In Running for Re-election, Freeholder Wants to Improve Communication

Contrary to popular belief, Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano's nickname "Stick" has nothing to do with the nightstick he used to carry as a Hoboken police captain for many years.

Leaning back in a chair recently in his small campaign headquarters—and civic association to be—on Washington Street, Romano explained it has to do with the many years playing stickball as a child growing up in Hoboken.

Although the game has changed from stickball to local politics, the nickname stuck.

Romano is up for re-election on Tuesday, in the race for Hudson County Freeholder. Running against him is Romano is running with the support of the Hudson County Democratic Organization in column A with Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, County executive Tom DeGise and assembly candidate Sean Connors.

The main thing he wants to work on if re-elected to a second term, Romano said, is the relationship with municipal government, adding that he'd like to be more included in the city's plans.

"Let's be candid," Romano said. "They do things first and they bring me in after the fact."

Romano has a list of things he is proud of the county's accomplishments in the last three years, such as and helping out the city after last year's . He said in the future he wants to make sure the county resurfaces Observer Highway.

Romano said he would like to see a field in Hoboken on which sports can be played. "There aren't any fields along the waterfront," he said. "I play in Weehawken."

Romano's ultimate dream, however, is to open a county wide police academy. He retired from the Hoboken police department in April 2010 after working there for 32 years,

"I wasn't going to take a demotion," Romano said. When asked if he misses being a Hoboken cop, Romano fell silent and grew emotional. "I still miss it," he said, eyes watering up. "It was my life."

The buzz from his blackberry—which rings about every five minutes—snapped Romano out of it.

His police background, Romano continued, has helped him in being a freeholder. "I listen, watch, learn before I speak," he said. "Dialogue is important."

The nine-person board of Freeholders has public meetings twice a month as well as two caucus meetings.

After growing up on 10th and Willow Streets, Romano now lives in Marineview and is the father of a 33-year-old son, Angel Romano. 

The Freeholder also inherited —one of Hoboken's oldest bars—from his family. Across the street at 321 Washington St., he said he plans to open the Anthony L. Romano Civic Association. On Cableview, Romano is the host of "Stick at Night," which originated after he did an interview on Meet the Leaders a few years ago.

When asked why he's running again, Romano—who also served on the Hoboken Board of Education for seven years—said he has started to "enjoy the operations of county government." And much like his opponent, he said he wants to show people what county government does and why it's important. "It's not a patronage mill," Romano said, "it provides services."

But according to word on Hoboken's streets, Romano could be contemplating a mayoral run in 2013, which would cut his term as freeholder short (a potential scenario on which Gardiner has been campaigning).

When asked if he wants to be mayor, Romano laughed.

"I don't believe in rumors," he said, smiling. "I don't know what the future will bring."