O’Donnell’s old union backs Davis

The union representing Bayonne’s firefighters has unanimously endorsed Mayor Jimmy Davis for re-election, even though the other candidate, Jason O’Donnell, was a firefighter and member of the same union.

“I first got to know Jimmy Davis when he was a Bayonne Police Officer and we served together, and I know he is someone with an incredible amount of character and dedication to serving our city,” said FMBA Local 11 President Pete Bonner. “His commitment to putting Bayonne first is clear from the long-awaited development of MOTBY, to the clear improvements to our parks to the revitalization of Broadway, and I know Team Davis is the right choice to continue leading us forward.”

Davis said that first responders in Bayonne “put their lives on the line every day to keep our city safe and they deserve a partner in city hall who has their back, so our team has always done everything we can to support them.”

“I’m so proud to have the endorsement of our both our local firefighters and our police union, because they and the residents of Bayonne all see the progress we are making together and want to continue moving our city forward,” Davis said.

O’Donnell praised his former colleagues commitment to the city, but accused Davis of using tax dollars to buy the endorsement.

“I spent a significant part of my life in the firehouse working side by side with other people sworn to run towards danger.  I have nothing but respect for every man and woman who puts on that gear to protect families across our city.  As a lifelong resident of Bayonne, raising my three children here, I know firsthand the incredible job that they do,” said O’Donnell, a former Assemblyman.  “The fact is, if I were still on the job I might also consider endorsing someone who was promising to hand out raises and promotions and dangling new ladder trucks, pumper rigs and the latest technology.  But then I would realize that it’s Jimmy Davis and he will say or do anything to get himself elected and then go back on his word, just like he did with the 40 abatements he handed out to his rich developer friends.”