for 7 Emmy Awards.

With my current term nearing its end, I’ve had a lot to think about: what’s best for the City and what’s best for me, personally and professionally. After months of consideration and reflection, I have come to terms with the fact that my current schedule can no longer support both endeavors full-time, without one impacting the other.

So today, I'm announcing I will not be seeking re-election this November.

This decision was not an easy one, and it's one I've struggled with for some time. Though it is with a heavy heart that I close this chapter, I feel confident in saying we’ve brought “New Energy and New Ideas” to Hoboken, together. In addition to the massive successes I’ve listed above: bringing a European-style market, relocating the public works garage and historically preserving Court Street, we’ve changed the political conversation and Hoboken.

Patch will update this story as more information is received.

See prior coverage of the 2023 Hoboken City Council race here.