Please come out and vote tomorrow. Drag some friends and neighbors out of their houses.

Win, lose, or draw tomorrow this campaign has brought my family closer together.


This is a letter from daughter that was in the paper over the weekend but the JJ only put online just yesterday. I'm a very fortunate father:

Elect my dad, Rich Boggiano, daughter writes

I'm asking voters in Ward C to vote for my father, Rich Boggiano, for City Council on Tuesday. By now you've probably heard all you want to hear about each of the different candidates, so I want to tell you a different story about the type of man he is and will be as your next councilman.

My father joined the Marines in 1963 and served until 1969. He wasn't drafted. He volunteered, and it certainly wasn't the popular thing to do at the time. When Iraq invaded Kuwait back in 1990, my father reenlisted in the Army Reserve the same week. Why? Because service to others is everything to him. He served on the Jersey City Police Department far longer than necessary because he loved the job. He only left when he hit the mandatory retirement age.

Another way to look at my father is to look at the three children he raised here in Jersey City. My two brothers both went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and later saw combat in Iraq. They continue to serve today. I went to college and graduate school and came back to Jersey City to work in the Medical Center as a speech therapist. All three of us have followed our father's example of service to others.

During my lifetime, my dad has helped thousands of people and asked for nothing in return. He's fed the homeless at St. Joe's and volunteers his time there regularly. He volunteers on the Board of Head Start because he cares about education. He volunteers to bring West Point and the State Department to Jersey City's ethnic communities each year as part of the "Winning the Peace" program--all at no cost to the city. He's volunteered as President of the Hilltop Association.

The last few months our entire family has spent nearly 100 percent of our free time volunteering for our father to help him win this election. He has never asked for anything, so it's the least we can do to return the favor. On Tuesday, I ask you to vote for Rich Boggiano for Ward C City Council in Column 3B!

KATRINA BOGGIANO
JERSEY CITY

Here's another letter that was in the Jersey Journal this weekend supporting my candidacy. We have two days left until the election. We'll have lower turnout than usual, especially if the weather does not cooperate. Regardless of which ward you live in, please drag a few extra people out to the polls. Our elected officials have more legitimacy to implement change if they are actually elected by a popular mandate.

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Boggiano Acts, Lopez Doesn't, Voter Writes

I'm a longtime Ward C resident and encourage my friends and neighbors to cast their vote for Rich Boggiano on Tuesday for Ward C's City Council seat.

For as long as I can remember, Rich has been advocating for our community in ways big and small. He served his country as a Marine and then as a member of the Jersey City Police Department. His two sons graduated from West Point and later fought in Iraq, while his daughter works at the Medical Center helping everyone from small children to stroke victims. Talk about an entire family committed to serving causes greater than themselves!

Odds are if you need a problem fixed, you are going to be happy with the results if you give Rich a call. At the same time, I don't know a single person who has successfully gotten our current councilwoman to respond to a phone call or email during her time in office. She takes her position for granted, and did not even bother to show up to either of the debates leading up to this election without so much as giving an excuse for her absence.

On May 14, Jersey City voters gave a clear mandate that they are sick and tired of corrupt politicians using their office for personal gain. They voted for change. Rich is an independent voice for the average Jersey City resident who does not have anyone else to turn to. He is honest, sane, and genuinely cares about his community. VOTE for Rich Boggiano in Column 3B on Tuesday!

LYNN BARTLEY
JERSEY CITY

I will send you a private message with the full city ballot.

Here's the Ward C ballot as that's on my website:

Great letter in today's paper. "Quite honestly, in my mind, Richie has been the Councilperson from Ward C for quite some time now." - Bob Duval.

Here's the full letter:

Richard Boggiano is running for Jersey City Council in Ward C. I recall when my family moved to Ward C and lived there for over 15 years. Although Richie lived on the other side of State Highway, Richie was one of the first people I met. Richie has always been a community person and heads up the Hilltop Neighborhood Association. He helped me work with others to start an association in my neighborhood near Christ Hospital. Whenever there was an issue, Richie would be there to help me and my neighbors. We worked together on crime, dirty streets and harmful development. Street design, noisy cars, dangerous buses, loud music, troublesome bars, all quality of life issues that mean so much to us on a daily basis -- Richard Boggiano succeeded more often than others. Richie never seemed to care too much about his own well-being as much as he did for the rest of us. On many occasions I have seen Richie help out at the church across the street. Richard Boggiano is everywhere all of the time. Quite honestly, in my mind, Richie has been the Councilperson from Ward C for quite some time now. I feel that this will not change whether or not he is elected. Vote for Richard Boggiano, a real reformer who is not a holdover from the prior administration.

