Velazquez named to council to fill Vega’s seat

JERSEY CITY – The City Council at their Wednesday meeting approved Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s choice of former Hudson County Freeholder Radames “Ray” Velazquez to fill the City Council-at Large seat vacated by former councilman Mariano Vega last month.
Velazquez, 46, who stepped down from his job as a Jersey City Municipal Court judge on Monday, was affirmed by an 8-0 vote. He is scheduled to be sworn in as a councilman at a City Hall ceremony on Friday.
The announcement of Velazquez as the replacement caught people off-guard when City Council President Peter Brennan made the announcement before Monday’s caucus ended.
City Councilman Steven Fulop wondered after the Monday caucus why people who submitted their resumes to the city to be considered for the post were not considered. But he voted for Velazquez, calling him a “great choice” because he is a gay man and can represent that community, and based on his experience as a Hudson County Freeholder from 2003 to 2005.
Velazquez addressed the council after the vote.
“It’s my pleasure to stand in this room … and I thank you for your confidence,” Velazquez said. – Ricardo Kaulessar

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