Councilwoman Fisher Endorses Candidate In Hoboken Mayoral Runoff

HOBOKEN, NJ — Councilwoman Emily Jabbour got the most votes in last Tuesday's mayoral race, and will face the second-place finisher, Councilman Michael Russo, in the Dec. 2 runoff. But Russo just got a little boost.

UPDATE: Former Mayor Zimmer Has Made Her Endorsement. See Who.

READ MORE: 6 Candidates Finalized For Hoboken Runoff Elections

The candidate with the third highest vote total in last Tuesday's election, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, endorsed Russo in her newsletter Monday night.

During Fisher's campaign, she had bashed Russo as too cozy with developers, and Russo accused her campaign team of swiping mail.

But the mail-rifling accusations and developer donations weren't enough to turn her away from her sometime council ally completely.

Fisher explained her decision Monday night, and said her former council candidate, Liz Urtecho, will now be in the runoff on Russo's team.

"A clear message came out of this election," Fisher wrote late Monday. "Hoboken wants change. Nearly 74 percent of voters chose someone other than Emily Jabbour — the candidate most closely aligned with Mayor Bhalla. That’s not just a number; it’s a mandate."

She also addressed some of Russo's "negatives."

She said, "When I talk to those who initially say 'Emily, of course,' they usually point to the same concerns I have voiced about Mike in the past — the very ones Emily is now negative campaigning on instead of the issues that actually matter to residents. I get it. But when I walk these neighbors through why I believe Mike is the better choice for Hoboken, and how together we can build a more independent council with real checks and balances, they quickly come back on board."

See Which 6 Council Candidates Were Finalized For The Hoboken Runoff Elections

She ultimately said that the decision was a difficult one, but Russo's independence is important. Her full explanation is here.

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