Mayor Ravi Bhalla re-elected for second term

On November 2, Mayor Ravi Bhalla declared victory in the Hoboken mayoral race. Bhalla, now preparing for his second term as mayor, ran unopposed. According to NJ.com, this was the first time a candidate ran unopposed in Hoboken in over 68 years. However, this is not the first time Bhalla achieved something historic. After he won the 2017 election, he made history by becoming the first Sikh mayor in the state. 

His work in the community started before he was elected mayor. Bhalla served as a councilman where he reduced municipal taxes, secured funding for a second flood pump, and assisted in saving the Hoboken hospital. 

Bhalla is also connected with the Stevens community — during his campaign four years ago, he came to campus to speak with students in addition to speaking with President Farvardin to oppose the naming of Gianforte Hall.

In addition to mayor elections, 10 candidates ran for Hoboken City Council. Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, Councilman Jim Doyle, and Joe Quintero came out victorious. All of these candidates were endorsed by the mayor and were a part of his campaign. 

Elected in 2017, Emily Jabbour has focused on pedestrian safety, affordable housing, and the improvement of the overall quality of life for residents. Jim Doyle was first elected councilman in 2009. He is an employee of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and one of his top priorities has been implementing Green Infrastructure in Hoboken. Many of the projects he seeks to implement aim to better protect the city from flooding. A New Jersey native and Hoboken resident of 15 years, Joe Quintero’s priorities include making Hoboken more affordable, improving local parking, and creating better plans for Hoboken’s development.

Having this support in the City Council will make it easier for Bhalla to accomplish the goals on his agenda and fulfill his duties as mayor, which include appointing municipal officials and approving or vetoing ordinances established by the council.

On November 2, Team Bhalla’s Spokesman Rob Horowitz put out the following media release:

“This was an overwhelming victory tonight for Mayor Bhalla and the Team Bhalla at-large Council slate of Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, Councilman Jim Doyle and Joe Quintero. Hoboken voters sent a message that they strongly approved of the performance, policies and new proposals of Mayor Bhalla and his Council Team. Team Bhalla thanks Hoboken voters for the strong mandate they provided—one that will create momentum for leading Hoboken forward. Team Bhalla congratulates all the Council opponents for their hard work and the good campaigns they ran.”