Councilwoman To Run For Hoboken Mayor To Replace Bhalla

HOBOKEN, NJ — Now that Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said he won't run for a third term, one candidate has officially announced her campaign to replace him.

The election for mayor of Hoboken — as well as three council-at-large members — will be held Nov. 4.

Councilwoman Emily Jabbour announced Monday morning that she intends to run for Bhalla's spot.

Jabbour is a longtime Bhalla ally who has served two terms on the council. She as a Master's degree from Columbia University and is the founder of the Hudson County Chapter of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots advocacy organization focused on preventing gun violence.

Other council members, including Tiffanie Fisher, Ruben Ramos, and Michael Russo are possible candidates in the race this year, but only Jabbour has officially announced.

'We've Got More Work To Do'

“I love this city and am so proud to call Hoboken home and raise our kids here with my husband, Peter,” Jabbour said in a statement on Monday. “I’m excited to put my energy and experience to work, and today announce my campaign to be Hoboken’s next mayor.”

“As a mom, you better believe I’ve got a long to-do list with new ideas to continue improving our community and make Hoboken a great place to live, work, and raise a family," she noted.

She added, "We’ve got more work to do for better schools, safer neighborhoods, improved constituent services, public transportation that works for all of us, and real transparency and accountability in how decisions get made and taxpayer money gets spent. I’m looking forward to meeting you in living rooms, coffee shops, and parks."

Jabbour said she has worked for more than 18 years for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in the Administration for Children and Families.

"Emily began her federal career through the Presidential Management Fellows program and completed a six-month detail assignment with the United States House of Representatives as a Health Fellow for the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee," a release noted.

She has volunteered as a mentor with the local organization True Mentors, has been a liaison to the HOPES Program for the Brandt Parent Consortium, and volunteers with the Hoboken Food Pantry, part of the Hoboken Community Center.

Jabbour graduated from Boston College in 2003 with a B.A. in Psychology, and from Columbia’s School of Social Work in 2006 with a Master of Science in Social Work with a policy focus and Law Minor.

She's married to lifelong New Jersey resident Peter Jabbour, the head of Legal for the Americas for Maersk. Her two daughters attend the Hoboken public schools.

"Emily can be found riding her bike around Hoboken, drinking coffee at The Hive, volunteering at the Hoboken Food Pantry, working out at Fit Foundry, and grabbing lunch with her family at Black Rail Coffee," noted her release.

Jabbour is a Democrat, but Hoboken mayor and council elections are non-partisan.

RELATED: Bhalla Says He Won't Run For Third Term As Hoboken's Mayor