Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will be a special guest at a Jersey City fundraiser for Ward E Councilman James Solomon for mayor and the re-election of Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The event will take place at The Factory, located at 451 Communipaw Ave., on Tuesday, July 29th between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
“Excited to join progressive champion, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Councilman Frank ‘Educational’ Gilmore for a special fundraiser in support of our campaigns! Come out and be part of it,” Solomon wrote on Instagram.
Tickets to the event are going for between $10 and $1,000, making it a grassroots-style event.
Solomon and Gilmore traded endorsements in early April, with the latter endorsing Baraka for governor three weeks later, both as HCV first reported.
While Baraka ended up being the runner-up in the June 10th gubernatorial primary, losing by about 13 points, he showed strength by winning in Union and Essex Counties, also showing a stronger than expected pulse in Jersey City.
Posting strong tallies in Wards A, B, and F, Baraka gave Mayor Steven Fulop a run for his money on his home turf, losing by only around two points, according to data from the Hudson County Clerk’s Office.
Solomon is currently in a six-person, non-partisan November 4th contest to succeed Fulop.
The other declared mayoral candidates are former Gov. Jim McGreevey, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), Council President Joyce Watterman, ex-Board of Education President Mussab Ali, and Police Officer Christina Freeman.
As for Ward F, Gilmore is currently defending his seat against Gloria Walton, who is on McGreevey’s ticket, Vernon Richardson, who is part of Team Watterman, and Rev. Keith Garvin-Howell, who is on O’Dea’s slate.
