Promising to focus his time on governing and not politics, former Gov. James E. McGreevey pledged to serve just a single four-year term if he wins the December 2 runoff election and becomes the next mayor of Jersey City.
“I’m not running to build a political career, I’m running to fix the city I love,” said McGreevey. “For four years, I’ll focus on the fundamentals: cleaner streets, safer neighborhoods, better schools, stronger senior services, and a city government that actually works for working families.”
McGreevey, 68, is betting that voters might prefer a mayor driven by filling potholes, repairing sewers, and balancing budgets than one who is looking to get re-elected.
“At the end of four years, I’ll go back to the work I love at the Reentry Corporation, helping people rebuild their lives. I’ll spend more time being a better father to my daughters, and hopefully a good grandfather to my future grandson,” he said. “This isn’t about ambition. It’s about service, and about leaving Jersey City stronger, cleaner, and fairer than we found it.”
Jersey City has had little turnover in the mayor’s office since the early 1990s.
Bret Schundler served from 1992 to 2002, Jerramiah Healy from 2004 to 2013, and Steve Fulop from 2013 until the end of this year.
He wants to be the kind of hands-on mayor he was in Woodbridge in the 1990s, before his election as governor.
“I’ll get done in four years what James Solomon couldn’t get done in eight years on the City Council, or what he won’t get done in four years as mayor,” McGreevey stated. “Jersey City needs leadership that works, not slogans, not posturing, but results.”
