Nidia Rivera Lopez

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Nidia R. Lopez

An unsuccessful Jersey City council candidate claims that his former opponent is actually a resident of the Sunshine State.  

Jimmy King, who lost an election for Jersey City council for Ward C in May, has filed suit against the ward’s winning candidate,  councilwoman-elect Nidia Rivera Lopez, alleging that she has a residency issue that should keep her from serving.

King said that Lopez, who owns a house in Orlando, Fla.very recently claimed property tax exemptions that required her to cite Florida as her primary residence.  He also said she has a Florida driver’s license.

“In order to accept  that you had to be a resident of Florida and a homesteader in Florida.  She collected over 10 of them,” said King, who hired a private detective to investigate Lopez. 

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-Hoboken) will endorse Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy for re-election a rally today in Journal Square, and will announce his support for Healy's entire slate of City Council candidates.  Nidia Lopez will introduce Menendez, offering some valuable exposure to the Ward C Council candidate.  Lopez faces former Jersey City Park Authority Director Jimmy King, who is running on Louis Manzo's ticket.  The two are seeking the seat of Steven Lipski, who decided to retire after being charged with public urination.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who’s seeking reelection this May, is revealing his council slate tonight at the Casino in the Park.  

All but three of the council’s incumbents will run with Healy.

In Ward E – the only seat held by a non-Healy ally, Steven Fulop – the Mayor is putting up Guy Catrillo, a Republican who works for the city’s planning division and has run for legislative office several times.  Catrillo is president of the Dante Alighieri Society and the Historic Preservation Commission.

In Ward C, where incumbent Steve Lipski decided against seeking reelection after being arrested for allegedly urinating on a concert crowd from a balcony, businesswoman and community activist Nidia Rivera Lopez – the wife of former Councilman Benjamin Lopez -- will run on Healy’s ticket

In Ward B, Phil Kenny, an ally of Freeholder Bill O’Dea who works as the , Office Operations Coordinator for the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, replaces Mary Spinello.