Al Santos (mayor)
Encyclopedia
Alberto G. Santos (born 1965) is the Mayor of Kearny, New Jersey
, and a Democrat
. Santos formerly served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year. Santos was elected Mayor in 2000, and then re-elected in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2009.
, immigrant family, Al was born in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1970, Al along with his family, moved to Kearny. The family originally emigrated from Murtosa, Portugal
. The mayor is fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish.
opponent(s) during the primary elections. During the general election, his only opponent was Republican
, John Leadbeater. The two fought it out hard and nasty with various local newspaper ads bashing each others' campaign and platform. In the end, Santos walked away victorious with a 57% to 42% win against Leadbeater.
Santos serves as the Clerk to the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, a dual position often called double dipping, which is allowed under state law but widely condemned by the public and civic interest groups.
Santos defended the new heliport in Kearny that was opposed by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, Ward B Councilman David Donnelly and others after it secured federal approvals and had been issued local zoning permits.
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
, and a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Santos formerly served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year. Santos was elected Mayor in 2000, and then re-elected in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2009.
Background
The son of a hard working PortuguesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
, immigrant family, Al was born in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1970, Al along with his family, moved to Kearny. The family originally emigrated from Murtosa, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The mayor is fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish.
2009 Mayoral Run
Santos was up for reelection in 2009. He had no DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent(s) during the primary elections. During the general election, his only opponent was Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, John Leadbeater. The two fought it out hard and nasty with various local newspaper ads bashing each others' campaign and platform. In the end, Santos walked away victorious with a 57% to 42% win against Leadbeater.
Santos serves as the Clerk to the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, a dual position often called double dipping, which is allowed under state law but widely condemned by the public and civic interest groups.
Santos defended the new heliport in Kearny that was opposed by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, Ward B Councilman David Donnelly and others after it secured federal approvals and had been issued local zoning permits.