A total of 42 candidates are running for nine seats on the Jersey City council this May 12, including three council-at-large seats and six seats representing Wards A through F.
In addition, five candidates are running for mayor.
This week, the Jersey City Reporter profiles the 13 candidates running for the at-large City Council seats, listed below according to ballot position.
The candidates answered two questions – Which issue(s) will you address first when you get into office, and why should the public vote for you?
Abdul Malik
Malik was born in Pakistan and has lived in Jersey City since 1990. He is a graduate of the Rawalpindi Medical School in Pakistan. Malik worked for a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey until 1992, when he suffered a slip-and-fall accident that left him permanently disabled. He is married and the father of three children. Malik is running on mayoral candidate Phillip Webb’s slate. He also ran unsuccessfully in the Jersey City Board of Education election.
What issue will you address first?
“I would deal with promotions in government, since I think they are political rather than done for the right reasons. And especially since these promotions keep out minorities from positions that they deserve to hold.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“What I will bring to the council if I am elected is honesty, accountability, integrity and decency.”
Joseph Cassidy
Cassidy is a lifelong Jersey City resident who served in the Jersey City Police Department for 32 years before retiring from the force in 1995 as a deputy chief. He was the Hudson County Sheriff for 12 years until 2008. He graduated from St. Peter’s Prep High School, Rutgers University-Newark and New Jersey City University. Cassidy is married with one daughter. He is running on Louis Manzo’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“I think the main issue is law and order, as we have to take back our streets. Also, there’s the stabilization of taxes and ending of dual job holders. You have six members of the City Council who are dual job holders.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“Because I am fairly knowledgeable in terms of law and order, I can determine when a promotion is done on merit and need, rather than for political reasons.”
Betty Outlaw
Outlaw was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas and has lived in Jersey City since the age of 22. She attended Rutgers University. She worked as an administrator in the City Council office. Outlaw has served as the Hudson County Superintendent of Elections, and director, at different times, of Jersey City’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Works. She is the mother of five children and grandmother of seven grandchildren. Outlaw is running on Louis Manzo’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“Near and dear to my heart is what I do for young people, as some of them are going through terrible times.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“I feel the voters should vote for me because I do have experience in government. The voters should also vote for me to do those things to make Jersey City a better place.”
Lori Serrano
Serrano was born and raised in Jersey City. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School and studied at Monmouth University, and presently works for the Jersey City Board of Education. Before that, Serrano worked as an Account Executive, Buyer and Analyst in the retail sector. She previously served on the Board of Commissioners of the Jersey City Housing Authority. Serrano is a single mother of two children. She is running on Louis Manzo’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“One of the first that I will handle is accountability and making sure city agencies are accountable to the City Council. Also, transparency, cleaner streets and community policing to reduce crime, and bringing a conscience back into city government.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“Well, right now, the quality of life is deplorable, and we need fresh ideas and we need change.”
Marie Day
Day is the designer and Director of D&J Career Center. She is presently a Consultant for the School of Nutritional Science of the International Nutrition Consultants Association. Day serves with the Haitian Pentecostal Church, and is also a board member of the Jersey City Chapter of the Haitian-American Voters and Entrepreneurs National (HAVEN).
What issue will you address first?
“My top priority will be to create jobs, I will work to create affordable housing, to lower taxes, to provide safety to our residents, school funding, and to work towards a better Jersey City.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“I have been living in Jersey City for the past 20 years and I know this city and the issues and I believe that voters will have no better representative for Jersey City than me, and I will be a full-time councilwoman, not a part-timer who works somewhere else.”
Peter Brennan, incumbent
Brennan was born, raised, and educated in the Downtown Section of Jersey City. He graduated from St. Michael’s Grammar School and High School. Brennan has been a businessman for more than 40 years in the Greenville section of Jersey City. He has been a councilman since 2001, serving both Ward A, and currently council-at-large. He also serves as a confidential aide to Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise. Brennan is a widower and has one daughter, who is married, and a grandson. He is running on Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“I will continue to make the safety and security of Jersey City citizens my first priority, giving special attention to maintaining an affordable lifestyle for all in our community.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“The voters should vote for me because I continue to care, and I have proven experience in delivering change you can see.”
Mariano Vega, incumbent
Vega was born in Puerto Rico and has lived in Jersey City for over 56 years. He resides with his wife Sonia and their three children in the Van Vorst historic district of Downtown Jersey City. Vega is the director of the Hudson County Department of Parks, Engineering and Planning.
