When the state law banning Dual-Office Holding came into effect on February 1, 2008, it put an end to obvious conflicts of interest in government. No officials can legally hold two elected offices, except those who already held the offices before the law was passed and also, apparently, Acting Mayor and City Council President Dawn Zimmer.

By serving as both Mayor and City Council President, Dawn Zimmer is making a mockery of representative government. Hoboken is supposed to be run by separate, distinct Legislative and Executive branches. But now, Zimmer both introduces policy, as Mayor, and enacts it, as Council President. With her allies on the council voting with her, it means that Zimmer is the most powerful politician Hoboken has seen since former mayor Anthony Russo.

Zimmer is filling up City Hall with her friends and political cronies. There are no checks and balances. There is no independent search for the best qualified people. There is no public interview process. No transparency at all. It's the same old political patronage system Hoboken taxpayers have had to endure for far too long.

Why won’t Dawn Zimmer, who ran for office as a reformer, give up her council seat? Because she’s afraid of losing the special election for Mayor on November 3.

She says that wouldn’t be “fair” to her … but the real issue is what’s “fair” for Hoboken and whether the values and principles of government reform apply to all of us,  or everyone except Dawn Zimmer.

Please sign our online petition calling for Mayor Zimmer to give up her seat on the City Council. Because it’s the right thing to do.