Jerramiah Healy
Encyclopedia
Jerramiah T. Healy is the current mayor
of Jersey City, New Jersey
. He ran for the unexpired term of the late Glenn D. Cunningham and was elected in November 2004. In the special election, he defeated Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith
. He was subsequently elected to a full term by a record landslide.
Healy entered public service as an assistant prosecutor for the Hudson County
Prosecutor's Office in 1977. From 1981 to 1991, he maintained a private law practice in Jersey City. He was appointed Chief Judge in the Jersey City Municipal Court in 1991, and was reappointed in 1995. In 1997, he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Jersey City against Bret Schundler
, who later ran for Governor of New Jersey
against Jim McGreevey
. Healy resumed his private law practice until 2004, when he was elected Mayor.
and Xavier High School
in New York City
, and is a 1972 graduate of Villanova University
. Healy attended Seton Hall University School of Law
, and supported himself as a bartender
and an ironworker
.
. Among the eleven candidates, Jerramiah Healy won Cunningham's unexpired term with 17,401 votes (27.8%) out of 62,641 cast. Other than the unusually high number of candidates, the election was notable for the rabidly negative nature of the campaign. The attacks included the distribution of a photo taken of Jerramiah Healy on his porch in Jersey City, passed out and naked.
Healy stood for re-election in May 2005
, facing only token opposition from Melissa Holloway, a former city councilperson, and Alfred Marc Pine, who had received less than one percent of the votes in the special election. Healy received 18,349 (75%) of the 24,414 votes cast.
Healy sought re-election in 2009
, running as an agent of change and promoting his record of putting extra police on the street and reducing violent crime in Jersey City. His critics challenged his claims during the campaign. Nevertheless, on May 12, 2009, Healy was re-elected with nearly 53% of the vote; former New Jersey General Assembly
man Louis Manzo
was the runner-up with 26%. Six of Healy's nine running mates for city council won outright on election day, two faced runoffs on June 9 and one lost to incumbent Steven Fulop in Ward E.
. Cops allege he was interfering in a police investigation. Healy claimed that he was attempting to intervene in an argument between a couple outside the bar. His claims were rejected by the court and he was found guilty of obstruction of justice on June 22, 2007. Healy appealed the decision while trying to portray himself as having broad public support. On July 2, 2008, Healy's appeal was denied by the state appellate court which upheld Healy's conviction. During his appeal, it was revealed that Healy had attempted to influence the arresting officers. Healy filed suit against the officers in question, alleging that they violated his right to free speech (the case was ultimately denied). Healy appealed the to the State Supreme Court and was again denied.
Healy had a similar charge reduced to violation of a noise ordinance on a guilty plea in August 1999.
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino
and New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
. As part of his efforts at removing guns from Jersey City, the Mayor pushed an ordinance banning the sale of more than one handgun per month per customer. This ordinance was found unconstitutional in state superior court, and an appellate court affirmed that result. However, the New Jersey government
has since enacted legislation creating similar limits statewide.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
. He ran for the unexpired term of the late Glenn D. Cunningham and was elected in November 2004. In the special election, he defeated Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith
L. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New...
. He was subsequently elected to a full term by a record landslide.
Healy entered public service as an assistant prosecutor for the Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Prosecutor's Office in 1977. From 1981 to 1991, he maintained a private law practice in Jersey City. He was appointed Chief Judge in the Jersey City Municipal Court in 1991, and was reappointed in 1995. In 1997, he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Jersey City against Bret Schundler
Bret Schundler
Bret D. Schundler is an American politician from New Jersey. He served in the Cabinet of Governor Chris Christie as New Jersey Commissioner of Education until he was dismissed on August 27, 2010....
, who later ran for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
against Jim McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
. Healy resumed his private law practice until 2004, when he was elected Mayor.
