Hoboken 2019 Election Guide: Candidates, Public Questions

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken residents will cast votes for city council members and the board of education in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The Mile Square City will also make decisions on a pair of local public questions involving open space.

Here’s what Hoboken voters need to know about the 2019 election.

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HOBOKEN POLLING PLACES, TIMES

Voters who need to find their local polling place can visit the New Jersey Division of Elections website. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Learn more about your rights as a voter in New Jersey. Complaints about election day conduct at your local polling place can be directed to the New Jersey Election Hotline at 1-877-658-6837.

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

There are six seats on the Hoboken City Council up for grabs in 2019.

All of the incumbent council members up for reelection are on the ballot, except for Peter Cunningham in the 5th Ward, who said he passed on a fourth term to devote more time to his professional and personal life.

Five of the challengers – Migdalia Pagan-Milano, Nora Martínez DeBenedetto, Lisa Sprengle, Phil Cohen and Cristin Cricco Powell – are running on a slate backed by Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

The candidates include:

1ST WARD

Council member Michael DeFusco, a media professional who has served on the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, is running against Migdalia Pagan-Milano, a lifelong city resident who works for the city's Constituent Affairs department.

• Learn more about DeFusco’s campaign
• Learn more about Pagan-Milano’s campaign

2ND WARD

Council member Tiffanie Fisher, a real estate and finance professional, is running against Nora Martínez DeBenedetto, a local teacher and coordinator of the city’s Art in the Park program.

• Learn more about Fisher’s campaign
• Learn more about DeBenedetto’s campaign

3RD WARD

Council member Michael Russo, a practicing physical therapist who has served on the city Zoning Board of Adjustment, is running against Ronald Bautista, a local activist and former mayoral candidate.

• Learn more about Russo’s campaign
• Learn more about Bautista’s campaign

4TH WARD

Council member Ruben Ramos Jr., an educator in Paterson and former New Jersey state assemblyman, is running against Lisa Sprengle, an attorney and accountant.

• Learn more about Ramos’ qualifications
• Learn more about Sprengle’s campaign

5TH WARD

Phil Cohen, an attorney and longtime community activist, is running against Timothy Crowell, a real estate professional who has received an endorsement from outgoing councilman Peter Cunningham. The race also includes Nicola Maganuco, a finance professional who founded the @HobokenCommuter Twitter account.

• Learn more about Cohen’s campaign
• Learn more about Crowell’s campaign
• Learn more about Maganuco’s campaign

6TH WARD

Council member Jennifer Giattino, a real estate and business professional who currently serves as council president, is running against Cristin Cricco Powell, an executive producer and director of TV shows and documentaries, and Frank Rosner, a finance executive and co-founder of the Elysian Charter School.

• Learn more about Giattino’s campaign
• Learn more about Cricco Powell’s campaign
• Learn more about Rosner’s campaign

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES

There are six candidates competing for three seats on the Hoboken Board of Education in 2019. Terms last for three years.

The candidates include:

• Sheillah Dallara
• Alex De La Torre
• Jennifer Evans
• Shweta Gursahani
• Joyce Simons
• Patricia Waiters

The terms of current school board members Dallara, De La Torre and Evans are expiring.

De La Torre, Simons and Dallara are running on the 3-4-5 slate.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

Hoboken residents will also vote “yes” or “no” on two public questions involving open space funds.

Municipal Question #1 reads:

“The City of Hoboken established the Municipal Open Space, Recreation and Conservation Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”) by ordinance on January 1, 2008 following a referendum on November 6, 2007. A minimum of 75% of the annual amount raised by the Trust Fund is utilized for the acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, or the payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by the City of Hoboken for the acquisition of said lands. Shall the Trust Fund be amended so that a minimum of 75% of the amount raised by the Trust Fund be utilized for the acquisition or development of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, and for the payment of debt service on indebtedness issued or incurred by the City of Hoboken for these purposes?”

Municipal Question #2 reads:

“The City of Hoboken established the Municipal Open Space, Recreation and Conservation Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”) by ordinance on January 1, 2008 following a referendum on November 6, 2007, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:12-15.7, to be funded at a rate not to exceed $0.02 per $100.00 of the assessed value of real property. Shall the Trust Fund rate be increased from $0.02 to $0.03 per $100.00 of the assessed value of real property, and add historic preservation as an eligible purpose? Historic preservation is defined as preservation of historic properties, structures, facilities, sites, areas, or objects, and the acquisition of such properties, facilities, sites, areas, or objects for historic preservation purposes.”

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