A digital “Dirty Davis” billboard attacking Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis has sprung up in Atlantic City during the week of the annual League of the Municipalities conference, paid for by a Washington D.C.-based super PAC.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The billboard, paid for by the Citizens for Strength & Security Fund, reads “Dirty Streets. Dirty Behavior Dirty Politics. Had Enough? Call Mayor Davis at 201-858-6010 and tell him to stop making Bayonne dirty.”
Last month, the PAC, which was formed in DC back in 2011, launched dirtydavis.com with an accompanying web ad, where Davis is criticized for the city sanitation contract being granted to a donor (though the city said the donation was later rescinded), as well as for lawsuits alleging gender discrimination and sexting a subordinate, as HCV first reported.
The gender discrimination suit, filed by Business Administrator Melissa Mathews, is referenced in the billboard as well.
The political advertisement is situated right after the toll booth at the Atlantic City Expressway as politicos throughout the state convene at the casinos to network, talk shop, and maybe even attend a panel or two – all over drinks of course – until Thursday.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports from this year do not show any recent donations to the PAC.
Davis is currently running unopposed ahead of seeking a third term in May, though he is widely expected to face a challenge from Council President Sharon Nadrowski at this time.
Phil Swibinski, a spokesman for Davis, denounced the flier and wrote it off as being pointless and ineffective.
“Whoever is behind this dark money, out-of-towner led plot to take over Bayonne clearly doesn’t know what they’re doing, because spending this kind of money on a billboard in Atlantic City to impress lobbyists and politicians will have as much impact on this election as their last failed stunt at the Bayonne High School homecoming game that backfired badly and enraged parents,” he said.
“Real Bayonne residents know that the city is moving forward thanks to Mayor Davis because they can see the progress right in their own neighborhoods without being told what to think by a big money Super PAC.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Mayor Jimmy Davis spokesman Phil Swibinski.
That ad is not lying. I saw the web page and they are right. Taxes keep going up and streets are dirty.
Hey Aly,
Did you ever stop to check why your taxes go up every year. The Mayor has nothing to do with it.
You have to see the School Board which is accounting for way more than half our property taxes and more than 75% of the State Taxes.
Let me ask you this when was the last time you saw double digit pay raises. Then check the teacher’s contracts. Many years ago they used to publish a simple report on our school costs. They would show how much was being paid for hands-on teaching and how much for support. I’d love to see the actual teacher’s salaries including benefits and freebees published every year right before we vote for school board members.
I’d also like to know why so many people and funds are interested in our local elections so much.
I like many other residents perceive these mass mailings from unidentified sources as outside interference in our elections.
They keep throwing somebody else’s rocks and remain hidden. What are they hiding and or are afraid of ?