Council Candidates Ana Mascenik, Jelmin Caba and Fernando Gonzalez hand in their petitions to City Clerk Elaine Jasko.
*Photos by Paul W. Wang

PERTH AMBOY – Fernando Gonzalez, Ana Maria Mascenik and Jelmin Caba filed petitions to have their names listed on the November ballots as candidates in the non-partisan contest for City Council.

Gonzalez, a former Councilman, and Mascenik, a retired principal, have teamed up with Caba, a community activist who is a political newcomer to launch a campaign to take the City in a new direction.

Former Councilman Fernando Gonzalez, Newcomer Jelmin Caba with former Council Candidate Ana Mascenik.

In addition to his previous tenure on the City Council, Gonzalez served as chairman of the local Housing Authority, was elected to three terms on the Perth Amboy Board of Education, and was a member of the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development (PRAHD) board of directors.

Mascenik, who became a principal in 1990 and retired in 2010, was among the State’s “Principals of the Year” for 2003-04. In 2012, she was an Obama delegate at the Democratic National Convention and a City Council candidate with Jose Santos. She has also served on the boards of PRAHD and the Jewish Renaissance.

Caba, a community lesader and educator, has lived in Perth Amboy since 1977. He has been an entrepreneur who established a restaurant, Healthy Choice Grill, and the Fine Line Hair Studio. Moreover, he has served on several City advisory committees and has been active in numerous youth programs.

Calling their slate “New Direction for Perth Amboy,” Gonzalez, Mascenik and Caba are challenging political insiders allied with Mayor Wilda Diaz.

Gonzalez, Mascenik and Caba say City government must pay more attention to fundamental problems facing the people because of unemployment, property taxes, foreclosures, crime and violence have all skyrocketed in recent years.

News Release