For months it has been no secret that Jersey City City Councilman David Donnelly wanted to bow out of May's city election, but Donnelly has refused to make public his decision.

Until today.

At a special council meeting this afternoon, Donnelly, 42, the nine-member body's Ward B rep, said he would no longer sit on the council after June 30. The new council takes over July 1.

Asked to comment after the meeting, Donnelly conceded that he isn't running for re-election in May, though he declined to give a reason.

"I want to explain that in writing," he said.

Donnelly, formerly an aide to Mayor Jerramiah Healy and son of former Ward B councilwoman Mary Donnelly, joined the council in 2009 after former Ward B councilman Phil Kenny stepped down. In November 2010, voters tapped Donnelly in a special election to remain in the seat until this May's election.



In May, Donnelly stunned political observers by announcing he would run for reelection with mayoral candidate Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, Healy's political nemesis.Full Story