The Housing Authority's Newest (and Oldest) Member

Marianne Camporeale, 76, has wanted to be on the Housing Authority Board for at least 10 years.

During a recent council meeting in July, her dream finally came true. Nominated by Fifth Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham—in whose ward Camporeale lives—she was unanimously appointed by city council to be the HHA's newest commissioner. 

And although Camporeale has publically criticized Mayor Dawn Zimmer and has never voted for her—Camporeale voted for Peter Cammarano and Beth Mason in the two mayoral elections in 2009 and for Chris Campos as Fourth Ward councilman before that—she said the mayor has made some positive changes. 

"I'm looking forward to getting to know Dawn a little bit better," Camporeale said from her living room in Fox Hill Gardens, the senior building of the Hoboken Housing Authority. 

On the Housing Board, Camporeale will represent the many senior citizens that live in the Housing Authority, as well as those residents with disabilities. Camporeale suffers from post-polio syndrome. 

Although Camporeale was born and raised in Manhattan (all the way uptown in the Inwood section), she considers Hoboken her home. She moved to Church Towers in 1969, which at that point was a brand new development. 

"There's something about Hoboken that just grabbed me," said Camporeale. She said it's mostly because of the people she met here. 

But—like many other Hobokenites—she also loves the politics. 

"I'm a political junky," said Camporeale, who is a registered Republican. "I love politicians." And there's one official in particular she is a great fan of, her new boss Executive Director of the Housing Authority Carmelo Garcia. 

At the last (and Camporeale's first) HHA meeting, she and the other commissioners unanimously approved Garcia's contract for the next five years. 

"Carmelo's my boy," Camporeale said, as she walked to her cabinet to take out Garcia's wedding photo that is always on display in her apartment. "He's the son I never had."

Other photos in her one bedroom apartment include a campaign picture of former mayor Peter Cammarano, photos of her great grandson Noah as well as her late husband Walter, to whom she refers as "my good looking husband."

Being on the HHA Board is as far as she'll go politically, though. "I don't want to be elected politically," said Camporeale, "because they throw too many mudballs on you."

As far as the upcoming elections in the Fourth Ward are concerned (Camporeale lives in the Fifth Ward, so she won't be able to vote) she said she prefers Michael Lenz. 

She said she is happy to be able to help the people in her building. During this interview, Camporeale's phone rang, and she patiently listened to the complaints of one of the residents for at least 15 minutes. 

In her free time, you won't find Camporeale playing bingo with some of her fellow seniors ("I don't like it, it's boring"). Instead she said she likes to read murder mysteries or watch Law and Order. 

Camporeale has a daughter, two granddaughters and two great grandchildren, who live in Delaware. And although she lives far from her closest family, she said, she prefers to stay in Hoboken. 

"The country life is not for me," she said.