Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis is the Democratic nominee for Hudson County sheriff: In the extremely likely scenario where he is sworn in to a new elected office next year, how will his successor be chosen?
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Since Davis’ term as mayor runs until June 30th, 2026 and the Peninsula City mayoral race is set for May 12th of that year, there will have to be an acting mayor if he vacates his seat in January to become sheriff.
Given that Hudson County hasn’t had a Republican sheriff in over a century, John Kaiser served in that role for one term between 1905 and 1908, it appears borderline impossible that Davis could lose to Republican nominee Elvis Alvarez on November 4th.
“If the Mayor vacates after September 1, the Acting Mayor is voted on by the Municipal Council. If he vacates office any time now before September 1st the vacancy is filled by [council] appointment and voted on at the next general election,” stated Bayonne Clerk Madelene Medina.
According to Medina, there is also a very specific set of circumstances where a special election would be necessary.
“In the event that the Council fails to file the vacancy within 30 days, I would then set a date for a special election to fill the vacancy not less than 45 days and no more than 50 days after the 30 day expiration date for filling the vacancy,” he added.
“However if the date set for the special election fall within 20 days of the next general election, the vacancy is filled at that election.”
Former Council President Sharon Ashe Nadrowski, who lost to Davis by about a 51-43 margin in 2022, has privately expressed an interest in running again, while Councilman-at-Large Loyad Booker is an early prospect to run with Davis and Hudson County Democratic Organization’s support, sources familiar with the situation said.
On Tuesday, Davis, who was backed by the HCDO, defeated Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, who ran on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s gubernatorial slate, by a margin of about 53-46, as HCV first reported.
