Bill O’Dea Eyes Jersey City Mayor Role After 40 Years in Office

Bill O’Dea has worn many hats in Jersey City, from a young city councilman tackling toxic waste to a county commissioner pushing for stronger public safety measures. Now, at 65, the longtime public servant has recently launched a campaign to become Jersey City’s next mayor in 2025.

O’Dea’s path began in Jersey City’s schools. He graduated from St. Peter’s Prep, where he won medals in oratory and business law. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from St. John’s University, graduating magna cum laude and receiving top honors in both fields.

O’Dea first entered local government in 1985 when he was elected to the City Council at just 26, becoming the youngest elected official in city history. His first mission in office was securing funding to clean up a burning toxic landfill in his district. By 1997, he was elected to the Hudson County Board of Commissioners, where he has now served for more than two decades, winning his last three elections unopposed.

Now, O’Dea says the time is right. “I’m running now because I’ve grown frustrated that so many good ideas never become real solutions,” he said. “We spend too much time procrastinating instead of taking action. Jersey City needs a proven problem solver.”

He points to an example from 2013, when a city-run warming center closed just weeks after opening. “I got the county to step in and reopen one within a few weeks. It’s still open 12 years later and has expanded services.”

O’Dea sees the city’s diversity as a strength and a sign of progress. “The diversity we have helps us learn so much from different cultures and helps us work together,” he said. “It combats prejudice and racism. But we need to do more to address gentrification and create more affordable and workforce housing.”

Some voters are looking for new faces and younger leadership, but O’Dea believes the best path for Jersey City is balance. “I was 26 when I was first elected. I brought energy and a sense of enthusiasm that was almost naive. I still have that enthusiasm, but now I have the wisdom that comes with real-life experience,” he said. “A strong city government needs proven leaders, new voices, and fresh ideas working together. My own team includes two candidates under 35.”

When asked what he wants voters to know beyond his resume, O’Dea told HudPost, “I have a high level of emotional intelligence that has grown through years of public service. I’m helping raise my 12-year-old non-biological grandson, Jamison Perez. He’s one of the main reasons I’m running. I want to help build a brighter future for his generation.”

If elected, O’Dea says he plans to be a “24/7 mayor,” including spending part of each week working from the mayor’s office at the MLK HUB. “I’ll walk to work. I’ll talk to people. That’s how I’ll lead, not from behind a desk but out in the community.”