HOBOKEN – A former president of the Hoboken City Council, Christopher Campos, is receiving at least $35,000 to work as a Director of Legislative Affairs for state Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia (D–33), Garcia confirmed on Wednesday. Garcia said that he was not sure of Campos’ exact salary, but that it ranges between $35,000 and $40,000 per year.
Campos, who served on the council from 2001 to 2007, is also a lawyer. Garcia said that his primary duty as an aide is to work as a liaison to other legislators on matters of pending legislation in which Garcia is interested.
Garcia was elected to represent the 33rd District, which is comprised of Hoboken, Weehawken, and parts of Jersey City, last November when he ran on a ticket with state Sen. Brian Stack and fellow state Assemblyman Raj Mukherjee.
Garcia said that Campos regularly works the requisite 40 hours per week to be designated a full-time aide. Garcia said he does not know whether Campos receives state health benefits, but would be getting them if he is a full-time employee.
“There’s nothing better than to have someone working for you who is at the same time a lawyer and also someone who you know is going to have your back,” said Garcia. “Chris is like a brother to me.”
Campos arrested in Manhattan in 2007 after running a red light on the West Side Highway and was charged with driving under the influence. In 2008 he pleaded guilty to a lesser (violation) charge of driving while impaired. In 2010 he filed suit against the both the Hoboken and New York City police departments for allegedly conspiring to discredit him, but the suit was dismissed by a judge.
The DWI became a campaign issue, among others. Campos failed to win reelection to the council seat in 2007, losing to now-Mayor Dawn Zimmer. – Dean DeChiaro
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