The Fulop for Mayor campaign today released two TV ads, one telling his life story using the metaphor of swimming across the Hudson River on a February morning and the other featuring children talking about gun violence.   

“Our campaign is about fighting tough battles for Jersey City,” said Fulop.  “And while swimming the Hudson was an experience I’ll never forget, it’s nothing compared to the challenges the people of Jersey City face every day with violent crime, a shrinking police force, millions of tax dollars wasted on insider deals and city officials going to prison.” 

The first ad tells the full-circle story of Fulop’s life – starting with growing up the son of deli owners in Newark, working his way through college and making it to the world of high finance on Wall Street, where he witnessed the attacks of 9/11 and subsequent enlistment in the Marines and service in thr Iraq War. “Hudson” was inspired by Fulop competing in the 2012 Ironman World Championship, which included a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson river, a 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.   

“Steven swam all of the scenes himself.  He didn’t need a stunt double,” said campaign manager John Thieroff.  “He’s the gutsiest, most determined person I’ve ever met.  That’s what Jersey City needs to clean up a city government riddled with mismanagement and corruption.” 

The second ad, “How Many,” features Fulop talking with a group of Jersey City children about the everyday occurrence of gunfire in their neighborhoods, and discusses a shrinking police force in the face of nearly 2,000 violent crimes in 2012 and Fulop’s plans to hire more police, give them modern tools to prevent crime before it happens and create more after-school programs and summer jobs to keep students out of trouble.