Jersey City Council
City Council of Jersey City | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
City Council President | Council President Denise Ridley |
City Council President Pro Tempore | Council President Pro Tempore Frank Gilmore |
| Seats | 9 |
| Elections | |
| Two-round system | |
| Meeting place | |
| Jersey City Hall | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
The Jersey City Council serves as the legislative body in Jersey City, New Jersey. It consists of nine members. The council consists of six ward-based districts and three At-large districts. The city operates under a mayor-council system of local governance. As of 2013, the members of the City Council vote among themselves to select one member to serve as the City Council President every two years.[1][2] Every four years, a city-wide election is held to elect the members of the city council. All city council elections are non-partisan, with a runoff scheduled for races in which no candidate has gotten a majority of the votes.
Current membership
The current members of the city council are:
| Ward | Name | Took Office | Preceded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Denise Ridley †[3] | 2018 | Francis "Frank" Gajewski |
| B | Joel A. Brooks[4] | 2026 | Mira Prinz-Arey |
| C | Thomas Zuppa Jr.[5] | 2026 | Richard Boggiano |
| D | Jake Ephros[4] | 2026 | Yousef Saleh |
| E | Eleana Little[6] | 2026 | James Solomon[7] |
| F | Frank Gilmore ‡[3] | 2022 | Jermaine Robinson |
| At-Large | Mamta Singh[8] | 2026 | Daniel Rivera |
| At-Large | Michael O. Griffin[9] | 2026 | Joyce Watterman[10] |
| At-Large | Rolando R. Lavarro Jr.[11] | 2026 | Amy DeGise |
† Signifies City Council President
‡ Signifies City Council President Pro Tempore
2021 City Council
| Ward | Name | Took Office | Preceded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Denise Ridley | 2018 | Francis "Frank" Gajewski[12] |
| B | Mira Prinz-Arey | 2018 | Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal |
| C | Richard Boggiano | 2014 | Nidia R. Lopez |
| D | Yousef Saleh | 2022 | Michael Yun |
| E | James Solomon[7] | 2022 | Candice Osbourne[13] |
| F | Frank Gilmore | 2022 | Jermaine Robinson |
| At-Large | Daniel Rivera | 2014 | Peter Brennan |
| At-Large | Joyce Watterman[10] | 2014 | Viola S. Richardson |
| At-Large | Amy DeGise | 2018 | Rolando R. Lavarro Jr. |
Past presidents
- Joyce Watterman (2019-2024)
- Rolando R. Lavarro Jr. (2013-2019)[14]
- Peter Brennan (2009-2013)[1]
- Mariano Vega (2005-2009)
- Joseph Rakowski (1992)
- Marilyn Roman (1990-1992)
- Bobby Jackson (1981-1985)[15]
- Dominick J. Pugliese (1973-1977)[16]
- Thomas M. Flaherty (1971)[17]
See also
References
- ^ a b T, Terrence (2012-08-23). "City Council president in Jersey City to have two-year term starting in 2013". nj. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "City Council". www.jerseycitynj.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ a b Milone, Andy (2026-01-15). "Ridley, Gilmore Chosen to Lead Jersey City Council". Jersey City Times. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ a b DiFilippo, Dana (2025-12-03). "Democratic socialist says wins in Jersey City are a 'watershed' for far-left movement • New Jersey Monitor". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ Heinis, John (October 24, 2024). "Zuppa punches at Boggiano as he makes Jersey City Ward C rematch official". Hudson County View.
- ^ Heinis, John (November 12, 2024). "Jersey City progressive activist Eleana Little to seek Ward E council seat". Hudson County View.
- ^ a b Heinis, John (November 24, 2025). "3 recent Jersey City Ward E city council candidates back Solomon for mayor". Hudson County Review.
- ^ superadmin (2025-12-04). "A First in City History: Mamta Singh Rises to Jersey City Council - News India Times". Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ "Op-Ed: Griffin helped me find my place in Jersey City: Now it's time to give him his". Hudson County View. December 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Watterman, Joyce (October 14, 2025). "Op-Ed: A Black Woman's Journey to Lead Jersey City". Jersey City Times.
- ^ "Lavarro Announces Candidacy for At-Large Jersey City Council Seat on James Solomon's Slate". Insider NJ. March 14, 2025.
- ^ Horwitz, Marli (2013-06-12). "Jersey City City Council 2013 Runoff Election Results". nj. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ Zeitlinger, Ron (2013-05-15). "Up-to-the-minute official results of the 2013 Jersey City Municipal Election". nj. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
- ^ "Rolando R. Lavarro Jr., City Council At-Large". www.jerseycitynj.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ Zeitlinger, Ron (2008-01-10). "Bobby Jackson, active in Jersey City politics, dies". nj. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ Villanova, Patrick (2014-05-29). "Former Hudson sheriff, Jersey City council president Pugliese, 84, dies". nj. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "State Aide Says Whelan Lost Office on Conviction". New York Times. July 7, 1971.