Silence of the slates

Getting info from Hoboken's mayoral campaigns is like trying to crack a lobster with a toothpick.

Slate selection is a difficult task for any campaign. Finding folks to run with is complicated by the fact that few qualified folks are willing to suffer the slings and arrows of Hoboken politics. Which means a campaign's choices are limited, and the top of the ticket has to lobby hard. This mating dance of campaigns to attract good people has already begun.

But, like I said, no one's been talking.  So here is all I know.

Anthony 'Stick' Romano is interviewing candidates.   GA can confirm that his campaign has approached members of the Reform coalition, including Councilman Dave Mello.    The campaign has one serious prospect in contention, but they are staying mum for now.  GA was able to get the campaign to say that any association with "that crew" that has "no loyalty.... is NOT happening!"

Ravi Bhalla is not talking!

Tiffanie Fisher (Jen Giattino's spokeswoman) is not talking!

Karen Nason (last I heard) is awaiting confirmation from folks she has asked.

Ron the Bike Guy, according to his Facebook page doesn't appear to have a slate- yet.

Mike Defusco has two confirmed runningmates, which puts him ahead of the Hoboken pack.

DeFusco's first pick candidate is Michael Flett,  a Tea Party Trump-donating Republican.

His second is Andrew Impostato, an entrepreneurial fellow who created a parking app called Parking Dude.  Last year, Impostato answered an RFP from the City of Hoboken for a parking app; he put in a bid and lost.  The winning bidder was Parkmobile LLC. 

"Customers will be able to download the Parkmobile app onto their phone or register at www.parkmobile.com. They can then use the app, the internet or a toll free phone number to pay for parking.  Hoboken Police officers and Parking Utility agents equipped with a wireless device will be able to see that a parked car has been paid for through Parkmobile. Mobile app users can sign up for alerts 15 minutes before their time expires. Hoboken will join Newark, Union City, West New York, Bloomfield, Montclair, Summit, Chatham, Ridgewood, Glen Rock and New Brunswick in adopting the app. 

The Parkmobile smartphone payment system is separate from the Parking Dude app developed by Hoboken resident Andrew Impastato, which tells users where and when they can park and even tracks the availability of spaces around town."  

Another article about Impastato's parking app notes:

"In fact, the city could end up partnering with Impastato, who approached the Zimmer Administration with the idea of a cooperative relationship, in which Hoboken would promote the app to parking permit holders."

Umm... interesting.

From recent Tweets, it looks like DeFusco's running mate has a keen focus on Hoboken's parking "technology and innovation" which is also his personal business, in which he has an economic interest.

Has DeFusco promised his running mate any economic benefit (like a contract with Hoboken)?  Just askin'. 

GA can confirm that Mike DeFusco offered Councilman Mello a position on his slate right after Dawn Zimmer announced she wasn't running.  According to my source, that was the first actual offer made to Mello by DeFusco-the rest was "flirting."

So, what happened?  Mello mulled over the offer, then declined "because of the people surrounding DeFusco."

You heard it here, folks.

Well, GA will keep you posted if I hear anything more than crickets.