BOB DUVAL
HOBOKEN

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... as_what_it_takes_wri.html

For those of you in Ward C, here's a sample ballot for Tuesday.

Hi JC Listers,

Two things for you today:

1. Today is the 69th anniversary of D-Day. As a former Marine and father of two combat veterans of the Iraq War, I stop every year and thank God for the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

2. Someone sent me an endorsement from my opponent that is worth sharing given all of the mud-slinging I have been hearing about for the last few weeks from her camp about me. Hard to believe she thought so highly of me just a year ago when I wasn't running against her!

Rich Boggiano "is a source of information and has knowledge when it comes to police matters... He is loved, respected and thought of as a strong leader [in our community]." - Nidia Lopez, May 17, 2012

I think you're pretty safe fat-ass-bike: The best part about growing old (I'm 69) is that money isn't what gets me out of bed in the morning.

I've always hated wasteful spending and corruption. I live in the same house I bought for $30,000 back in 1980. I'd driven beat up used cars all my life until my kids talked me into buying my first new one ever just last year (a Subaru - fancy stuff). I probably donate more time and money (to animal shelters, St Joe's church, land preservation charities, etc) than most because I have everything I need as it is. Long story short, you can't corrupt someone who isn't in it for the money.

Good to see so many people out for the transition meeting at city hall tonight!

Jersey City you voted for change on May 14. Let's finish the job on June 11! Vote Boggiano column 3B!

Thank You Binky and Bricks! Less than one week to go until the election. Turnout will be low. Here's some facts for you:

- Total Ward C population is approximately 40,000.
- There are about 19,500 registered voters in Ward C.
- 5500 people from Ward C voted in the May 14 general election.
- We'll likely see between 2,000-2,500 votes cast in Ward C on June 11.

Half of that (around 1000-1250 voters) will get to decide the winning candidate. To put that another way, roughly 3% of the Ward's population will decide the council leadership for the other 97%. Many people don't bother to vote because they think their vote doesn't matter. Here in Ward C that is definitely not the case. Please come out and vote next Tuesday!

Fat-ass-bike:

Thanks for your question. I've been fighting against corruption and stupid decisions in Jersey City for about 40 years now. The Healy administration was just the latest incarnation of a broken record that's been playing for decades.

1. I fully support redevelopment of Journal Square, but it needs to fit into the context of the larger community and surrounding neighborhoods. I fought the Healy administration over the Robinhood Development. They're essentially taking a 42 story building and dropping it down in a neighborhood of 2-3 story homes. They're also demolishing some of those homes to do it. In return, the city gets .8 acres to develop into a park, but they don't get any money to actually do the park's development, which is problematic because the piece of land is almost completely unusable without having millions and millions of dollars put into it. In other words, the developer gave away land he didn't want anyway. Steve Fulop voted against this project. Nidia Lopez voted for it.

2. Again, I have been advocating for proper redevelopment of the Journal Square area for the last 30 or so years (there is a difference between that and development for the sake of development). Back in the 1980's the rail cut that runs through the square was nearly expanded to create the "Waldo Yards." In other words, the city at the time almost made a big chunk of Journal Square into rail yards - just what we don't need. More recently, the county and city wanted to take over land on Washburn St and use it to create more county and city controlled land. Not only would they take more property off the tax rolls (thus increasing everyone else's taxes), they wanted to do it with land that is prime for redevelopment as commercial/residential space. I won this fight.

