I'm Running For Re-Election, Announces Hoboken Mayor

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla officially announced in a letter to supporters on Wednesday afternoon that he's running for re-election this November.

While it was no secret that the mayor intended to seek for a second term, he had not made a public announcement.

This coming November, the mayor's spot and three out of the nine City Council seats are in contention. Bhalla will likely run with a slate of three council-at-large candidates.

Hoboken elections are non-partisan. The mayor and council candidates in the November 2021 race do not have to file to run until late August.

Among Bhalla's possible opponents in the election is 1st Ward Councilman Michael DeFusco, who came within 500 votes of Bhalla four years ago and said last month that he had been exploring a run.

Bhalla earned victory in a crowded field in 2017. READ MORE: Hoboken Elects 1st Sikh Mayor

Last month, Bhalla received an endorsement from the local police superiors' union.

Below is the letter Bhalla sent to supporters late Wednesday. Patch will have more campaign coverage as the field develops. Sign up below for Patch's daily Hoboken newsletter.

Bhalla's Letter To Supporters:

<blockquote><p>

Nearly four years ago, Hoboken residents gave me the privilege of a lifetime, electing me as Mayor of our great city. Since then we’ve come together, friends and neighbors moving our city forward in the midst of a global pandemic, creating durable quality of life improvements, while also keeping Hoboken on a sound long-term fiscal path.

Hoboken is strong, our residents are resilient, and because of you and so many others, our outlook is bright.

That’s why today, I’m glad to share the news that I’m running for re-election as Hoboken Mayor. I’d be honored if you could help me keep Hoboken moving forward by joining me at our official campaign launch on Thursday, June 24 at 6 pm, outdoors at the Pilsener Haus & Biergarten. You can RSVP by clicking here.

Together, we’ve accomplished a great deal over the past four years. With an eye to the future, we looked at ways to create sustainable, environmentally sound infrastructure improvements that reflect the values we share as a community. We began construction on our historic Northwest Resiliency Park, kicked off our Rebuild by Design flood protection project, renovated our neighborhood parks, and proactively replaced aging water mains for the first time in decades. We’re creating safer streets through our Vision Zero pedestrian safety campaign and a more resilient city through our Climate Action Plan.

And together, we made the tough choices that prioritized the health and safety of our community during a global health crisis, putting our citizens first while also working to protect the local businesses that are the heart of our community. Hoboken was consistently at the forefront of the pandemic every step of the way, and I have no doubt we’ll continue to serve as a regional and national leader in a post-pandemic world. I know the best is still to come for our Mile Square.

But this isn’t a challenge I can take on alone. To keep Hoboken moving forward, I need your support and help as we gear up for a re-election campaign over the next several months that will take an all-out team effort.

Will you join me on June 24 and make a donation to our re-election efforts? $25, $100, $500 or any amount would be appreciated, and it would be great to see you and all of our friends and supporters, and celebrate our progress together. You can RSVP at this link, or by visiting ravinderbhalla.com/kickoff.

Even if you can’t make it, you can still help us move Hoboken forward by donating here, as this campaign will be funded through grassroots supporters like you.

I can’t wait to continue serving Hoboken, because it’s the community I love, the community I fight for every day, and the community that I’m deeply proud to call home. And I’d be honored to have your support as we continue this journey, together, for Hoboken.

Thank you, and I hope to see you on June 24 at 6 pm!

Best,

Ravi S. Bhalla

P.S. Please feel free to share the kickoff invitation with any friends or family, with this link: ravinderbhalla.com/kickoff.
</blockquote>

Want to be the first to get Hoboken breaking news alerts when they are announced, or would you like a free daily 6 a.m. newsletter each day with Hoboken news? Sign up with your preferences here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.