Mike is a proud Italian-American and lifelong resident of New Jersey. His great grandfather was a laborer on the Erie Lackawanna railroad, a source of great pride for the family. His parents, Elizabeth and Carmine, put themselves through graduate and medical school working nights and raising a family built on the ideals of hard work, education and community service. Thirteen years ago, after graduating with honors from George Washington University, Mike left D.C. and decided to call Hoboken his home.

Shortly after moving to town, a development project was proposed that would significantly infringe on the green area in Mike’s neighborhood. In response, Mike organized a group of neighbors to speak in front of the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, and together, they successfully convinced the board to size the building back while still permitting community progress. In 2011, Mike was appointed as a full voting member to the Zoning Board, the same body that originally ignited his passion for responsible community development, and he was reappointed again in 2015 -- serving five years on the board until being elected to City Council.

Mike won a seat on the City Council defeating a 21-year incumbent based on the premise of bringing new energy and new ideas to challenge the political status quo, and that’s exactly what he’s done. As the First Ward representative on the Council, Mike has reopened lanes on Jackson Street to reduce traffic, pushed for improved pedestrian safety on Newark Street, led the charge to fund overdue Washington Street improvements and secured a commitment to bring a European-style market outside Hoboken Terminal. Mike is 35 years old.  

Community aside, Mike is employed in the private sector as an executive for a major media company and enjoys the artistic and dynamic worldview that his career permits him. He relishes international travel, architecture, cycling and cooking. Mike’s partner is a physician originally from Guatemala who practiced medicine in underserved minority populations before sub-specializing in Infectious Diseases, so as to help those suffering with HIV/AIDS.  

Mike DeFusco is running for Mayor to bring a private sector mindset to city government and to bridge the political divides that have held Hoboken back for far too long. He believes in a progressive vision for Hoboken that gets back to the basics of local government while also thinking big and delivering on major advances for the community. He is running alongside Council candidates Michael Flett, Andrew Impastato and Vanessa Falco.