3. The police HQ at 8 Erie St suffered from years of neglect and lack of maintenance from the city. In 2011, the Healy administration sold the building for approximately $2 million to help close a hole in the budget at the time. Now, the city leases space for $800,000 year. Our Police HQ now shares space with a grocery store. The new space does not include parking, so we pay some more money to lease that as well. Long story short, we managed to neglect a building for years then sell it at a discount only to turn around and lease space at a premium from a landlord who financially supported the mayor. As an added benefit, we managed to lower the already low morale of the JCPD (morale matters - improving it makes the PD more effective and doesn't cost anything other than having good leadership in place).

4. I 10,000% support very tight pay to play controls on campaign finance, which contrary to what Mayor Healy's administration was all about. As an independent, I'm used to be heavily outgunned financially, and I think it can have a corrupting influence on even honest politicians who feel they need to take any money they can get just to stay in the campaign finance arms race.

I haven't lived in Jersey City and raised my kids here because I'm in it for the money. I'm not running for city council for the money. I volunteer for organizations (President of the Hilltop, Board Member of Head Start, State Department/West Point's Winning the Peace Program in Little India, etc) because I get genuine satisfaction out of helping other people and making Jersey City a better place. Transparency in our local campaign finance encourages more citizen activists and takes away power from carrer politicians who are beholden to the donors.

5. I fully support the merger of the JCIA and DPW. Eliminate patronage jobs and duplicative services while saving the city money. I'm all for this move and other moves like it.

6. I think that Department Heads and Directors of city organizations should have to sleep in Jersey City 270 nights or more each year (this effectively means they have to be residents, but "residency" is an ill defined topic with a number of loopholes as my opponent knows all too well). People who live in the city have a vested interest in this city. I know it's illegal to mandate such a thing for rank and file employees, but I don't think it's illegal to do so for top level positions. I also don't think it's illegal to only hire people for those positions who already live in the city.

What have I done on all of these issues? I'm an ordinary citizen, like most other people here. I use the block of voters represented by the Hilltop to bring attention to these issues. I attend council meeting and speak at a number of them when public comments are allowed. I write letters to the paper. I make phone calls and let politicians know I'm opposed to their move. I get other agencies involved. In short, I do everything I can to get more ordinary people behind an issue that I support. Even in a place that is historically corrupt like Jersey City it's hard for a politician to ignore the will of the people if they speak with one voice.

I am nearly universally acknowledged in Jersey City as honest and as someone with the best interests of this city in mind. I'm also pretty effective (I've lost fights but won more than my fair share). I think voters in Ward C recognize this. The fact that I came in #1 on May 14 after being outspent 10 to 1 speaks to that. Jersey City finally voted for change on May 14 and I'm confident they'll vote that way again on June 11.

Hi everyone,

If you are interested in volunteering between now and election day, or on election day itself, we are taking all comers! If you are interested please just let us know here:

http://jcboggiano.com/contact

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the debate last night. As expected, Nidia Lopez was once again a no show. She had no legitimate reason for her absence.

The residents of Ward C deserve better: someone they can get in touch with when they have a problem, and someone who is actually effective at getting problems solved. Vote for change on June 11!

An Open Letter to Nidia Lopez:

In the run-up to the May 14 election, you missed the sole debate for Ward C City Council candidates because there was a caucus meeting the same evening. Even though that meeting ended right around the start of the debate, you chose not to attend or even come a few minutes late.

Immediately after the election, Yvonne Balcer of Hudson County TV announced a May 31 debate for run-off candidates. A full week after that debate was scheduled you have now announced that you will not attend because you have chosen to hold a fundraiser for your campaign instead.

Last week I made an offer to your campaign to hold a debate at the time and place of your choosing. You chose not to respond to that offer. I am repeating that offer but will now take it one step further. I will give you the questions you need to answer. Here they are:

1. In 2009 you promised to fix the fountain in Journal Square. Why is it filled with dirt and plants, and not water?
2. In 2009 you promised to bring the Guardian Angels to Jersey City. Where are they?
3. Peg Leg Pete's famous statue is missing from Bergen Square. Where is it since you promised to bring him back?
4. You've been a council member for four years. Why has nothing happened with the historic Loews Theater during your tenure?
5. How exactly has Ward C benefitted from your time in public office?
6. As a city council member, what bills have you sponsored that have passed? (Let me help you out and give you the answer: None.)
7. Will you ever actually show up to a debate?

