Deciding that being part of a team was possibly more beneficial than being an independent candidate, Bayonne City Council hopeful Leonard Kantor joined the slate of mayoral challenger Anthony Zanowic on Friday, Jan. 31.
Kantor’s change of heart not only means he can no longer espouse his “going it alone” philosophy, but he must also now run in an at-large slot, as the Zanowic campaign already has a First Ward candidate in Daniel Herrera.
Kantor, 82, who opposed Mayor Mark Smith four years ago, said he decided to make the change after sitting down with the Zanowic camp and discussing the race.
“I listened to what they want to do,” Kantor said. “They want to straighten out our city in any way possible.”
Why Zanowic’s ticket, rather than someone else’s?
“He seems like an earnest guy interested in helping the city,” Kantor said.
“Lenny Kantor has shown great dedication to the people of Bayonne and has proved so through his experience in community service,” said Zanowic in a prepared statement.
Kantor said that in the wake of the erosion of the manufacturing and industry base in Bayonne, he feels the city’s “land is being taken up by developers.”
He also believes there are unnecessary jobs both in City Hall and the Board of Education, areas where cuts could be made and money could be saved.
“What he [Zanowic] wants to do, and what we all want to do, is eliminate what’s going on,” Kantor said. “The waste. The extra jobs. The duplication of jobs.”
This is Kantor’s fifth attempt at public office. He ran for the New Jersey Assembly in 1971, and has also run once before for both First Ward and at large seats.
Kantor is a former Bayonne police officer and security specialist at Port Newark. He is the father of five children.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.