Dawn Zimmer
Encyclopedia
Dawn Zimmer is the 38th mayor of Hoboken
, New Jersey
. She was sworn in on November 6, 2009 after winning a special election to fill the remainder of Peter Cammarano
's term. She had been serving as Acting Mayor since Cammarano's resignation on July 31, 2009 following his arrest on corruption charges. Zimmer is the first female mayor of Hoboken.
and raised in Laconia
, New Hampshire
. She attended public schools and graduated cum laude in 1990 from the University of New Hampshire
with a degree in history. She taught English at a private language school in Japan
from 1990 to 1993.
Zimmer worked at Sumitomo Corporation of America
doing internal and external communications for four years and in public relations specializing in crisis communications at Edelman Worldwide
for three years. She has also worked as a family portrait photographer and as marketing director for her husband's jewelry business. Zimmer moved to Hoboken with her family, in September 2002, from New York City.
. Prior to that, her main political experience was serving as senior class president in high school.
In 2007, Zimmer ran for Hoboken City Council in the 4th Ward against incumbent Christopher Campos. In the first election in May, neither candidate reached 50 percent, necessitating a runoff election. Zimmer outpolled Campos in the June runoff by eight votes, but Campos challenged the results, charging that absentee ballots were improperly handled. Zimmer in turn charged that Campos had received votes from non-residents. A second runoff was called in November, with Zimmer defeating Campos by a margin of 1,070 votes to 956.
Zimmer ran for Mayor of Hoboken in 2009. She lost to Peter Cammarano
in the June runoff by 161 votes. On July 1, when Cammarano was sworn in as mayor, the City Council unanimously elected Zimmer as Council President.
On July 23, 2009, Cammarano was arrested by the FBI as part of a major corruption
and international money laundering
conspiracy
probe known as Operation Bid Rig
. Cammarano was charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes from an undercover cooperating witness. The same witness approached Zimmer's campaign staff and was unsuccessful in setting up a meeting. Zimmer joined other local officials in calling for Cammarano's resignation.
On July 31, 2009, Cammarano resigned from office, and Zimmer was immediately sworn in as Acting Mayor. On November 3, 2009, she won a special election to fill the rest of Cammarano's mayoral term. In the special election, Zimmer faced six opponents: City Councilwoman Beth Mason, businessman Frank Raia, former Hoboken Municipal Court judge Kimberly Glatt, Hoboken Republican Club co-founder Nathan Brinkman, management consultant Everton A. Wilson, and former corrections officer Patricia Waiters. She finished with 43% of the vote, with Mason in second place with 23% and Raia in third place with 18%. Because it was a special election, no runoff was required.
Zimmer was sworn in as Mayor on November 6, 2009, giving up her City Council seat.
to Judaism
. They have two children who attend public school in Hoboken.
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She was sworn in on November 6, 2009 after winning a special election to fill the remainder of Peter Cammarano
Peter Cammarano
Peter J. Cammarano III was the 37th Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, serving from July 1, 2009, to July 31, 2009. He was born in Wayne, New Jersey and attended Boston University and Seton Hall University School of Law...
's term. She had been serving as Acting Mayor since Cammarano's resignation on July 31, 2009 following his arrest on corruption charges. Zimmer is the first female mayor of Hoboken.
Early life and career
Zimmer was born in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and raised in Laconia
Laconia, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The population density was 809.3 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 421.8 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. She attended public schools and graduated cum laude in 1990 from the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
with a degree in history. She taught English at a private language school in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
from 1990 to 1993.
Zimmer worked at Sumitomo Corporation of America
Sumitomo Group
is one of the largest keiretsu, founded by Masatomo Sumitomo.-History:The Sumitomo group traces its roots to a bookshop in Kyoto founded circa 1615 by a former buddhist priest,...
doing internal and external communications for four years and in public relations specializing in crisis communications at Edelman Worldwide
Edelman (firm)
Edelman is a global public relations firm with consumer, finance, healthcare, technology and industrial practices. It employs over 3,600 people in 53 offices around the globe. Edelman was founded in 1952 by Daniel J. Edelman and is today led by his son President & CEO Richard Edelman...
for three years. She has also worked as a family portrait photographer and as marketing director for her husband's jewelry business. Zimmer moved to Hoboken with her family, in September 2002, from New York City.
Civic and political activities
Zimmer became involved in civic life in Hoboken when she joined the Southwest Parks Coalition Steering Committee to advocate for more park space in southwest Hoboken's 4th Ward. She also served as a board member of the Kaplan Cooperative Preschool and as secretary of the Parent Teacher Student Organization for the Elysian Charter SchoolElysian Charter School
Elysian Charter School of Hoboken , is a public charter school located in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was founded in 1997 by a group of Hoboken residents including parents and educators . After a charter was granted in January 1997, the school opened in September 1997...
. Prior to that, her main political experience was serving as senior class president in high school.
In 2007, Zimmer ran for Hoboken City Council in the 4th Ward against incumbent Christopher Campos. In the first election in May, neither candidate reached 50 percent, necessitating a runoff election. Zimmer outpolled Campos in the June runoff by eight votes, but Campos challenged the results, charging that absentee ballots were improperly handled. Zimmer in turn charged that Campos had received votes from non-residents. A second runoff was called in November, with Zimmer defeating Campos by a margin of 1,070 votes to 956.
Zimmer ran for Mayor of Hoboken in 2009. She lost to Peter Cammarano
Peter Cammarano
Peter J. Cammarano III was the 37th Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, serving from July 1, 2009, to July 31, 2009. He was born in Wayne, New Jersey and attended Boston University and Seton Hall University School of Law...
in the June runoff by 161 votes. On July 1, when Cammarano was sworn in as mayor, the City Council unanimously elected Zimmer as Council President.
On July 23, 2009, Cammarano was arrested by the FBI as part of a major corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and international money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
probe known as Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig is an ongoing, long-term investigation into political corruption in New Jersey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey since 2002...
. Cammarano was charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes from an undercover cooperating witness. The same witness approached Zimmer's campaign staff and was unsuccessful in setting up a meeting. Zimmer joined other local officials in calling for Cammarano's resignation.
On July 31, 2009, Cammarano resigned from office, and Zimmer was immediately sworn in as Acting Mayor. On November 3, 2009, she won a special election to fill the rest of Cammarano's mayoral term. In the special election, Zimmer faced six opponents: City Councilwoman Beth Mason, businessman Frank Raia, former Hoboken Municipal Court judge Kimberly Glatt, Hoboken Republican Club co-founder Nathan Brinkman, management consultant Everton A. Wilson, and former corrections officer Patricia Waiters. She finished with 43% of the vote, with Mason in second place with 23% and Raia in third place with 18%. Because it was a special election, no runoff was required.
Zimmer was sworn in as Mayor on November 6, 2009, giving up her City Council seat.
Family
Zimmer is married to Stan Grossbard. Grossbard is President of the RCDC Corporation, a diamond manufacturing and wholesaling company that markets the Original Radiant Cut Diamond. The Original Radiant Cut Diamond is a diamond cut invented in 1977 by Zimmer's father-in-law, Henry Grossbard who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Hoboken in 2005. Zimmer converted from UnitarianismUnitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. They have two children who attend public school in Hoboken.