Councilwoman Beth Mason, who is among the gaggle of Hoboken residents seeking to oust Acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer in November’s council election, plans to run a TV spot blasting Zimmer for retaining her council presidency while she serves as acting mayor.
When former Mayor Peter Cammarano was arrested in late June, he was under public pressure to resign. After he did, Council President Dawn Zimmer became acting mayor. She could have had the council vote for her to be interim mayor instead, which would mean giving up her City Council seat. But since she plans to run for mayor in November, that would have meant losing both seats if she loses the election. By keeping both seats, she will still be a council member if she loses the November mayoral.
Having both seats is a bit too much power for one person, complains Mason in her new ad.
The ad also gives a web address, www.dualjobdawn.com. The website actually has a rather attractive, portrait-esque picture of Zimmer.
Mason and Zimmer are both considered reformers in town, but some of Mason’s and Zimmer’s most vocal supporters just can’t get along. Some believe that as the “reformer” camps remain split, the election will be won by a born and raised Hobokenite, like developer Frank Raia.