Jersey City Councilman James Solomon launched the first TV ad of his mayoral campaign, he announced Monday.
The ad will air on cable TV and digital platforms, according to the announcement. It discusses Solomon’s survival of cancer and his later work as a city councilman. He said he will put families ahead of Jersey City developers if elected mayor and said he’s rejected donations from those developers.
The 30-second spot, by the same firm that produced now-Senator Andy Kim’s TV ads last year, is the first Jersey City mayoral ad to hit televisions.
The ad’s backing music and word choice (“shot,” “moment”) hearken back to the Eminem track Lose Yourself.
“We’ve got only one shot to make Jersey City affordable for everyone and I will be the mayor to make it happen,” Solomon said in the release. “That’s what this campaign has been focused on and that is why we’re the only one that can bring that change to Jersey City. As Mayor, we’re going to build affordable housing, improve our public schools, stabilize property taxes and make sure our streets are safe and livable. This is our moment and we’re not going to miss it.”
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who finished third in this year’s Democratic primary for governor, is not seeking re-election. Joining Solomon in the race for mayor are former Board of Education President Mussab Ali, former Gov. James E. McGreevey, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea, and Council President Joyce Watterman.
Script: “When you beat cancer at 30, you learn to own every moment. I’m James Solomon, and I focused on home. And so we grew. And grew. And grew, our family. And I became a City Councilman. We’re I’ve taken on the corrupt political machine, and refused donations from Jersey City developers. Now I’m running for Mayor: to put our families before their profits. We’ve got one shot to build an affordable city for all. This is our moment.”