The residents of Ward C deserve a council member who keeps promises and is responsive to them and their questions. Take those residents for granted at your own peril come election day.

Yours,
Rich Boggiano
Candidate for Ward C City Council

SOS - I offered to meet my opponent at a time and place of her choosing with an independent moderator and she did not accept. It's pretty clear at this point she will grasp for any excuse to avoid showing up to a debate.

I don't know if she thinks she will look bad in comparison to me or if she simply doesn't want to have to answer to her constituents, but her behavior of avoidance is very similar to the candidates on Healy's slate with thin resumes.

Here's an article referencing my debate offer back on May 16:

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... il_candidate_in_jers.html

A big thank you to everyone who came out for my fundraiser tonight. I am truly humbled by your generosity and support. Thank you!

Thanks for your support everyone! We have two weeks left. Turnout in Ward C on May 14 was 4000 voters. We expect turnout June 11 to be around half that, so every vote counts. If you know any Ward C voter who wants to vote by mail, please have them call my daughter Katrina at 201-920-3950 or by fill out the form on this page: http://www.jcboggiano.com/contact

I also wanted to remind everyone about my campaign fundraiser tomorrow night at Puccini's. It was originally scheduled for the 31st but we moved it to the 29th because of the debate.

Location: Puccini's, 1064 West Side Ave
Time: 6-9 pm
Date: Wednesday, May 29th
Recommended Donation: $60

Last, here's my thank you to the people who helped me garner the most votes on May 14. We need to do the same on June 11. Too many people think that I won outright and don't understand that Jersey City has run-off races!

-------

Dear Editor:

Letter To the Residents of Ward C: Thank you for coming out to vote on May 14! You gave a clear mandate that you want to see change in Jersey City. I am truly humbled and inspired by the number of voters who want to move this city forward!

But the race is not over. We have a run-off in Ward C on June 11.

Please do not forget to come out and vote. It would be a terrible shame to have come this far only to stop just short of the finish line!

I have spent my life as a public servant helping others. As a Marine, Jersey City Police Officer, and hopefully after June 11 as your Ward C City Council representative. Thank you again for coming out to vote.

You are the reason democracy works. I promise that if elected to work tirelessly to give you the kind of city you deserve.

Rich Boggiano
President, Hilltop Neighborhood Association
Candidate, Ward C City Council

Thinking of all of the soldiers, sailers, airmen, and Marines who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Semper Fi!

The article below came out yesterday in the Jersey City Independent. Running as an independent is an uphill battle, but now that I came in first place on May 14 I've got momentum on my side.

The reason my campaign is been able to fight a runoff is because I am an independent and have never become dependent on a power broker for my political survival. I have my own campaign apparatus with my own volunteers. A good number of the council candidates (on either side) don't really have a campaign infrastructure to speak of and couldn't stand on their own with support from above (HCDO, Jerry Healy, Steve Fulop, etc).

This is the same reason I believe I'll be able to do what's best for my community once elected.

Article follows:

----

With Eight Council Races Remaining, Some Healy Candidates Eye the Exit as Independents Gain Confidence

We know mayor-elect Steve Fulop will have at least one ally on the City Council with Ward E Councilwoman-elect Candice Osborne?s outright victory May 14, but with three weeks until the June 11 runoff election, what is less clear is who will fill out the remaining eight seats.

But that mystery is solving itself. In just one week?s time, after looking at the costs for the remaining three weeks of campaigning coupled with the difference in votes, three would-be Council candidates have already sued to have their names dropped from the ballot: At-Large Councilman Peter Brennan will be ending his political career that began in 2001 and At-Large Council candidate Omar Perez is cutting his bid short, while Ward B Council candidate Gerry Meyers has announced he?s choosing family over political service.

What also ended at the same time as Mayor Jerramiah Healy?s bid for reelection was access to his fundraising connections. And with estimates putting the runoff races at $30,000 a Ward, it?s simply too much money and too big a vote gap for the two Team Healy slate-mates.