Early life
Jerramiah Healy was the fourth of five children born to Daniel and Catherine Healy, Irish immigrants who met and married in Jersey City. His father died when Healy was five years old. He attended St. Michael's Grammar School in Union CityUnion City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
and Xavier High School
Xavier High School (New York City)
Xavier High School is a independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier by Father John Larkin, S.J...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and is a 1972 graduate of Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. Healy attended Seton Hall University School of Law
Seton Hall University School of Law
The Seton Hall University School of Law is part of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law School is the only private law school in New Jersey, and is the top-ranked of the three law schools in the state...
, and supported himself as a bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
and an ironworker
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
The International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers is a union in the United States and Canada, which represents primarily construction workers, as well as shipbuilding and metal fabrication employees.-Origins:...
.
Electoral history
The sudden death of Mayor Glenn Cunningham in May 2004 triggered a special electionJersey City mayoral special election, 2004
The Jersey City 2004 mayoral special election took place on November 2, 2004. Democrat Jerramiah Healy won the election with 75% of the vote. Then-Mayor Glenn Cunningham, the first African-American Mayor died of a heart attack earlier and L. Harvey Smith became mayor for a short time...
. Among the eleven candidates, Jerramiah Healy won Cunningham's unexpired term with 17,401 votes (27.8%) out of 62,641 cast. Other than the unusually high number of candidates, the election was notable for the rabidly negative nature of the campaign. The attacks included the distribution of a photo taken of Jerramiah Healy on his porch in Jersey City, passed out and naked.
Healy stood for re-election in May 2005
Jersey City mayoral election, 2005
-Results:Jersey City MayorCompleted Precincts: 176 of 184...
, facing only token opposition from Melissa Holloway, a former city councilperson, and Alfred Marc Pine, who had received less than one percent of the votes in the special election. Healy received 18,349 (75%) of the 24,414 votes cast.
Healy sought re-election in 2009
Jersey City mayoral election, 2009
The 2009 Jersey City mayoral election occurred on May 12, 2009. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Jerramiah Healy won re-election. Former Mayor Bret Schundler was going to run for the Republican Party, but dropped out in January 2009 for financial reasons. Healy needed a 51% vote to hold off a second round...
, running as an agent of change and promoting his record of putting extra police on the street and reducing violent crime in Jersey City. His critics challenged his claims during the campaign. Nevertheless, on May 12, 2009, Healy was re-elected with nearly 53% of the vote; former New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
man Louis Manzo
Louis Manzo
Louis Manzo is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2004 to 2008, where he represented the 31st legislative district.-Biography:...
was the runner-up with 26%. Six of Healy's nine running mates for city council won outright on election day, two faced runoffs on June 9 and one lost to incumbent Steven Fulop in Ward E.
Arrest and conviction
Healy claimed to have been "roughed up", maced, and arrested outside his sister's bar in Bradley BeachBradley Beach, New Jersey
Bradley Beach is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,298. The summer population can reach 30,000.-History:...
. Cops allege he was interfering in a police investigation. Healy claimed that he was attempting to intervene in an argument between a couple outside the bar. His claims were rejected by the court and he was found guilty of obstruction of justice on June 22, 2007. Healy appealed the decision while trying to portray himself as having broad public support. On July 2, 2008, Healy's appeal was denied by the state appellate court which upheld Healy's conviction. During his appeal, it was revealed that Healy had attempted to influence the arresting officers. Healy filed suit against the officers in question, alleging that they violated his right to free speech (the case was ultimately denied). Healy appealed the to the State Supreme Court and was again denied.
Healy had a similar charge reduced to violation of a noise ordinance on a guilty plea in August 1999.
Gun legislation advocate
He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns CoalitionMayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
. As part of his efforts at removing guns from Jersey City, the Mayor pushed an ordinance banning the sale of more than one handgun per month per customer. This ordinance was found unconstitutional in state superior court, and an appellate court affirmed that result. However, the New Jersey government
Government of New Jersey
The government of New Jersey was established by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the current state constitution. It comprises three branches: the executive, headed by the Governor of New Jersey; the legislative ; and judicial, headed by the New Jersey Supreme Court.- New Jersey State...
has since enacted legislation creating similar limits statewide.