JERSEY CITY – Community activist and former mayoral candidate Dan Levin announced on Monday that he will run for one of two Jersey City Council-at-large seats in the November special election.
Voters will go to the polls on November 8 to fill two seats vacated by former council members Willie Flood and Mariano Vega, whose terms expire in 2013.
Flood resigned from the City Council in February due to health reasons. Vega – one of 46 public and religious officials arrested in the infamous 2009 FBI corruption sting – resigned last September after pleading guilty to federal charges.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy appointed Ray Velasquez to fill Vega’s seat. Attorney Kalimah Ahmad was selected by the mayor to fill the seat vacated by Flood.
Ahmad and Velasquez have announced their intentions to run for full terms.
Two weeks ago Roland Lavarro also joined the race for an at-large council seat.
Now Levin – co-founder of Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, Civic JC, and Bike JC – has entered the race.
“I am running for a seat on the Jersey City municipal council with a simple mission to improve the decisions made by our city,” said Levin in a release issued Monday. “I will bring a clear, common sense vision and sound
management approach to solve our problems and build upon our opportunities while keeping the needs of residents central to all considerations and actions.”
The owner of a small business and a former credit union manager, Levin said he plans to build his campaign on “good government practices, historic preservation, advocating for sound and sustainable planning, advocating for safe streets and sidewalks to give equal consideration to pedestrians and
bicyclists, and developing community groups and neighborhood associations.” – E. Assata Wright