Bayonne developer Lance Lucarelli says he’ll win the non-partisan May 12th mayoral race if his court challenge to make the ballot is successful, which would make the contest a four-way dance.
Bayonne developer and potential mayoral candidate Lance Lucarelli. Photo courtesy of Lucarelli.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We’re gonna win the game, the game in this case the election, and I guarantee it, if they let me on the ballot,” Lucarelli said today, referring to NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath’s legendary quote when the New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
He added that he has told his lawyers he wants to pursue legal action against the city to make the ballot and did not want to comment further due to the likely litigation on the way.
Bayonne City Clerk Madelene Medina told HCV that Lucarelli didn’t submit enough petitions of nomination with valid signatures to make the ballot, while the potential candidate, who built the Americano restaurant and Bay One building, says he has not heard from the city.
100 valid petitions were needed to make the spring ballot for the Peninsula City mayoral race and they were due on Thursday. At the time, Medina was clear that Lucarelli had to cure petitions to have the necessary signatures.
The race is for an open seat since interim Mayor Robert Kubert, also the city’s public safety director, is not seeking a full term. He succeeds Jimmy Davis, who is now the Hudson County sheriff.
The mayoral candidates that have already been certified are Business Administration and Board of Education President Mary Jane Desmond, who submitted at the deadline, Councilman at-Large Loyad Booker, and former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski.
Booker and Ashe-Nadrowski are fielding full five-person City Council slates, while Desmond has running mates in the 1st and 2nd Wards, as well as one at-large.