Mayor Jerramiah Healy and his full slate of nine City Council candidates submitted their petitions Tuesday for the upcoming mayor and council elections on May 12. The City Clerk’s Office certified those petitions the following day.
Thus, Healy joined Assemblyman/former City Council President L. Harvey Smith and former Assemblyman Louis Manzo as a certified candidate for mayor.
Along with the mayor’s office, all nine City Council seats are up for grabs in May.
If no candidate earns more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held in June.
________
With former Mayor Bret Schundler and Councilman Steven Fulop having already decided not to enter the mayoral race, many observers have been watching to see if State Sen. Sandra Cunningham will run. An aide in her office said last week that she was still undecided. Barring a surprise move from her or some other last-minute entry or withdrawal, the field of competition is set.
If no candidate earns more than 50 percent of the vote in May, a runoff election will be held in June.
Crime, development at issue
Whoever gets elected this spring will have to deal with a growing murder rate, development controversies, and many other key issues affecting the second largest city in the state.
Healy, a former chief judge of the Jersey City Municipal Court, first took the mayor’s seat in a special election in November, 2004 after sitting Mayor Glenn Cunningham died of a heart attack.
Healy was re-elected in May 2005. His position as the incumbent and as chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization puts him as a leading contender in the race. Still, Healy said last week, “We take nothing for granted.” He described his campaign as being about “delivering change you can see.”
Six of the nine incumbent City Council members are running on Healy’s ticket. His full slate includes Michael Sottolano, Ward A; Phil Kenny, Ward B; Nidia Rivera Lopez, Ward C; Bill Gaughan, Ward D; Guy Catrillo, Ward E; Viola Richardson, Ward F; and Willie Flood, Peter Brennan and Mariano Vega for the citywide at-large seats.
Challenging Healy
A former two-term state assemblyman and Hudson County freeholder, Manzo will be making his fifth run for mayor. When he declared two months ago that he was entering the race, he told the Reporter that he still had “a fire in the belly” and that he saw this election as a “referendum on Healy.”
Last week, Manzo said Healy “has quit on the city” and that he likes his chances this time around. “I’m known as a fighter and someone who can accomplish things,” he said.
Hoping to win office with Manzo are Council candidates Rolando R. Lavarro Jr., Ward A; Arthur Williams, Ward B; Jimmy King, Ward C; Sgt. James Carroll, Ward D; Joseph Tarrazi, Ward E; Rev. Ronnie-Calvin Clark, Ward F; and Joseph Cassidy, Betty Outlaw, and Lori Serrano for the at-large seats.
A former acting mayor
Meanwhile, candidate L. Harvey Smith is no stranger to the mayor’s office. After former Mayor Glenn Cunningham died suddenly in spring of 2004, Smith, as council president, filled that role until a special election was held that November.
A former teacher, undersherriff of Hudson County, and state senator, Smith currently represents the 31st District in the state Assembly.
Smith said that he is running “for all the people,” touting himself as “the most experienced and the hardest worker.”
“This election is about saving Jersey City,” he declared, “putting it on the right track so that it can realize its potential.”
On his ticket are council candidates Frances Thompson, Ward A; Paul Catsandonis, Ward B; Craig Bailey, Ward C; Rev. John Muniz, Ward D; Jamie Vazquez, Ward E; Calvin Hart, Ward F; and Ronnie Greco, Noemi Velazquez, and Frank Scalcione for the citywide at-large seats.
Long-shot reformer
Should Dan Levin officially enter the race, it will represent his first run for public office.
A downtown resident and owner of a picture framing business in Hoboken, Levin is a founding trustee for the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and creator of the reform group CivicJC.
“This election is a watershed moment,” Levin said last week, adding that the city faces “serious economic challenges.”
Through his “One Jersey City,” campaign, he said he advocates “opening up the process and the decision-making to the public.”
He was modest about his chances, but spoke of bringing in new, disillusioned voters. He also noted that if he came in second, he could enter the runoff.
Lining up behind Levin are City Council candidates Emilio De Lia and Andrew Hubsch for at-large seats, and Norrice Raymaker, for Ward C.
Cullen Thomas may be reached at editorial@hudsonreporter.com.