Hoboken 3rd Ward Candidate Profile: Ed Reep

HOBOKEN, NJ — If you live in the center of the west side of Hoboken, you're likely in the 3rd Ward. (See the ward map here).

That means you'll get to vote for one of two men as the 1st Ward council candidate — but even if you don't live there, the election will affect you. Hoboken has nine voting members on its City Council, and each one can sway a vote.

Current Councilman Michael Russo is up for re-election, being challenged by political newcomer Ed Reep, who posts his views often on social media. Neither man has gotten an official endorsement from Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

The questions and answers from Ed Reep are below. Compare them with Russo's answers and profile. See the other profiles and Hoboken news on Patch here.

NOTE: Got something to say? Post comments below or post letter to the editor on Hoboken Patch this way

Name

Edward Reep

How old will you be as of Election Day?

32

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://edwardreephobokenward3.wordpress.com/

Party affiliation, even though Hoboken elections are non-partisan:

GOP

Education.

Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management from Rutgers Business School

Current occupation, years of experience.

Data Analyst who has been working in tech-related fields for over 10 years

Family information, if you're willing to share.

Single

Does anyone in your family work in politics or have a government position, either volunteer or paid? Where?

No one to my knowledge besides me is currently directly involved in NJ government or politics

Previous or current elected or appointed offices.

None

Why are you seeking a spot on Hoboken's City Council? Please keep these answers to 250 words or we WILL automatically truncate your answer.

I want the city to remain an awesome place to live where people have minimal stress and burden. My campaign is focused on improving the situation for car owners, pet owners, and renters. I want the council to take action (or wisely choose inaction), so life is less miserable. That's all. I also want love and peace and less division, and I don't want a long-term career in politics because this stuff is really intense!

What is the single most pressing issue facing Hoboken, and what makes you more qualified than your opponent(s) to solve it?

The recent string of unconscionably-high rent increases in non-rent-controlled buildings, displacing many residents who don't have other protections renters have in Hoboken. We must act with local legislation to limit if we can these types of rent increases, even if we must work outside "rent control" as a legislative framework. The key to solving this is priority, and any candidate that prioritizes this issue can solve it, since we have an example in a law Newark passed we can start with.

Do you believe national political issues are relevant to Hoboken? Whom did you vote for in the 2020 presidential election? Do you believe it's relevant or irrelevant, and why?

I'm not going to fully answer this question as to whom I voted for in the 2020 presidential election, but I'll say it wasn't Donald Trump. I am, however, very open about being a member of the NJ GOP who disagrees with our current president Joe Biden strongly on many issues and has found him dangerous and incompetent.

The only national political issues relevant at the local level are ones that directly relate to our local laws, of which I can name a few but won't do so out of respect. I do think City Council needs to stop passing so many symbolic resolutions on national political issues, which causes them unnecessarily to become local and thus causes ensuing drama.

Some believe that running for local office serves primarily as a stepping stone, particularly in Hudson County. Are you willing to take a pledge to remain on the council for all four years rather than taking any other political job or paid government position?

Oh, I don't want a career in politics or a government job. It's a step down from my current private sector job in every way!

Several of our readers and others have said that Hoboken is becoming unaffordable to the middle class, particularly with monthly apartment rents seeing increases between $500 and $1,000 in some cases, and other costs spiking. Yet, Hoboken boasts of being an artsy town and a diverse community. Do you think something should be done to keep a mix of people in all parts of town? If so, what?

Yes, for sure. We need lots of support for fair public housing and affordable housing in addition to support for rent control in older units and caps on rent hikes in newer units not under rent control. Government needs to step in and play a hand in the market to fix our rent crisis and keep economic diversity.

Do you think Hoboken's current rent control ordinance is working as is, or does it need adjustments, and what kind? If there's a referendum to remove the Rent Control Ordinance, as has been talked about in the past, would you work to keep it, or remove it?

I definitely want to keep rent control, and we need adjustments to make rent control fairer for both renters and landlords so that our situation is sustainable. We don't want folks being unfairly forced out if their landlord is acting in bad faith, and we also don't want renters acting in bad faith to abuse patient landlords. It must be a win-win agreement... like the agreement we had earlier to make rent control sustainable that got vetoed by the Mayor. Team Bhalla, whom I wish all love and peace, needs to atone for this misjudgment that has allowed this referendum to possibly occur. See this article: https://hudsoncountyview.com/b... .

Six weeks after the 2021 council race, a majority of council members voted to give themselves raises of more than 30 percent, bringing the part-time salaries to $35,000-$40,000 each, plus benefits. Will you be taking the full salary and benefits if elected? Will you approve any raises for yourself during the next four years if you are elected?

This is not an appropriate question. Working on City Council is a difficult part-time job that can take away from other responsibilities, and I don't appreciate folks putting some members of the council who may not be as wealthy as others in a difficult position when they just want fair compensation. I personally do not need the salary of a City Council member, but it's not fair to shame others who do.

If you are running with the support of the current mayoral administration, what is something you think it hasn't done well in its eight years that needs improvement? If you are not running with the administration's support, what is something they've done very well?

I assume I am not being supported by City Hall, but they also haven't come out against me either. City Hall is at its best when it is focusing on inclusivity among residents and our quality of life in general, and it is at its worst when it is trying to make local, state, or national headlines with publicity stunt laws that either do nothing or even hurt people.

Do you plan to vote in Hoboken's school board election in November? Which three candidates are you supporting?

I support one candidate. Pat Waiters!

Please feel free to share anything else you think needs to be said, but keep answers to 250 words. Note that any longer answer will be truncated. Also, if you decline to answer a question, that will be noted.

I pray for the best for Hoboken and all in it and the best for everyone running in the City Council race. I want whoever is best for Hoboken to win and do God's will to bring joy and lack of misery to residents. If I am most suited to be the one to help Hoboken, then I hope I win for Ward 3. If my opponent would truly do a better job, then I hope he wins. I just want a good life for all and to enjoy living in this town with my awesome job and my good friends!