Anthony Russo was the 35th mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, serving from 1993 to 2001. He won two terms, but failed to get enough votes to get a third term.
Biography
In the 1993 election that got him into office, Russo beat his main opponent, Ira Karasick, by 7,023 to 5,623 votes. During his two terms, people who were loyal to Russo were put into every facet of Hoboken's government including the Hoboken Zoning Board and Planning Board by Russo. Of positive notes, Russo was credited with hiring top-flight Municipal directors with the goal of shrinking and eventually eliminating Hoboken's structural budget deficit and expanding the tax base. Investment in Hoboken's housing stock soared under Russo's administration and the long dormant waterfront was built with first class office, hotel and residential space. Part of the waterfront redevelopment plan included the creation of large waterfront parks, including Pier A and Frank Sinatra Park. This gave Hoboken residents their first public access to the Hudson River waterfront in decades. In 2000, it was discovered that Russo had cancer, in the form of a brain tumor. He said he would only live another 8 months, but doctors were successful at fighting the cancer temporarily. In March 2000, the tumor was removed, but another tumor was found in August 2001. Councilman David Roberts defeated Russo for mayor in the 2001 election. Roberts capitalized on Russo's illness and a major coalition of Russo foes throughout Hoboken and Hudson county circles. In 2002, the tumor went into remission, and because of this the doctors told Russo he could run for office again. He ran for 3rd Ward Council, but had to tearfully resign shortly after being elected because the cancer reappeared. He was charged with corruption in 2003 while a Hoboken city councilman. On September 29, 2004, Russo pleaded guilty to public corruption charges in federal court. Russo admitted that he took thousands of dollars in cash from the owner of a city accounting firm in exchange for his influence in awarding contracts to the firm. Russo was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $317,000 in restitution. Russo's Prisoner ID # is 25827-050. He served his sentence in the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina and was released in September 2007.
