HOBOKEN, NJ — Councilman Mike DeFusco is releasing the following statement responding to misinformation from Mayor Ravi Bhalla which attempted to link the indictment of a local political figure to the city’s impending Referendum on Runoff Elections:

“This alleged vote buying scheme occurred in 2013, the first municipal election after the city stopped holding runoff elections, and it’s abundantly clear that eliminating runoffs from Hoboken elections encourages misconduct.  The indictment is equally troubling because without runoff elections, it is far easier for illegal “paid for” votes to successfully impact an electorate divided into smaller voting blocs.  The indictment underscores the importance of the Referendum on the ballot Tuesday, which if passed will ensure that our City won’t be bought and sold, and rather will stand unified against entities looking to divide us for political gain.”

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