Candidate for Councilperson at Large

A New Jersey native, Joe Quintero has served on the City Council since 2022 and is known as one of Hoboken’s hardest working and most effective public servants. Joe has also been an elected member of the Hoboken Democratic Party since 2019 and has served as Chairman since March 2024. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Fordham Law School and works in banking compliance focusing on governance, ethics, and government interactions. 

Joe is running for re-election to City Council to continue fighting for a Hoboken where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. That means a continued focus on supporting our Public Safety teams, affordable housing with tenant protections and strengthening city services and responsiveness. Joe is focused on delivering results in every neighborhood to make peoples' lives better.

As the proud son of Colombian immigrants, Joe grew up with an ingrained belief in hard work and that most problems can be solved if people work together. These beliefs have carried him through many adversities, including beating cancer at a young age, paying off crippling student loan debt, and most recently… being a NY Giants fan.

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Candidate for Councilperson at Large

Steve Firestone wears many hats. He’s a husband, father, professor, financial expert, marathon runner, and a public servant dedicated to making Hoboken a better place for everyone. 

Steve is the Chair of the Department of Business and an Associate Teaching Professor of Finance at Drew University in Madison, NJ. He has been at Drew since 2018, teaching everything from fundamentals of business to quantitative finance. 

Before teaching at Drew, Steve served in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where for over eight years he focused on capital markets, commercial credit and model risk at some of the world’s largest banks. 

People who know him call him a details guy and he’s put that focus to work for Hoboken. Steve has 25 years of public service and community involvement on planning boards, zoning boards, in the historic district and on environmental commissions. Currently, Steve is the Chair of Hoboken’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA), where he has served for the last six years. 

While they have traveled around the country for professional reasons for many years, Steve and his wife of 29-years Kerri have always thought of Hoboken as home – they bought their very first apartment on Bloomfield Street nearly 30 years ago. 

Steve completed his Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University in Economics in 1994 and his MBA in Finance from Indiana University in 2000. Steve has also been a member of the Hoboken Harriers since 2016 and has run two New York City marathons as a HoHa. 

Steve and Kerri have two children, Amelia (23) and Matthew (21), both of whom went to high school at the Hudson School in Hoboken.

Candidate for Councilperson at Large

Caitlin Layson Namin is a lifelong Hoboken resident and grew up on 8th and Willow,  where her parents taught her why it is so important to get involved and give back. 

Caitlin is a mom and former special education teacher with a passion for public service and her Hoboken community.  

She served in Hoboken public schools as a special education teacher for several years, working every day and advocating for students of all abilities. She also worked as a direct support provider at a Day Habilitation program, helping adults with traumatic brain injuries develop life skills and independence.

With a heart for service and deep ties to the city, Caitlin is running for Hoboken City Council to bring a fresh, compassionate, and hands-on perspective to local government. She understands the needs of working families, longtime residents, educators, and those who often go unheard. Her campaign is rooted in the belief that thoughtful, inclusive leadership can create a Hoboken that works for everyone — with strong public schools, safe and accessible streets, affordable housing, and a local government that listens and acts.

Caitlin attended Wallace Elementary, The Mustard Seed School, and graduated high school from The Hudson School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Montclair State University.

You might find Caitlin, her husband Arad, and their one-year-old daughter out at a local park or playground, talking to neighbors, or enjoying a neighborhood restaurant. Though she stepped away from the classroom, Caitlin’s passion for helping people and building community has only grown stronger. With real experience, deep community roots, and a commitment to service, Caitlin is ready to be a voice for the people of Hoboken.

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