Brandi Warren, the director of the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Center for Teacher Preparation, is joining former Gov. Jim McGreevey’s slate as his Ward A candidate for the Jersey City Council.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Brandi Warren will be an outstanding councilperson. Brandi is committed to Jersey City, her Church, Monumental Baptist, and our community,” McGreevey said in a statement.
“As education is the cornerstone of our children’s future, it is paramount that Jersey City offers a quality education to every child, regardless of zip code. Mrs. Warren works with teachers and students daily to improve the quality of education.”
In addition to serving as a director at NJCU, Warren is an instructor and expert panel review member for for New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJ PSA).
In these roles, Warren implements best practice models for educational internships, course content, and lesson plans and manages an ongoing caseload of students, teachers, and faculty.
“The residents of Jersey City deserve genuine representation on the City Council. My goal, if elected, is to bring a sense of ‘servant leadership’ to Ward A. As a higher education professional, I look forward to working to enhance the quality of education for all of Jersey City’s children,” Warren added.
McGreevey has proposed a more substantial partnership between City Hall and the Board of Education to provide significant investments in school infrastructure, an update to the curriculum of Jersey City Public Schools, greater support for teachers’ professional development, and a more collaborative, community-involved approach to education.
During her career in education, Warren co-authored the NJCU and Bergen Community College Partnership Agreement.
She has also presented at the Lincoln High School College Preparatory Incentive Program and the P.S. 38 Girls’ Club Career Planning program, as well as being an executive committee member of the New Jersey Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (NJACTE).
Warren is the first running mate announced for McGreevey, who was the first to declare his candidacy for Jersey City mayor in November 2023.
Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley has signaled she will be on the ballot next year, but has not stated her plans beyond that for now.
Two of his three opponents have revealed candidates thus far: Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea has recruited Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera and lifelong educator Kristen Zadroga-Hart to run at-large.
While she has not formally been announced as of this writing, Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County Executive Director Pamela Johnson will be running for the Ward A seat with O’Dea.
Additionally, Council President Joyce Watterman is running former mayoral challenger Lewis Spears, former board of education candidate Kenny Reyes, and Liberty Church JC Pastor Dave Carment at-large, with ex-BOE Trustee Alexander Hamilton running in Ward E.
Former BOE President Mussab Ali has not announced any running mates yet ahead of the non-partisan November, 4th, 2025 municipal elections.
