Hoboken Official Asks Candidates For Ethics Pledge: 2019 Election

HOBOKEN, NJ — About two months ago – speaking in the wake of a voter bribery conviction for developer and erstwhile political candidate Francis "Pupie" Raia – the vice-chair of the Hoboken Housing Authority put out an open call to the candidates in this November’s city council election.

In his letter, James Sanford asked the candidates and incumbents to make a five-point, ethical pledge as they gear up for this year’s election.

This week, Sanford reissued his call to the council candidates. His full letter follows below.

• See related article: Hoboken Councilmen Regift Donations From Convicted Ex-Politico

JAMES SANFORD: HHA VICE-CHAIR

Dear Hoboken City Council Candidates,

Two months ago you were asked to honor a pledge to protect residents of the Hoboken Housing
Authority and take a stand against election corruption. Thus far, NOT one candidate for city
council has agreed to this pledge. Who will be the first candidate to place politics second and
HHA residents first? Who will be the candidate that stands for the integrity of Hoboken’s
elections?

As an official of the City of Hoboken I am clearly communicating to all city council candidates.
I am advocating for the needs of the HHA and reflect the public’s need for integrity in our
elections. My expectation of both the challengers and the incumbents for Hoboken City Council
is that you will listen to the warnings of a Hoboken city official instead of ignoring a public
servant. My hope is that you will easily sign this pledge.

The people have a right to know whether or not elected officials will ignore the advice of a
police chief, or a department head, or a Board Commissioner. As a candidate for city council
you have an obligation to work apolitically and in good faith with ALL city officials.

Will you honor the following 5-point pledge?

1. Unequivocally denounce any GOTV campaign and similarly organized schemes that pay
voters to volunteer for a candidate or issue based campaign.

2. Refrain from campaigning on HHA property or at HHA sponsored events.

3. Commit to an apolitical HHA where both residents and staff are free from political
coercion, intimidation, and interference.

4. Donate all money received from Mr. Raia, his affiliated third party entities, and any
other entity or person affiliated with similar paid voter volunteer schemes. Further, that
all donations be made directly to the Hoboken Housing Authority as contrition for the
many years of serial abuses committed against HHA residents and our community at large.

5. That all city council candidates who sign this pledge will hold accountable all candidates
who fail to honor this pledge.

Furthermore, you must demonstrate your fitness to serve the people of Hoboken. In less than 10
weeks voters will decide how to cast their ballots. Your first test of this campaign is to clearly
respond to the HHA Vice Chair who is a city official that you will have to work with in the
future. The HHA is the largest landlord in the city of Hoboken; and I would like to know which
city council candidates plan to honor this pledge or which candidates will literally walk in the
GOTV footsteps of convicted criminal Frank Raia.

If you choose now to ignore this public official of the City of Hoboken then you are sending a
clear message to our city’s voters that you do NOT care about governing and are just as likely to
ignore voters once elected or re-elected. Your immediate attention is required!

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