HOBOKEN — As the rumor mill continues to swirl in Hoboken, one more name has been thrown into the ring for the May City Council elections, when six ward seats will expire.
Jennifer Giattino officially filed paperwork with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission on Feb. 8 to challenge Councilman Nino Giacchi in the 6th Ward election.
Giattino, who has lived in Hoboken since 1998, said quality of life is an important issue to her.
“I feel like I can make an impact in this city,” she said in a phone interview on Sunday. “I’m out and about everyday. I can see small things that go wrong and a lot of people talk to me with their issues because I’m very available.”
Giattino started the program LOTS (Lunch on Thursdays), in which schools donate sandwiches to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter once a week.
Giattino said she wants “clean parks, clean streets, a place for children to play” and also said “transportation throughout the city” is an important issue.
“I’ve always been very involved,” Giattino said. “I feel like its the right time [to run for council].”
Council members Peter Cunningham, Nino Giacchi, and Tim Occhipinti have filed paperwork to run for office, and Council President Beth Mason, Councilman Michael Russo, and Councilwoman Theresa Castellano have begun their campaigns.
Eric Kurta will challenge Castellano in the 1st Ward. Tom Greaney will challenge Mason in the 2nd Ward. Last week, three Hoboken blogs reported that resident Greg Lincoln will challenge Russo in the 3rd. Rami Pinchevsky will challenge Occhipinti in the 4th Ward. Leonard Luizzi will challenge Cunningham in the 5th Ward. And now, Giattino will challenge Giacchi in the 6th Ward.
Each ward now has two candidates who have announced their intention to run for office, but more candidates are expected for some wards. – Ray Smith