Council Candidates Square Off in First Round of Debates

, kept it civil on Tuesday night at the first round of city council debates hosted by People for Open Government and the Quality of Life coalition.

In a room that was neatly divided—the mayor's supporters in the front part of the large room at the Our Lady of Grace church on Fifth and Willow, and those who support the current council majority in the back—the eight candidates answered questions about issues such as parks, rent control and the budget surplus.

And although many candidates portray themselves as independent, the room’s divide between those who support Mayor Dawn Zimmer and those who don't was seen on stage as well.

Challengers , , and have been endorsed by the mayor. Those candidates are trying to unseat—respectively—incumbents , Michael Russo, Tim Occhipinti and on May 10.

Although all candidates agreed on some issues—build more parks, decrease taxes, attract more small business—on some topics opinions varied across invisible party lines. For example: . 

“The surplus should be returned to the tax payer,” said Sixth Ward Councilman Giacchi.

“My opponent favors one shots,” Giattino, his opponent in the Sixth Ward, countered. “Every fiscally conservative city needs a surplus.”

Pinchevsky, an actuary during the day and running in the Fourth Ward, said that experts advise a ten percent surplus, and thinks Hoboken should adhere to that. He added that, if elected, he would modernize city hall.

Another point of contention was the. While the incumbents said that there are less cops in the streets after, the challengers say there are more.

“Our mayor was able to reorganize (the department),” First Ward Candidate Kurta said. “We don’t have less police officers.”

His opponent, 16-year-incumbent Theresa Castellano (if elected, Castellano will be the longest consecutive serving council member in Hoboken), disagreed. “Every day violent crime is on the rise in Hoboken,” she said. 

Third Ward Councilman Russo said that, while he agrees with the size of the police and fire departments, the costs are too high. The city is currently waiting on an audit of the Fire Department. was released to Fire Chief Richard Blohm.

Giattino proposed bringing back police officers on bikes.

Occhipinti, who was as Fourth Ward Councilman, said that he doesn’t think the city needs a new public safety director. Former director , in the wake of revealing he met with FBI informant Solomon Dwek twice.

The questions for the debate came from the audience and were asked by Hoboken’s . One of the topics that came up, was the .

Kurta, who serves as a commissioner on the Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority, said he couldn’t reveal too much information because the negotiations are closed. He added that bidders do not come to the table if they have to share information.

"Your silence is deafening," Castellano countered, adding: "You are transparent, I can see straight through you."

For the candidates in the Fourth Ward, the creation of a new park is one of the most important items on their to-do list.

"Fourth Ward residents have been promised this park for years," Occhipinti said. "There has been no movement." To which Pinchevsky countered, "I don’t trust (Occhipinti) to bring this park to the Fourth Ward."

The city council recently approved to acquire new parkland.

On rent control—another issue that came up—many of the candidates were equally vague. All candidates said they support some form of rent control, but most didn’t delve into details about what they thought of a recently passed ordinance. Tenant advocates have filed petitions to have a public referendum on the matter.

"I support rent control," Occhipinti said, "as do my colleagues."

"I pledge to listen to both sides," Pinchevsky said.

Russo, who serves on the subcommittee, said that in place will protect tenants and that a form of rent control must be maintained in Hoboken. The council recently approved the new rent control ordinance, which hadn’t been modified in 25 years, in a unanimous vote.

Although the debate was cordial—the candidates respected each other’s time and there was little noise coming from the audience—it wouldn’t be Hoboken politics without some mudslinging.

“My opponent has completely failed,” said Lincoln about incumbent Russo, who is running for a third term. Lincoln also mentioned Russo’s conduct during a meeting with Dwek, posing as a developer, .

Russo, in return, criticized Lincoln for his lack of involvement in the community. “What has he done for the ward?” Russo asked. “And what are his plans to deal with issues in the ward?” Russo added that during community meetings he had hosted, Lincoln was “nowhere to be found.”

Lincoln, however, said he wasn't mud slinging. "I'm fact slinging," he said.

As Giattino promised to be different from what she described as the "old boys club," and other candidates expressed their love for Hoboken and their desire to raise families in town, Giacchi said he wasn't that different from his colleagues on the stage.

"I have the same interests as each and every one of you," he said. Giacchi, father of three, added that he cares about keeping his family safe and making sure that "my children stay here when they grow up."

Candidates for the Second and Fifth Wards—some of whom were in attendance in the audience on Tuesday—are scheduled to face off Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.