Vincent Addeo, 43, is currently serving as the interim 3rd Ward councilman and is running in the upcoming special election with the support of Mayor David Roberts.
Addeo was hand picked by Roberts, and voted in by the City Council in August as an interim councilman, replacing Anthony Russo.
Addeo is currently a District Organizer for the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, IAMAW, AFL-CIO Transportation Department. The IAMAW is one of the largest international unions representing the rights of working men and women throughout the nation and Canada. Addeo works in the IAMAW’s Transportation Department, which focuses its interest on the airline and railroad industries. Both the Hudson County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO have endorsed Addeo in the election, according to communications from those unions’ presidents.
Addeo’s labor-related education includes dozens of specialized courses in leadership, labor relations, human resources and development, collective bargaining, arbitration, economic skills, and business skills.
In addition, he is an aeronautic technician. He studied at the Teterboro School of Aeronautics, and his aeronautic education includes the Pan Air Flying Club, Eastern Air Lines and US Airways Aircraft Technician School, Boeing Aircraft Maintenance School, and McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Maintenance School. Addeo has also received his FAA Private Pilot’s license in 1981.
In an interview last week, Addeo said he is running on a platform that is “a representative and not political” and that he will be “visible, accountable and responsible” to not only residents of the city but also to the city’s workers. Since becoming a councilman Addeo has held on community meeting to discuss issues facing the community. If elected he plans on holding more regularly scheduled 3rd Ward meetings.
Even in his short time on the council he has cast at least one vote that is going to have a monumental difference on the city’s future. He was the swing vote on a controversial bond issue that refinanced the city’s debt. The administration wanted to refinance the city’s $42 million debt. The proposal that was approved mainly because of Addeo’s vote, will lower the city’s debt payments by $12 million over the next four years, but will cost the city almost $15 million extra in the long run. Addeo’s vote was so critical because the man he replaced was dead set on voting against the refinancing, meaning that without Addeo it would have most likely never have passed.
If the measure didn’t go through the administration was threatening massive layoffs.
Addeo said Tuesday that assuming future costs was worth saving jobs now.
“My vote on the [debt restructuring] showed that I am willing to speak up for the city’s workers,” Addeo said. “After doing my research I decided that approving the refinancing would have the least amount of impact on the working people of Hoboken.”
Addeo has also gone on the record to say public safety is another issue that he cares deeply about. “A role of government is to ensure the proper complement of police and fire personnel,” he said.
Addeo, who is active as a little league baseball coach, said the city needs more places for baseball and athletic fields. He said that it is imperative the city council and the administration is dogged in negotiations with developers and should demand contributions to the city’s open space and affordable housing funds as part of the approvals for new projects.
During his interview he also said that he has other ideas to improve programs for children.
“I would look to provide the opportunity for additional education programs designed for those children who are interested in focusing on a specific subject that they have a special interest in,” Addeo said. “We must be able to allow our children to express their talents and capabilities by providing them with the proper resources to accomplish their goals.”
He concluded his interview saying he is grateful for Roberts’ support. “It’s a great honor for the mayor of my home town to ask me to serve and I’m very thankful for his support.”