?Money-wise, forget about it,? said Meyers of one of the reasons he won?t be running. The other reason is, he says, that upon reflection he?d rather spend the time with family. But Meyers, who has been a Democratic Committeeman for some twenty years, says that doesn?t mean he can?t help the Ward. Indeed, he says there is not enough communication between the dozens of Committee people in each Ward and the Council representatives. ?They?re your eyes and ears,? he says, calling them an important way to find out what an area needs.

Even the Team Healy candidates who remain in the race, like Ward A Council candidate Dr. Charles Epps, say whatever advantages they were once perceived to have are now gone.

While Epps did not return a call seeking comment, in a letter he acknowledges that although he received more votes than Frank Gajewski, the Ward A Council candidate on Fulop?s slate, Epps says he is the one who should be considered an ?underdog.?

?Although I am entering the June 11th runoff in first place, I know I am going into it as an underdog. I am going to have to fight a well organized and fully funded Fulop Team ? but fight I will. I will fight for your trust, I will fight for your vote and if elected, I will fight for the residents of Ward A to give them a voice and an ally in City Hall,? he writes. He?s also taken the steps of creating his own website now that the website MayorHealy.com has been relegated to the detritus of the internet?s never to be visited again websites.

Along with Epps, At-Large Councilwoman Viola Richardson has promised to keep campaigning, and Ward F Council candidate Jermaine Robinson has also made no indication that he intends to step down. But the challenge facing them is clear: fundraising is already underway at Team Fulop.

?It?s crucial for Mayor [Elect] Fulop to have a council that supports his initiatives to move Jersey City forward. We plan to mount a vigorous campaign to ensure the entire Team Fulop slate gets over goal line on June 11,? says Bruno Tedeschi, a spokesman for the Fulop campaign. ?We have four more fundraisers scheduled from high dollar to low dollar events, which is similar to the approach we took during the campaign. The campaign has no plans to change our grass-roots, volunteer effort that was so successful on Election Day.?

While Team Healy?s upward battle is dwindling by the week ? At-Large Council candidate Omar Perez, who did not respond in time for this publication, gave a source indication that he might not be campaigning much longer ? by comparison the two remaining independents are even more determined.

?It shows how serious their candidacy is,? says Chris Boggiano, son of Ward C Council candidate Rich Boggiano. That, he says, has made fundraising ?easier.?

In fact, Tony De Luco, a developer and property manager who has been working as Boggiano?s campaign manager, says the campaign has already raised upwards of $15,000 for a Ward race estimated to cost candidates about $30,000. The campaign will also be holding a fundraiser at the end of May, he says.

Boggiano?s son says his father?s results reflect the fact that he is a ?known quantity? in Ward C. By comparison, Healy?s candidate, Janet Chevres, he says ?was an unknown who came out of nowhere and does not have much history in the area.? And although Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez ran on Fulop?s ticket, ?people still associate her with Mayor Healy? who was voted out of office.

What remains to be seen, says De Luco, is who gets the bigger piece of the 1,151 votes Chevres received on May 14, a third place finish behind Lopez?s second place tally of 1,481 votes and Boggianos? first place finish of 1,686. While the Boggiano campaign said their plans for getting out the vote remain under wraps until after the election ? ?You?ll see how many people we get out,? says Chris Boggiano ? their confidence is high.

?If I were [Councilwoman] Lopez I?d think about conceding,? says De Luco, who says Boggiano?s supporters will make June 11 ?look like the mayor?s election? with the number of ?people we have out on the streets.?

Lopez did not return a call and email for comment.

Over in Ward D, independent candidate Michael Yun also says neither money nor the campaign prowess of Fulop?s team will be a problem. ?We have $40,000 left,? says Yun, who adds that much of his fundraising was done statewide thanks in part to his association with various business and Korean-American associations.

What is frustrating for Yun ? and, says Yun, the voters ? is the runoff process. ?If you won, you won,? he says, noting the nearly 500 vote difference between his vote tally and second-place finisher Connors. While that is the a steep climb for Connors, the question remains which campaign is in better position to mobilize the vote a second time.

Adding to that challenge, says Yun, is the fact that there are two elections a week apart, with the primary election for New Jersey set for June 4, the Tuesday before the runoff.

