Ira Guilford, a financial planner at Northwestern Mutual who was an All-American football player at Ohio State, has announced he will seek the Jersey City Ward A council seat on Mussab Ali’s ticket.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Growing up in Jersey City, I’ve experienced first-hand the lack of opportunities our kids have. My mentality was heavily influenced by my environment, and I sabotaged my own path due to ignorance. Later, I realized that young people here don’t have the information or the guidance to build a fulfilled and comfortable life for themselves and their families,” Guilford said in a statement.
“That speaks to me because I also grew up in a situation where I wasn’t in a position to do better. Our city needs to do more to give our youth safe streets, better recreational opportunities, exposure to good-paying jobs, and affordable housing. I’m excited to be running alongside Mussab Ali to build a better future for our kids.”
Over the years, Guilford has worked with young athletes as a personal trainer, helping them improve their physical performance while instilling life skills, discipline, and a mindset for success.
As he worked closely with families, he recognized a crucial gap—many lacked financial literacy and a clear path to building generational wealth.
Seeing this need, he made a strategic pivot into wealth management, bringing the same level of discipline, strategy, and leadership to financial empowerment as he had in athletics.
“Ira represents the very best of our community, and I’m thrilled he’s running for City Council in Ward A. He knows firsthand how residents here are getting squeezed and, like me, worries about what the future holds,” added Ali.
“Jersey City must be a place where working families can afford to build their lives. I look forward to working with Ira in City Hall to build a better Jersey City together.”
Guilford is stepping into a four-person field in Ward A.
Councilwoman Denise Ridley is seeking re-election on Ward E Councilman James Solomon’s ticket, Hudson County Anti-Violence Coalition Executive Director Pam Johnson is running with Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), and educator Brandi Warren is on former Gov. Jim McGreevey’s slate.
The fifth candidate in the non-partisan November 4th mayoral race, Council President Joyce Watterman, has not announced a Ward A running mate yet, nor have any independent candidates jumped into this particular council race yet.
Additionally, Guilford, who will formally kickoff his campaign at Berry Lane Park tomorrow at 1:30 p.m., is the second running mate Ali has announced, unveiling Shahab Khan as his Ward C candidate last month, as HCV first reported.
