Bayonne Council President Gary La Pelusa has conceded his 3rd Ward council seat, opting to forego a June 9th runoff against retired Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Det. Tommy Gillen, the first place finisher on Tuesday who is now the councilman-elect.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
La Pelusa made the announcement at the end of last night’s marathon meeting of the council, with many speakers coming out against data centers for the second public session in a row, as HCV first reported.
He elaborated on his decision today in a phone interview with HCV.
“I feel very strongly that the mayor should have a council of new people, not someone from previous councils like myself. There are things I’ll be able to concentrate a little more time with, like spending more time with family,” La Pelusa said.
“I appreciate my time on the council. I’m glad I got to help a lot of people. I’m glad we got a lot of things done for the city. I always appreciate the support of the people.”
He also said he is dealing with some health issues that he’d like to take care of, congratulating all the winners, including the first female mayor-elect in Peninsula City history.
La Pelusa ran on Councilman at-Large Loyad Booker’s mayoral slate, who came up short in the mayoral election to former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski.
Ashe-Nadrowski easily defeated Booker by a more than 2-1 margin, roughly 32 points, and also secured first ballot wins for her council at-large running mates Mark Bottino and Mariam Salama, along with 1st Ward Councilman-elect Gene Perry.
While the stage was set for runoffs in the 2nd and 3rd Wards, La Pelusa trails Gillen, who ran with Ashe-Nadrowski, by just under 10 points: 1,710 votes to 1,352 and he ultimately decided that a head-to-head matchup next month was not necessary.
Pat Devaney came in third place with 349 votes, with John Milan Sebik coming in last with 196 votes (they both ran independently). While it isn’t particularly impactful now with La Pelusa dropping out, Devaney backed Gillen today.
“Tommy is more than a friend to me — he is like family. Our families are extremely close. We both ran for the 3rd Ward because we love this city and truly want what is best for the people of Bayonne,” he said in a statement.
“Now it is time for all of us to come together and get Tommy across the finish line. I am ALL IN behind him and I hope everyone who supported me will stand with him as well.”
Over in the 2nd Ward, Team Ashe-Nadrowski member Melissa Godesky-Rodriguez, a board of education trustee, was the top vote getter on Tuesday and is currently poised to face independent candidate Omar Elgarhi in the June 9th runoff.
However, the second place finisher remains too close to call, with Elgarhi leading former 2nd Ward Councilman Sal Gullace 820 votes to 817, with Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado saying yesterday that this race won’t be decided until next week.
