Hudson County Executive Craig Guy is moving away from Jim McGreevey in the Jersey City mayoral race and will remain officially neutral in the December 2 runoff between McGreevey and City Councilman James Solomon, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.
Guy, the Hudson County Democratic chairman, had backed McGreevey for mayor in last week’s voting.
Solomon led the vote, 29%-25% over McGreeey, a former governor. But two other candidates, County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (21%) and former Board of Education President Mussab Ali (18%), have endorsed Solomon. Council President Joyce Watterman, who finished fifth with 4%, is backing McGreevey.
But Guy will continue to support candidates seeking city council seats in next month’s runoff: Meredith Burns and incumbent Daniel Rivera for at-large seats, Brandi Warren for city council in Ward A, incumbent Richard Boggiano in Ward C, and Catherine Healy in Ward D.
Burns had run on a ticket with McGreevey; Rivera ran with O’Dea but endorsed McGreevey earlier today. They face three candidates who ran with Solomon: former Councilman Rolando Lavarro, Michael Griffin, and Mamta Singh. Tina Nalls, who was on Ali’s slate, also made the at-large runoff.
Warren, a McGreevey ally, faces incumbent Denise Ridley. Boggiano, who also ran with McGreevey, is in a runoff against Tom Zuppa, who ran with O’Dea.
In Ward D, McGreevey ally Catherline Healy, the daughter of former Mayor Jeramiah Healy, was the top vote-getter; she faces Jake Ephros, who had mounted his own campaign, in the runoff.
Two other council candidates won outright in the first round: Solomon ally Eleana Little in Ward E, the ward Solomon currently represents, and Councilman Frank Gilmore in Ward F.
