Ricky Mason writes an open letter in support of his wife Beth Mason's campaign for Mayor. [1] He recounts how they moved to Hoboken 25 years ago with no money after graduating from college, and how Beth got a job one week before they would have had to leave due to lack of funds. [2] Over the years, they were able to establish themselves in Hoboken, with Beth advancing her career in advertising and them restoring their home, and having two children. [3] Campaigning with Beth has reminded Ricky of how far they have come and how special Hoboken is despite its challenges, and he urges voters to elect his wife Mayor.

1. An Open Letter from
Ricky Mason
Dear Friend,
I have had the privilege of spending many days with my wife Beth Mason on the campaign
trail as she asksthe voters to elect her Mayor on May 12th. But I can honestly saythe thought
of Beth running for Mayor was the farthest thing from my mind when we moved here
25 years ago.We came from Richmond, Virginia, where we both grew up in middle class
households (my dad worked at a radio station, and my mom was a nurse) and where we met
in college at Virginia Commonwealth University. We came to this area because after being
a two-time college dropout, I had finally gotten my act together atVCU, done well acaderni-
cally,and been accepted to NYU Law School. Beth had graduated from VCU with a mass
communications degree and was determined to find a job in advertising in New York City.
Beth and I had no money when we got to Hoboken in August 1984:we had put ourselves
through VCU by working at a local drug store and other odd jobs, and by borrowing many
tens of thousands dollars in student loans. In fact, we chose Hoboken primarily because it
had rent control. Our first apartment was a small one-bedroom at 9th and Washington.
We were so short of funds that we figured we had only until the end of October for Beth
to get a Job,and if she didn't, I would have to drop out of school (again) and we would have
to move back to Richmond. With one week to go before the money ran out, Beth got the
job we needed to stay here, as a junior assistant at a small firm for the sum of $14,000 a
year Slowly we began to get our footing, as I graduated from NYU and got a law firm job;
she ascended the advertising ranks in New York City (eventually to become president of an
agency);we moved first to a brownstone on Washington, and then to our house on Hudson
Street,which we have restored over the lastfifteen years;and finally we had two beautiful kids.
As I meet voters with my wife and hear their stories, I think about ours quite a bit. Although
we live in a big house now, it wasn't always that way, as you can see. And although at first
we barely spent any time here, as we focused on work and school in New York City,
we gradually came to understand that we live in a very special place. For all of its foibles, and
for all of the fiscal mess that my wife is trying to clean up, Hoboken is a wonderful town full
of rich diversity and great people. Spending time with Beth on the campaign trail has made
me understand and appreciate that even more.
Sincerely,
PAID FOR BY MASON FOR MAYOR