Debate challenges arise in Jersey City's runoff election

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) -- Tuesday's elections brought decisive wins in a variety of races in the Tri-state region.

In Jersey City, the decisiveness came in the form of narrowing a field of more than a half dozen candidates for mayor down to just two.

On Wednesday, both candidates -- City Council President James Solomon, and community activist and former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey -- challenged each other to debates that they said should help voters decide between an up-and-comer or someone trying to make a comeback. 

Tuesday's election in Jersey City resulted in another election: a runoff. 

Some voters who spoke with PIX11 News expressed frustration over the fact that they'll have to head back to the polls. 

"It's torture not knowing," said Wanda Black, a lifelong Jersey City resident, "and we've got to wait until December to find out who's our mayor," she added. 

Rosalie Zuckerman, who's lived in New Jersey's second-largest city for nearly 40 years, said that she felt somewhat let down. 

"I was a little bit disappointed," she said, "because I like these things to be put to rest, so we can kind of move on." 

The top vote getter, who received 29 percent of all votes cast, was Solomon, the city council president. McGreevey took second place, with 25 percent of the vote. 

In an interview at his campaign office, Solomon had kind words for his opponent, having become a community activist helping formerly incarcerated residents in the Jersey City area. Still, Solomon was critical. 

"That's great work," he said about McGreevey's activism. 

"However," Solomon continued, "when you go back to the same corrupt people who got you in trouble 25 years ago, and you go back to the same people 25 years later, that's just more of the same."

The front-runner was referring to associations McGreevey had with developer Charles Kushner, who was convicted in 2005 of tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering. The former governor had to resign in 2004 after he was allegedly connected to a variety of ethics and corruption cases.

PIX11 News reached out to the McGreevey Campaign multiple times on Wednesday seeking an interview with the candidate for this story, but he was not made available for an interview. 

However, in an interview with PIX11 News before the election, the former governor said, "You can't build a plane in mid-air. You need to have the experience." 

He said that his time leading the Garden State, along with the resources he built during his tenure, will benefit Jersey City strongly if he's at the helm. 

"Having a mayor who has those relationships," McGreevey said, "brings the dollars to Jersey City. But we also balance the books."

Solomon said That's not enough. He said that a series of head-to-head debates will prove him right. 

"I am confident in my ideas, right?" Solomon said. "Any time, any place, anywhere, we will debate the former governor."

"I am confident that when the voters see us there," he continued, "they're gonna pick me. I've got the track record and the ideas to make Jersey City more affordable."   

McGreevey did release a statement on Tuesday that read, in part:  "I welcome the opportunity to debate Councilman Solomon in every ward, neighborhood, and corner of Jersey City."

Meanwhile, a political analyst, Peter Woolley, the director of the School of Global and Public Affairs at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said in an interview that the key to winning the mayor's office goes beyond the two front-runners.

The most important person in the race, said Woolley, may be "the guy who came in third, Bill O'Dea." 

"Since he came in, really, just a point behind Jim McGreevey," Woolley said, "he might be the kingmaker."

Both Solomon and McGreevey said that they welcome O'Dea's endorsement, as well as the support of all four other candidates who ran for mayor in the general election on Tuesday. 

The runoff election is scheduled for December 2.