HOBOKEN — A spokesperson for Hoboken resident and activist Tim Occhipinti said he will formally announce his candidacy for the 4th Ward special election in Hoboken at Northern South at 557 First St in Hoboken on June 17.
Occhipinti will challenge incumbent Councilman Michael Lenz, who was appointed to the seat late last year after Dawn Zimmer became mayor last November.
The election will not be held until the first week in November, but is expected to be contentious, as there are no other council races going on in Hoboken in November. However, the winner will have to run for the seat again the following May, as all six ward council seats will be up the following May.
Occhipinti recently published a letter in the Reporter saying that current Mayor Dawn Zimmer had turned her back on Democratic values for supporting Gov. Chris Christie’s recent proposals.
Occhipinti has run for council before. Last year, he founded a group called Hoboken Volunteers, which brings together local people to volunteer for various Hoboken agencies and non-profits.