A vote for Emily Jabbour is a vote for clean, honest government.

A vote for Emily Jabbour is a vote for clean, honest government.
In 2004, Hoboken’s political landscape was shaken when former Mayor Anthony Russo pled guilty to honest-services mail fraud, having accepted at least $317,000 in bribes in exchange for steering municipal contracts. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $330,000 in restitution, of which only a fraction was reportedly paid.

2009 brought additional controversies. Councilman Michael Russo was secretly videotaped meeting with a developer cooperating with federal investigators, during which he allegedly agreed to accept a $5,000 payment for zoning assistance. Despite the recording, no indictment or conviction followed.
In 2010, newly elected Mayor Peter Cammarano became one of the most high-profile defendants in Operation Bid Rig, pleading guilty to extortion under color of official right after accepting $25,000 in illicit cash. He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.

Corruption persisted. In 2017, former City Councilman Christopher Campos was convicted of orchestrating a $7 million auto-loan fraud scheme involving straw buyers and falsified applications. He was sentenced on December 8, 2017, to 30 months in federal prison.

By 2019, two more high-profile cases reached resolution. Frank Raia, a former Board of Education trustee, was convicted for running a vote-by-mail bribery scheme tied to the 2013 municipal election, receiving three months in federal prison and a $50,000 fine. In June 2024, Carmelo Garcia, another former Board trustee, pled guilty to bribery, honest-services wire fraud, and conspiracy for accepting payments and favors to steer Newark development deals. He is currently awaiting sentencing.

Through these experiences, I have seen too many “public servants” use their positions to benefit themselves rather than their constituents. I learned quickly that individuals who exploit public funds or staffing decisions should never hold positions of public trust. For those newer to Hoboken, it may be hard to imagine the extraordinary corruption that once enveloped our city. School district funds were misused for excessive hiring of friends and relatives, while critical programs—music, textbooks, curriculum, and capital improvements—were left underfunded.

We cannot return to those “good old days.” A vote for Emily Jabbour is a vote for clean, honest government, where tax dollars benefit all residents, not the connected few. After 22 years as 3rd Ward Councilman, Michael Russo—our longest-serving councilmember—is a reminder of the old-guard corruption we cannot allow to shape our future. With Mayor Emily Jabbour leading the way, Hoboken’s future can be bright, accountable, and truly for the people.
Theresa Minutillo
Former Hoboken Board of Education Trustee
2006–2009, 2009–2012