Jersey City Council Candidates Offer Mutual Endorsement

JERSEY CITY, NJ —Two candidates for the Jersey City Council - one an at-large incumbent and the other a challenger in one of the six wards - announced a mutual endorsement on Saturday, according to both of their campaigns.

Council member Rolando Lavarro, who is running for re-election to an at-large position on the council, and labor organizer Joel Brooks, who is a council candidate in Ward B, endorsed one another during a Day of Action at Brooks' campaign office. The election takes place on Nov. 2, though early voting will be available October 23-31.

"I'm proud to endorse Council Member Lavarro for re-election," Brooks said. "He has been a leading advocate for working people on the city council for many years, whether it was as a community organizer on behalf of taxpayers hit with a backdoor water tax or fighting on the city council for inclusive zoning. The West Side is lucky to have such a tireless advocate in the city council already, and after this election, I look forward to working with him to put the people's interests first."

Lavarro said he was pleased to endorse Brooks in Ward B.

"With his deep roots in union organizing, (Brooks) understands the struggles that Jersey City's working families endure, particularly the nurses and healthcare workers who have been on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19," Lavarro said about Brooks, whose partner, Marisol, is a registered nurse.

Lavarro continued: "Joel recognizes that Jersey City is gentrifying rapidly and will fight for housing justice for all. We share progressive values and a commitment to protecting Jersey City's diverse communities and the residents who have made the city what it is today. I'm excited to work with Joel Brooks when he is elected to council."

According to his biography, Lavarro is a lifelong resident of Jersey City -in the Greenville area (Ward B) - who became the first Asian American elected to the Jersey City Council in 2011. He's served nearly 10 years on the council, including over six years as the council president.

Two of Lavarro's main priorities, according to his campaign literature, are the city's affordable housing and school funding crises.

Brooks is a long-time labor organizer who, according to his campaign, is running for a spot on the council in order to fight for a city that works for working people, not just the real estate developers and one percent.

In a release touting the the mutual endorsements, the campaigns of both candidates reminded voters that Lavarro is 9B on the ballot, while Brooks is 3C on the ballot.