City business administrator Joseph DeMarco will step down from his position effective December 18 in order to manage Mayor Jimmy Davis’ re-election campaign full-time, according to a release issued this morning by Phil Swibinski. DeMarco managed Davis’ successful 2014 campaign and has directed several other winning races, earning a reputation as one of Hudson County’s most strategic and effective political operatives.

“Joe DeMarco has been an instrumental part of my administration since the beginning and his hard work and dedication to moving Bayonne forward has been essential to the renaissance we’re now seeing in our city,” said Davis. “With this decision Joe will be able to devote his full time and attention to running the campaign, avoiding any potential conflicts and keeping politics and government separate, as they should be. There is no one else I would rather have running this operation and I look forward to working with Joe and our entire team over the next six months to make sure we keep Bayonne on the path toward a bright future.” A native of Jersey City, DeMarco won his political spurs when he beat the machine with Felix Roque in West New York in 2011.