JERSEY CITY – People run for mayor for various reasons. And when James Solomon announced his intentions to do just that in a steamy and crowded downtown theater Thursday evening, he made an obvious reference to the motives of James McGreevey, arguably his main opponent.

He asked his supporters, and also the voters beyond, to consider:

“…Who is running for you, not running to use your future to rewrite their personal history.”

Someone behind me said, “Good line.” And it was.

The presence of McGreevey, the former governor now trying to become this city’s mayor, is what makes this race interesting – even if it’s more than a year before the November, 2025 election.

So it was no surprise that Solomon, a city council member, made the quip that he did. McGreevey’s “personal history” is well known. Elected governor in 2001, he resigned amid scandal three years later.

Since then, he has done admirable work helping prisoners re-enter society. But proving once again that it’s impossible for many to leave politics, McGreevey announced his mayoral plans last November.

Solomon is a recent entry. He joins the former governor,  Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea, Council President Joyce Watterman and former Jersey City School Board President Mussab Ali as mayoral contenders.

In his kickoff speech, Solomon stressed his progressive values, railing against uncontrolled development and cushy deals between developers and politicians.

“I am not for sale and neither is our city,” he said.

But he also talked about a city where basic services are not being provided. To that end, he spoke of 911 calls not answered promptly and unsafe water in public schools.

“These challengers are not a natural state of being – they are the direct result of a political system that puts the powerful before people,” he said.

One of those speaking on Solomon’s behalf was Katie Brennan, a one time state official who gained attention after she accused the Murphy Administration of not taking an alleged sexual assault against her – by another state official – seriously.

On this night, Brennan talked about Solomon. Not only does he have progressive values, she said, but. “He can get things done.”

It is common – and actually quite easy – to make jokes about Jersey City and Hudson County politicians.

Solomon was in tune with that, saying that one of his accomplishments as a city official has been not getting indicted.

But more seriously, he added:

“The bar is too low and we are here tonight to raise it.”