He has served as city councilman since 1997 is currently the council president. Vega has received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Montclair State University. He is running on Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“Staying in office, I will commence the development of Journal Square and the full development of the ‘other waterfront’ on the Hackensack River.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“As an experienced councilman with proven leadership skills and an even keel personality, I am approachable and have the capacity to listen and craft viable solutions to existing and emerging problems.”
Willie Flood, incumbent
Flood was born in Greensboro, Ala. She graduated from Alabama State College and from Jersey City State College. She worked in the Jersey City School System, and is currently the registrar for Hudson County. Flood has served on the City Council since July 2005. She is married with three children. She is running on Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“I’m going to continue to address crime and safety, so that our families can grow up secure and safe.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“The voters should vote for me because I continue to care, and I have proven experience in delivering change you can see. I am not a novice to this job, and my record proves that I have worked to make Jersey City safer, cleaner and more affordable.”
Noemi Velazquez
Velazquez is a native of El Coqui Salinas, Puerto Rico. She immigrated with her parents in the late 1950s to Buffalo, N.Y. Velazquez studied at the University of Puerto Rico before completing her studies at SUNY-Buffalo. She has served as an educator and administrator in the Jersey City Public School system since 1979 and has been involved in numerous Latino and women’s community organizations. She lives in Jersey City and is single. She is running on L. Harvey Smith’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“I really think the prime issue is crime, and we really need to address the growing crime in Jersey City.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“I think that I am well-prepared to address the needs of the total population. I am a Jersey City person who for 30 years who has dedicated myself to helping the community.”
Frank Scalcione
Scalcione was born and raised in Jersey City. He runs a pizzeria on Monmouth Street. He is a product of the Jersey City Public Schools. He is single with no children. Scalcione lives in the building he owns on Third Street, the third generation of his family to do so. Scalcione is running on L. Harvey Smith’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“The main two issues are taxes and crime. Well, first, taxes, as the small homeowner has been hit with a 40 percent tax hike in the last four years. And with crime, there are 910 police officers and one-third are behind the desk. At all hours, police should be walking the beat.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“First of all, I am a native of Jersey City and I don’t owe favors to anyone. No one can throw rocks at me. My background is clean.”
Ronnie Greco
Greco grew up in Jersey City. Greco has worked in the Jersey City Public School system for 13 years. He is currently a Dean at Lincoln High School. Greco is a graduate of Monmouth University. He is single. He is running on L. Harvey Smith’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“I will order an audit of all city departments, to examine their budgets and search for ways to reduce costs. [I will work] jointly with the mayor and chief of police, examine the current system of policing and introduce problem oriented policing, which seeks to have officers in ‘hot spots’ where crime continually occurs, taking a more proactive, rather than reactive approach to policing.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“I look forward to fielding my constituents’ phone calls, and talking to them on their front steps, in their living rooms or on the corner.”
Andrew Hubsch
Hubsch is a freelance writer and graphic designer. He has been National Merchandise Buyer for the entire Barnes and Noble book store chain, and a journalist and editor for publications in the United States and Europe. Hubsch graduated from Villanova University. He is also an Eagle Scout, and has served on numerous community boards. Born in Gettysburg and raised in Merion, Pa., Hubsch has resided in Jersey City since 1997 with his wife. He is running on Dan Levin’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“Enact developer pay-to-play reform (eliminating campaign dollars from the redevelopment decision-making process) and implementing objective performance evaluations for city departments and agencies, and regularly holding leadership accountable.”
Why should the public vote for you?
“I am a grateful servant leader, with years of board service for neighborhood groups, citywide non-profit corporations, and area churches. I will represent the public with honor and humility.”
Emilio DeLia
DeLia was born and raised in Jersey City. He has worked most recently as the director of Business Services at a corporate services firm. DeLia graduated from New York University, and from Clark University. He also worked for U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, and for the Association of Columbian Americans in San Francisco. DeLia is single and has no children. He is running on Dan Levin’s election ticket.
What issue will you address first?
“Restore community policing, with cops walking the beat. Create and implement a long term financial plan for the city. Preserve the Sixth Street Embankment as open space, and activate the dormant Environmental Commission”
Why should the public vote for you?
“My intention for seeking political office is not to forward any personal agenda, rather, I will do what is in the best interests of our city and the future generations of our city.”
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonrreporter.com.