The Jersey City elections in 2025 are bringing in new candidates who want to improve the city.
Saundra Robinson Green, a teacher and community leader, is running for Council-at-Large with Team O’Dea.
She is joined by Meredith Burns, who focuses on arts and housing, and Ryan Baylock, who wants to improve public safety and city services.
Each candidate has different ideas to help Jersey City grow.
With leadership changes coming, the race is gaining momentum, and voters will soon decide who will guide efforts in education, public safety, housing, and community programs.
- Saundra Robinson Green runs for Council-at-Large, focusing on education, youth programs, and community support in Jersey City.
- Meredith Burns joins the race, bringing her experience in the arts and nonprofit work to push for affordable housing and small business growth.
- Ryan Baylock enters the election aiming to improve public safety, city services, and community events in downtown Jersey City.
Saundra Robinson Green Focuses on Youth and Community Programs
One of the most committed advocates for education and community programs, Saundra Robinson Green, is bringing her lifelong passion for service to the political stage.
Robinson Green, an educator and activist, is running for Council-at-Large with Team O’Dea, led by mayoral candidate William “Bill” O’Dea.
Her campaign is centered on expanding youth opportunities, strengthening community programs, and providing access to essential resources.
Her announcement was held in a building named after her mother, Earnestine B. Robinson, a key figure in the 1973 New Jersey Supreme Court case Robinson v. Cahill, which forced New Jersey to properly fund public schools.
Robinson Green has worked as a manager at the Jersey City Housing Authority and President of Special Education at the Parent Advisory Council.
She currently teaches technology at Lincoln High School.
In 2017, she founded The Connected V.I.N.E. (Victors in Need of Each Other), a group that supports at-risk youth, assists parents, and provides leadership training.
She offers meals, guidance, and mentorship at multiple Jersey City locations through her S.O.A.R. (Serve, Overcome, Advocate, and Rise) program.
Her campaign focuses on rehabilitation and creating opportunities for underserved youth.
Her platform aligns with Team O’Dea’s goals of community-focused solutions and investment in public services.
O’Dea has expressed confidence in her ability to bring real change to Jersey City.
Meredith Burns Prioritizes Arts, Housing, and Business Growth
With years of experience working in Jersey City’s arts and nonprofit sectors, Meredith Burns is now turning her attention to broader city issues.
Burns, Executive Artistic Director of Art House Productions, is running for an At-Large seat on Jim McGreevey’s mayoral slate.
A fourth-generation Jersey City resident, she has led nonprofit and arts organizations for 15 years, working to expand arts programs and economic initiatives.
Under her leadership, Art House Productions increased revenue by 150% since 2017, secured a Performing and Visual Arts Center on a 20-year lease for $10 per year, and helped pass Jersey City Municipal Question #1, creating New Jersey’s first Municipal Arts Trust Fund.
Her work in the arts has earned her the NJCU Leadership Award in the Arts (2019) and the Jersey City Arts Council Leadership Award (2020).
Beyond arts programs, Burns’ campaign focuses on affordable housing, small business support, safer streets, and infrastructure investment.
She believes Jersey City must focus on longtime residents and small businesses rather than developers and temporary residents.
Burns’ family has strong ties to Jersey City.
Her mother was a nurse at Christ Hospital, her father was a Deputy Chief in the Fire Department, and her brother was a Captain in the Fire Department.
Before her nonprofit career, Burns worked as an actor, performing Off-Broadway and co-founding a Brooklyn theater company.
She later ran an after-school program for 200 students daily.
Now, she lives in Jersey City with her husband, Mike, their son, Conrad, and their Yorkshire Terrier, Maddie.
Her platform supports McGreevey’s goals for affordable housing, business growth, and responsible government spending.
Ryan Baylock Pushes for Public Safety and Infrastructure Changes
Public safety and infrastructure are major concerns for residents, and Ryan Baylock is running with a plan to improve both.
Baylock, an educator with 20 years of experience in Newark’s school system, is running for Ward E Council on McGreevey’s slate.
He is prioritizing public safety, sanitation, transportation, and small business growth.
Baylock is the Athletic Director at Newark Lab High School and Board President of the Palisade Condo Association, where he managed a major building restoration, modernized infrastructure, and stabilized HOA fees.
His campaign includes plans to expand community events downtown, improve pedestrian safety, collaborate with schools to strengthen education, and reduce homelessness.
Baylock, who is Puerto Rican, launched a literacy program in Puerto Rico and helped Newark students achieve record-high ACT results.
McGreevey has praised Baylock’s leadership, emphasizing his experience in management and problem-solving.
DeJon Morris Stays on the Board of Education
While many candidates are entering new races, DeJon Morris has chosen to continue serving on the school board, believing his role there is still valuable.
Morris, a Jersey City Board of Education trustee, has decided not to run for state Assembly despite being encouraged to do so.
Instead, he will remain on the school board, believing he can make a greater difference there.
Morris recently resigned from the Jersey City Police Department after 20 years but has not disclosed his next career step.
He confirmed he will stay focused on education policy and local schools.
With the mayoral race becoming more competitive, he said getting voter support would be difficult now.
He will concentrate on his current role while considering future opportunities.
Jersey City’s Election Season Gains Momentum
As the election nears, voters will have to decide among candidates who bring different ideas and priorities.
Robinson Green focuses on youth programs and community services, Burns advocates arts and housing, and Baylock prioritizes public safety and infrastructure.
With McGreevey and O’Dea leading different slates, the mayoral race is expected to be highly contested.
As campaigns progress, residents will watch how candidates present their solutions to city issues.
The next months will be critical as candidates reach out to the community, explain their policies, and gain support.
