Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey

The City of Jersey City is organized as a mayor–council form of government under the Faulkner Act (Optional Municipal Charter Law). This provides for a citywide elected mayor serving in an executive role, as well as a city council serving in a legislative role. All of these offices are selected in a nonpartisan municipal election and all terms are four years. Like all mayors under the ^[2] Under state law, the mayor has the duty to enforce the charter and ordinances of the city, and all applicable state laws; report annually to the council and the public on the state of the city; supervise and control all departments of the government; prepare and submit to the council annual operating and capital budgets; supervise all city property, institutions and agencies; sign all contracts and bonds requiring the approval of the city; negotiate all contracts; and serve as a member, either voting or ex-officio, of all appointive bodies.^[3]

Like all mayors under the Faulkner Act's mayor-council provision, Jersey City's mayors vested with very broad executive power. He has the power to appoint department heads with the approval of the City Council; to remove department heads subject to a two-thirds disapproval by the City Council; approve or veto ordinances subject to an override vote of two-thirds of the council; and appoint deputy mayors. The mayor is permitted to attend and participate in meetings of the City Council, without a vote, except in the case of a tie on the question to fill a council vacancy.^[3]

Under the original 1838 charter, mayors were elected citywide for a term of one year. In 1868 the State Legislature extended the term of office to two years.^[4] In 1892, the Legislature again changed the term of office, extending it to five years.^[5] The city adopted a commission form of government under the Walsh Act in 1913.^[6] This form provided for a five-member commission with both executive and legislative powers elected for four years. The Commissioners elected one of their number as mayor. Under this system, the mayor's only specific power was to appoint the school board. Otherwise, he was first among equals, with no powers over and above his fellow commissioners. Jersey City adopted its current mayor-council form of government under the Faulkner Act on May 7, 1961.^[7]

Under the non-partisan form of municipal government, elections for mayor are held every four years on the second Tuesday in May.^[8] If no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff election is held on the fourth Tuesday following the general election.^[9] The term of office commences on July 1.^[10] The next Jersey City mayoral election is scheduled to be held in 2017.^[11]

In the event of an absence, disability, or other cause preventing the mayor from performing his duties, the mayor may designate the business administrator or any other department head as acting mayor for up to 60 days.^[3] In the event of a vacancy in the office, the President of the City Council becomes acting mayor, and the council has 30 days to name an interim mayor.^[12] If no interim mayor is named, the Council President continues as acting mayor until a successor is elected, or the council reorganizes and selects a new President.^[12] Prior to 1971, there was no automatic succession law.^[13] The office was left vacant for 47 days in 1963 when the City Council failed to reach a decision on appointing an interim mayor.^[14]

The following is a list of higher public offices held by mayors, before or after their mayoral term(s).

• Timeline of Jersey City, New Jersey

• "Jersey City Mayors". Jersey City: Past and Present. New Jersey City University. 2007. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
• "Jersey City Mayors from the Past". jerseycityonline.com. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
• "Mayors of Jersey City, New Jersey". Political Graveyard.