JERSEY CITY – Longtime Jersey City Heights businessman Michael Yun has announced his candidacy for the Ward D City Council seat in the 2013 municipal elections. Yun, the owner of Garden State News on Central Avenue, is also president of the Central Avenue Special Improvement District.
In a June 11 release, Yun stated that he is running because he believes residents and business owners pay high taxes but receive poor city services in return for their money and complains about the quality of city services “have fallen on deaf ears.”
“This is wrong,” said Yun. “After years of neglect and poor city policy, main streets like Central Avenue have been made especially vulnerable to the nation’s depressed economy. Far more needs to be done so that Jersey City can fulfill its incredible potential.”
Crime and such quality of life issues as parking and street filth have been major issues in the Heights over the past year.
“With the encouragement of numerous Heights residents, I am ready to make real a shared vision of the Heights and Jersey City that offers an urban life we deserve in a city that we can all be proud of,” Yun added.
William Gaughan, an ally of Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, currently represents Ward D on the Jersey City Council. Gaughan is widely expected to retire next year when his current term ends in May 2013, leaving open the likelihood that no incumbent will be running for the Ward D seat.
Healy, who said earlier this year that he intends to seek a third term in 2013, has not announced his slate of candidates and a spokeswoman said no decisions will be made on Healy’s running mates until the fall.
Current Ward E City Councilman Steven Fulop, who is also running for mayor in 2013, has announced a partial slate that includes David Donnelly for Ward B, Candace Osborne for Ward E, and Rolando Lavarro Jr. for and one at-large seat. Fulop has not announced a candidate for Ward D, however.
The next citywide municipal election in Jersey City will he held in May 2013. – E. Assata Wright