?In one week they have to go the voting places twice, they are unhappy with that, is discourages voters to participate in the runoff,? adds Yun, who calls the process a ?waste of tax payer dollars.?

?I tell them one more round,? he says of his supporters. ?This time, we make sure Michael gets in.?

Even Connors acknowledges the spending power of Yun, pointing to the $160,000 his opponent spent. As an Assemblyman and a member of Fulop?s ticket, Connors has also seen a lot of spending in his support. And despite rumors of a schism, the Assemblyman says he has Fulop?s full support.

?We?re going to be even more aggressive,? Connors said, adding that the Fulop team will be meeting this week to further discuss strategy.

How much that means dirtying up the other candidate remains to be seen, but already Yun is calling Connors a flip-flop-er for abandoning Healy to support Fulop, while Connors has attacked Yun?s record as the president of the Central Avenue Special Improvement District. In the twenty years he?s headed the CASID, says Connors, the area has not established big enough businesses to make the area the draw it can be.

There will be a few more chances to hear from candidates, including the Ward C / D joint debate, which is set for May 31 at St. Anne?s Church (255 Congress Street) at 7 pm. Hosted by SpeakNJ, JCPAC, and Hudson County TV, so far Boggiano, Yun and Connors have RSVP?d, according to organizer Yvonne Balcer.

http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... pendents-gain-confidence/

Hi everyone,

As promised, here's the details for our fundraiser next Wednesday. We moved it from the 31st so I could attend the debate that night.

Location: Puccini's, 1064 West Side Ave
Time: 6-9 pm
Date: Wednesday, May 29th
Recommended Donation: $60

Please come out to show your support! I look forward to seeing you there. We'll have food and an open bar.

Rich

FKSJC - Thanks so much for your support. Now that the mayoral race is over and Steve has won, I've been amazed at the number of Fulop supporters who have contacted me to offer their support, their time, and their vote.

The people of Jersey City mandated a change from the status quo. Who knows, we may even be able to go four straight years without some type of scandal that brings shame to this great city.

Hi everyone. I've got two quick things for you:

1. We still need volunteers. If you or anyone you know is interested please contact us at: http://www.jcboggiano.com/contact

2. I'm having a fundraiser on May 29. Location is still TBD but we should have the details out shortly. It's right around the corner so I wanted to put out the date for anyone interested.

JCCheerleader - At this point I'm confident you are someone closely associated with my opponent and not simply an ordinary voter who is a fan of her as a politician. Your attempt to portray yourself otherwise is disingenuous.

In the past 40 years, I've earned my reputation as a fighter with allegiance to a single group: My community. Not the city or county government. Not the HCDO. Not the political boss's that come and go.

I'm proud to be Ward C's independent voice. I dare say most voters agree with me based on the results last Tuesday where I was up against a well financed incumbent candidate on a very popular mayoral ticket. I agree with Steve Fulop on many many things, but there's a really good chance he's going to throw a lot of money into defeating me on June 11 because any mayor would rather have a rubber stamp than even the slightest risk of dissent. That's his choice to make, but I'm not the kind of person who backs down from a good fight, especially when it comes to my community.

Prismatic - Thanks for your wishes and support. Voters this week indicated they want change from the status quo. I think Ward C will vote that way on June 11.

JCCheerleader - I'm a believer in old fashioned police presence. The short answer is more cops in the areas they are needed most at the times when they stand to do the most benefit. Encouraging cops to stay and raise their kids in the city (only about 30% live in the city) is the simplest fix given our budget. A cop is a cop 24-7 and most carry weapons while off duty. Magnolia Ave is safer because I've lived there for so many years that criminals avoid the area because of me. I'd love it if we could find the right incentives to encourage 550 or so additional police to remain in the city so they could do the same. It's the most cost effective method of increasing police presence I can think of. It also gives those officers a vested interest in the city's future. The same can be said for fire fighters, teachers, and other city employees. Getting rid of city cars would be one step in that direction - we pay gas, mileage, and maintenance and more or less provide an incentive for people to live out in suburbia somewhere.

Please Vote Today! Tell your friends, family, and neighbors to vote. Email, call, Facebook, Tweet, text, or send a smoke signal, but get them to the polls!