JERSEY CITY – Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera said in an interview Monday with the Jersey City Reporter that he wants to run for another term as freeholder. Rivera, who turned 67 on Dec. 8, celebrated his birthday two days later at a $75 per ticket fundraiser at the recently-opened Powerhouse Lounge in downtown Jersey City.
Rivera has served as Freeholder since 2006 and his current term ends in December of 2011. He is currently the Executive Director of PACO Agency, which provides serving such as housing to low-income residents, in particular the Hispanic community.
Rivera said he wants to run again because he is worried that his seat, which covers parts of Downtown, Journal Square and the Heights, will not stay in the Hispanic community.
“We already lost the sheriff’s office, we almost [Councilman] Mariano Vega’s seat, and I don’t want to see the freeholder’s seat lost,” Rivera said.
Rivera said the estimated $12,000 gathered from the birthday fundraiser goes to his Freeholder for Rivera account with money split between funding civic activities such as Little League baseball and his political campaigns. The fundraiser was attended by local officials such as fellow Freeholder Bill O’Dea, City Councilman Ray Velazquez, and Mayor Jerramiah Healy – Ricardo Kaulessar
Freeholder Rivera celebrates birthday with fundraiser at Downtown JC restaurant; wants to run for office again
