Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
Council President Zimmer will take his place
Last week, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano was arrested and remained rebellious in spirit, making it clear that his intentions were to stay in office and not resign.
Governor Jon Corzine called on Cammarano to resign, but Cammarano remained defiant.
Now, seven days since the infamous New Jersey corruption scandal captured the spotlight, Cammarano has resigned as mayor, effective at noon today.
Council President Dawn Zimmer will be sworn in at noon today. She will also retain her position on the council until the November mayoral election, according to the Hudson Reporter.com.
Here is Cammarano's resignation letter (pictured below), addressed to the city clerk:
"It had been my hope and expectation that I could remain in office and perform my official duties until I until I had the opportunity to resolve the legal charges against me in court," it says. "Regrettably, it has turned out that the controversy surrounding the charges against me has become a distraction to me and an impediment to the functioning of Hoboken government. This controversy has also been a terrible burden on my family. Accordingly, it is in the best interest of the city and all concerned for me to resign."
"I apologize to the residents of Hoboken for the disruption and disappointment this case has caused. However, I would like to reiterate that I am innocent of any criminal charges and I intend to fight the allegations against me.''
Cammarano, 32, was charged July 24 with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes from an undercover cooperating witness.
Sworn in July 1 as Hoboken's youngest mayor, Cammarano had earlier this week rebuffed calls for his resignation, even after protesters picketed outside his home and rallied in front of City Hall.
Cammarano, a Democrat, had served as a councilman since 2005 until he was elected mayor in June. Corzine, along with U.S. senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, all Democrats, attended Cammarano's swearing-in ceremony.
— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
