Former Gov. James E. McGreevey and City Councilman James Solomon will face off in a December 2 runoff election to become the next mayor of Jersey City, where Steven Fulop is stepping down after three terms.
Solomon was the top vote-getter with 17,200 votes (29%), followed by McGreevey with 15,042 (25%).
Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea finished third with 12,750 votes (21.5%); Mussab Ali, a former school board president, received 10,843 (18%), and City Council President Joyce Watterman won just 2,282 votes (4%). Two other candidates, Christina Freeman and Kalki Jayne-Rose, finished far behind.
Just two city council candidates won’t face a runoff: Eleana Little won Solomon’s Downtown Ward E seat with 52%, and Frank “Educational” Gilmore was re-elected to his Ward F seat with 56%. Both ran on Solomon’s ticket.
Three at-large candidates who ran with Solomon – former Council President Rolando Lavarro, Mamta Singh, and Michael Griffin – finished on top and will make the runoff. Its not yet clear who they will face in a crowded fifteen-candidate field.
Two wards are likely to see members of O’Dea’s slate face candidates allied with McGreevey. In Ward A, Councilwoman Denise Ridley is not assured of a runoff slot.
In Hoboken, two city councilmembers, Emily Jabbour and Michael Russo, will compete in runoff to succeed Mayor (now Assemblyman-elect) Ravi Bhalla.
Jabbour finished first with 45,122 votes (27%), and Russo received 4,644 votes (24%). Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher received 19%, and Councilman Ruben Ramos won 15%. Former Assistant State Treasurer Dini Ajmani finished fifth with 13%.
There will be runoffs in the at-large and Ward 6 council contests.
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