Mussab Ali, a former president of the Jersey City Board of Education and the fourth-place finisher in the Jersey City mayoral race, endorsed Councilman James Solomon in his mayoral runoff campaign against former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
With Ali’s endorsement, the third-place (Bill O’Dea), fourth-place, and sixth-place (Christina Freeman) finishers have endorsed Solomon. The fifth-place finisher, Joyce Watterman, endorsed McGreevey.
“I’m proud to endorse James Solomon for Jersey City mayor in the run-off election,” Ali said. “James has a clear plan for affordable rents, safer streets, better schools, and an accountable city government. He listens to residents, works across differences, and delivers solutions that lift up every neighborhood. Jersey City needs leadership that puts people first, James Solomon is that leader, and I urge all voters to support him on Election Day.”
Solomon and McGreevey face off in a Dec. 2 runoff; Solomon received about 29% of the vote, while McGreevey received about 25%.
The Solomon-McGreevey bout is another in the fight between Jersey progressives and their establishment-backed foes. Senator Andy Kim, whose Senate bid helped eliminate the county organization line, endorsed Solomon, as did Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
“Mussab Ali ran an inspiring issues-oriented campaign and I am so honored to have his endorsement,” Solomon said. “Mussab and I agree that we need to focus on affordability, building housing working people can afford and delivering better buses for everyone. The election was better because of his ideas and energy. Now is the time to come together so we can deliver a better future for New Jersey and I am so honored to have his endorsement.”
