Levin cannot win without backing from Healy. If he accepts backing from Healy who wants him ?

Levin running for Ward E council seat

Despite no slate backing, Levin could still be the candidate to beat

by E. Assata Wright
Reporter staff writer
Sep 16, 2012


Longtime good government advocate and community leader Daniel Levin has announced that he is a candidate for the Ward E City Council position in the upcoming May 2013 municipal election.

Levin, who previously ran for mayor and at-large for City Council, has been a Ward E resident for several years and is well known in the downtown community. Earlier this year, Levin said he was contemplating another run for City Council. At that time, however, Levin and his family were in the process of selling their Third Street home and he was unsure whether their next residence would be in Ward E or the neighboring Ward F.

Levin recently confirmed to the Reporter that his family has moved and continues to reside in Ward E. He will now make a run for the Ward E seat that will open up when Councilman Steven Fulop runs for mayor in May 2013.

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For nearly 15 years Levin has worked with various community groups on a range of issues, including crime, parks/open space, development, planning, and transportation.

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?I bring a passion and belief that I can help make Jersey City a safer, more vibrant city, work to stabilize taxes with sensible spending, and advance common sense, sound solutions for Ward E and for Jersey City,? Levin said.

For nearly 15 years Levin has worked with various community groups on a range of issues, including crime, parks/open space, development, planning, transportation, arts, entertainment, pedestrian safety, flooding, and historic preservation.

As founder and president of Civic JC, Levin was instrumental in the development of Jersey City?s pay-to-play laws. A former president of the Harsimus Cove Association, Levin also spearheaded the design of what is currently known as Grove Street Plaza, a multi-functional space outside the Grove Street PATH Station.

?I am committed on working to expand Jersey City?s pay-to-play reform laws to cover the Board of Education, to implement NJ?s Open Appointments requirements that will provide residents with greater opportunities to serve and have a voice in our city government, and to adopt locally the state?s strict ethics code, which will reduce conflicts of interest,? Levin said.

He added, ?I am committed to aligning resources with results and prioritizing services to optimize efficient government spending through outcome budgeting, for a more strategic, transparent budget process.?

At present, Levin is running independently and is the second announced candidate for the Ward E seat. Public relations professional Candace Osborne is running for the Ward E spot on Fulop?s slate.

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, who is also running for re-election next year, has not announced any running mates thus far.

After Levin made an unsuccessful run for an at-large seat during the 2011 special election, there was speculation that he might team up with Fulop and run for Ward E on Fulop?s slate. Many downtown residents were somewhat surprised when that did not happen and Fulop instead selected Osborne for the ticket.

Over the past few weeks there has been new speculation that Levin might be entertaining the possibility of joining Healy?s ticket. However, some of Ward E?s most politically-active residents believe that such a move could cost Levin votes among his downtown base.

Candidates who run without the backing of a slate typically lack the money and other resources to fend off their politically-connected challengers. However, Fulop has twice succeeded in running independently in Ward E, first in 2005 and again in 2009, so voters in the ward may care little about Levin?s unaffiliated status.


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Good government these days means getting the HCDO out. He candidacy would be better served to JC as an at large candidate and not opposing another person with no ties to the HCDO.

Downtown Jersey City activist Dan Levin announces run for Ward E City Council seat

September 09, 2012, 3:51 PM
By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Longtime Downtown Jersey City activist Dan Levin, who failed in 2009 to become mayor and again last year to become a City Councilman at large, has announced he will run in the 2013 city election to become Ward E?s council rep.

Levin, 50, joins fellow Downtown resident Candice Osborne as the only two announced candidates for the Ward E council seat, which is up for grabs next May along with the mayoralty and all other eight council seats.

Levin said he wants to expand the city?s pay-to-play laws to cover the Board of Education, implement a system that would allow more residents to serve in city government and adopt a strict ethics code.

"I bring a passion and belief that I can help make Jersey City a safer, more vibrant city, work to stabilize taxes with sensible spending and advance common sense sound solutions for Ward E, and for Jersey City,? he said in a press release.

The Ward E seat is currently held by Councilman Steve Fulop, who is running for mayor next year. Osborne is running for the Ward E seat on Fulop's ticket.

Levin ran against current Mayor Jerramiah Healy in the 2009 mayoral race but finished with less than 8 percent of the vote. Last year, he ran with 16 others for two at-large seats on the council, finishing in the middle of the pack with about 2,200 votes.

Levin, who runs a custom picture frame store in Hoboken, is the founder and president of local good-government group Civic JC.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... jersey_city_activist.html

Jersey City's Levin throws hat in 2013 council ring
Jul 25, 2012

JERSEY CITY - While an official announcement is still weeks away, accountant and long time activist Dan Levin has made a commitment to running in the May 2013 City Council race.

"I've made the commitment to do it," Levin said Wednesday. "I don't see anyone out there who're going to advocate and work towards the things I think the city needs."

Levin, who recently sold his Ward E home located downtown, said he would either run for the council's Ward E seat or he may run for an at-large seat.

Which seat he runs for will, he said, be contingent upon where he moves once the sale of his current home is finalized.

Levin previously ran for Jersey City mayor and last year ran for an at-large seat on the council.

Well-known and highly regarded throughout Ward E, Levin could be the candidate to beat if he remains in his current ward.

Only one announced candidate, Candace Osborne, is running for the Ward E seat at this time, although other candidates might join the race. Osborne is running on a slate with 2013 mayoral candidate Steven Fulop, the current Ward E incumbent.

The council at-large race is already shaping up to be a more competitive one.

Two of the council's at-large incumbents, Rolando Lavarro Jr. and Peter Brennan, have already stated their plans to run for reelection. Brennan, an ally of Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, will be running on the mayor's 2013 reelection slate. Lavarro is running on a slate with Healy's challenger, Councilman Steven Fulop. Viola Richardson, the council's third at-large

incumbent, is also expected to run for reelection.

Levin said he will make a formal campaign announcement in August or September, during which he said will also detail his campaign platform.

Although Levin has run independently in the past he said he would not rule out running on a major slate next year.

"I'd be interested in joining a ticket that I shared some goals and values with," Levin stated. - E. Assata Wright

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