Dear Editor:
Once in a great while, an extraordinary person steps forward at a critical point in time. In Hoboken, right now, that’s Peter Cammarano. It’s very unusual for people like Peter to arrive in a place where their talents are so critically needed. Peter is a highly trained professional attorney who specializes in working with cities and towns all over New Jersey. He understands how government works and he knows exactly what it takes to professionalize and modernize City Hall.
Few people gave Peter much of a chance in the May 12 election, but he still finished first. He didn’t have the legions of anti-everything, “burn down the city!” zealots backing Dawn Zimmer, or the support that a fat wallet could buy Beth Mason. He trailed badly in every poll and was expected to finish a distant third. But he did have an amazing group of young volunteers who share his geeky affinity for public policy and government. Apparently these determined young men and women, many graduates of top colleges and universities, are attracted to Peter because of his ability to articulate exactly what is wrong and exactly what can be done to rehabilitate city government. It’s the kind of team you could imagine injecting real life into City Hall and being able to deliver on the promise of “change” that every candidate makes.
Peter has gone through a lot in this campaign. His personal life has been trashed by a nasty (and completely false) smear campaign. He is working around the clock, campaigning with an energy and determination rarely seen in Hoboken. He is completely driven, a man on a mission to overcome all odds, climb the mountain and capture the flag. This is a young guy on the move. He gets it. He reads. He absorbs information. He thinks. He makes decisions. These are the qualities of leadership. There is really no comparison between Peter and his opponent.
Dawn Zimmer is a very nice woman who has no professional background, no detailed platform, and no clue about how government really works. There is a vast difference between the two candidates in their knowledge of public policy issues and their ability to make a decision. It’s really incomprehensible how Zimmer could abstain on this year’s budget, after it was prepared by the State Monitor. Leaders have to be able to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ … ‘maybe’ is not an option. Dawn may learn more about government someday. But she’s not ready now.
Sincerely,
David Smith