The leading candidates for mayor in Jersey City have endorsed the same slate of school board candidates, and they’re not backing the incumbents.
Ward E Councilman James Solomon and former Gov. Jim McGreevey endorsed the “For Stronger Schools” slate of Aimee Sharrock, Brendan Doohan, and Lorenzo Richardson for school board. The trio faces three incumbents: Noemí Velázquez, Christopher Tisdale, and Afaf Muhammad, under the “Education Brings Solutions” slogan.
Solomon and McGreevey are seen as the leaders in November’s nonpartisan race to succeed Mayor Steve Fulop. Solomon announced his school board endorsements last week; McGreevey announced his endorsement on Wednesday.
“You can’t have a successful city without good public schools, which is why I am proud to back Brendan Doohan, Aimee Sharrock, and Lorenzo Richardson for school board,” Solomon said in a release. “Today, fewer than half of students in Jersey City are proficient in reading, only a third are proficient in math, and over 25% of students were chronically absent. Voters are fed up, and they are demanding change.”
“As a lifelong advocate for public education, I proudly endorse Aimee Sharrock, Brandan Doohan, and Lorenzo Richardson for the Jersey City Board of Education,” McGreevey said. “Their ticket is grounded in experience, integrity, and a clear vision for reform, and they reflect a commitment to students, families, and the future of our school system.
Richardson, an accountant, served on the school board for nearly a decade, but lost re-election in 2023. Sharrock is a neurodiversity chair at a Jersey City public school and a former PTA president. Doohan is a Jersey City Heights resident and treasurer at a local PTA, according to a release.
The filing deadline for school board commissioners was July 28. Sumit “Sam” Salia is also running as an independent, according to the Hudson Reporter.
Fulop is not seeking re-election; instead, he ran for governor and finished third in June’s Democratic primary.