Would You Give Yourself A Raise? Hoboken Candidates Answer Questions

HOBOKEN, NJ — Six of Hoboken's nine City Council seats are up for election this Nov. 7 — with each member representing a different section of town (map here).

If you haven't had time to keep up with the heated (and expensive) race for the seats, Patch is here to give you a cheat sheet.

Voters can only choose one representative from their ward.

We asked Hoboken's candidates questions including: Whether they'd vote for raises for themselves after winning election in November (as several candidates did just weeks after winning election in 2021; READ MORE: Raises? Bigger Donations? What's Up With Hoboken City Hall?)

They were also asked:

• Their goals and experience
• Whom they supported for president in 2020 and if it matters
• If they'd promise not to leave their four-year council term to accept another political job
• Whether they'd want to keep rent control
• How to keep town affordable to all socioeconomic classes, and whether that's important
• What they think is going right and wrong in Hoboken
• Whom they're supporting in the school board race
• And more.

The answers are worth reading, and it's worth noting when the answers don't actually answer.

Some of the responses proved quirky or impassioned.

Guess Who Gave These Quotes

When asked about using the council as a stepping stone to higher office, one candidate said, "It's a step down from my current private sector job in every way!"

Among other impassioned responses:

• "I promise we'll break ground on a new pool complex even before our current mayor is elected to Congress."
• "I am proud to be running with the endorsement of Mayor Bhalla, but he knows where I stand on many issues that do not necessarily align with him. For example, I have been very direct with him that I do not believe his administration took a proactive enough approach when dealing with the rodent problem."
• "If there were ever a referendum to remove the Rent Control Ordinance, I would fight against it with every fiber of my being."

Who do you think gave those answers? Post your guesses in the comments below, then read the profiles as they're posted through the end of this week on Hoboken Patch. You can find them here starting Wednesday, Oct. 18, after 10 a.m.

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What's At Stake

Right now, five council members are allied with Mayor Ravi Bhalla, almost always vote as a bloc, and have never publicly criticized an administration initiative.

All four of the seats held by sometime critics are up for election, meaning Bhalla could gain more ground during the November election. The candidates of his who are facing his most outspoken critics have repeatedly sprinkled "bridge building" into their campaign language as an issue.

The voter registration deadline was Oct. 17. Early voting will take place from Oct. 28 through Nov. 5.

• Learn more about voting in New Jersey here.
• Learn about three ways to vote in NJ here.
• See the voter timeline here.
  
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