Baraka headlines re-election fundraiser for Jersey City Ward F Councilman Gilmore

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Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democratic candidate for governor, headlined a re-election fundraiser for Jersey City Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore at Soires Event Space last night.

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

“All these big guys were trying to crush him. I said that’s who I need to be with. He really got the pulse. If he didn’t, these people wouldn’t be chasing him around,” Baraka, who received Gilmore’s endorsement in April, said.

Baraka also expressed enthusiasm in electing Vice President Kamala Harris president next week before calling Gilmore a friend who he is looking forward to working with.

“We need to make sure Jersey City got the right representation. He can call on me any time. Even when I’m the governor!” he exclaimed to cheers.

“I can’t wait to have him come down to Trenton to make sure we take care of Jersey City the right way,” Baraka added.

Assemblyman Will Sampson (D-31) joked he was there to get an endorsement ahead of his re-election bid in June before expressing his support for Gilmore.

“Frank came to my first event. And that moved me. I was running with the establishment. Frank was running as an independent. But he still supported me as a brother,” he explained to applause.

“We built a brotherhood. He’s real. He’s authentic. He’s transparent, and that’s something you often don’t get in politics today … Truth is people did not want Frank and me to have a relationship … You have a true leader in Jersey City: He’s fighting for people overlooked every single day!”

He noted he attended a press conference in September celebrating a summer with no homicides in Jersey City, an event spearheaded by Gilmore.

“The same city he poisoned is the same city he uplifts today. We need more people like Frank,” Sampson exclaimed, noting that Gilmore turned his life around after serving prison time for drug charges.

From there, Gilmore introduced Ward E Councilman Solomon, a mayoral candidate, who he credited with helping him learn a lot about city council rules and procedures.

“Jersey City is very lucky to have Frank Gilmore here. Many positive things … would not have happened without Frank on the council,” he argued.

Solomon lauded him for supporting the right-to-counsel ordinance, affordable housing progress, and the ARRIVE Together program, to name a few

“Frank serves the people of this city. We didn’t have that in Ward F before Frank got here. We had folks that were serving…”

“Themselves,” the crowd said exclaimed.

“You all said it,” Solomon replied.

He noted the ward boundaries were changed greatly in the re-districting process, which is still being litigated and will be heard by the state Supreme Court.

“I’m sure he wants a ward that’s drawn fairly. But he’s going to serve the people always. He’s going to connect with whoever his constituents are. And he is going to succeed in representing them,” Solomon declared.

Gilmore noted affordable housing is a big issue he works on to applause.

“We know he’s going to represent the interest of the people when he’s talking to people,” he said about himself to applause, noting he is starting to get comfortable in his role.

“I used to wonder why I had to go through so many things. I can’t be where I am today had I not gone through the trials and tribulations of yesterday. I can’t properly advocate for the people if I wasn’t a victim of the system.”

He also mentioned that a developer, who he choose not to name, called him about his fundraiser and Gilmore stopped him and said he wouldn’t accept a contribution from him.

“I don’t care if they push the boundary to the Hackensack River! I’m going to represent the people of Jersey City,” he exclaimed.

“New Jersey, we gotta do our part. Our part isn’t just voting. It’s us talking to those people in those swing states… making sure our President is Black, making sure Kamala gets over the hump,” Gilmore explained.

Doris Toni Ervin, the aunt of the late Andrew Washington who was fatal shot by police after he grabbed a knife during a mental health crisis in August 2023, commended Gilmore for standing up for her family.

“Frank has stood with us every step of the way. Even in those council meetings when no one is hearing what we’re saying. Frank stood up against that. Him and Solomon was the two Councilmembers who really stood up for us,” she declared to applause.

“It’s like it was on deaf ears. But thank God Frank was there. We had nowhere to go. We’re still struggling.”

She also noted Gilmore participated in last week’s march against police brutality.

“We have poor policing here in Jersey City that needs to be addressed. We have a poor vetting system of the police that needs to be addressed,” Ervin argued.

Michael Griffin, Gilmore’s campaign manager,  served as master of ceremonies. He made light of the smear flyer against Gilmore distributed during the 2021 council campaign.

“They spent more money on the flyer than we spent on the campaign,” he declared to applause.

Gloria Walton, running with former Gov. Jim McGreevey, is the only opposition Gilmore faces so far for the non-partisan November 4th, 2025 contest.

For the moment, the incumbent is still pursuing a second term as an independent.


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