Daughter of Former Jersey City Mayor Runs for Council Seat

Catherine Healy, daughter of former Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy, is stepping into the political spotlight. This time, she’s doing it on her own terms.

A lifelong resident of the Heights, Healy is running for Ward D Council with a platform centered on responsive government, neighborhood services, and support for working families. Though her last name is familiar in Jersey City politics, Healy says her decision to run was personal and unexpected.

“I never thought I’d run for political office,” she told HudPost. “But after talking with my family, I saw this as a chance to serve the community I’ve lived in my entire life.”

Her entry into the race came after a conversation with former Governor Jim McGreevey, who asked her to join his slate of candidates. At the time, Healy thought they were meeting to discuss reentry services. Instead, he encouraged her to run.

Healy currently serves as Deputy Director and Chief Counsel at the Hudson County Department of Family Services and Reintegration. She oversees legal teams, manages labor negotiations, and directs programs focused on child support and reintegration. Her background also includes time as an Assistant Prosecutor and running her own law office, where she offered pro bono defense work.

She says she wants to improve everyday issues in the Heights, from potholes and garbage pickup to safety and youth services.

“There were so many times I’d call my siblings to complain about things happening in the neighborhood. Now I want to be the one to fix them.”

Though her father led the city from 2004 to 2013, Healy says this campaign reflects her own career path. She’s been recognized as a 2019 Jersey City Woman of Action and the 2025 Irishwoman of the Year. A mother of three, she is active in her parish and has long supported local youth sports and education.

“This city has given me everything,” she said. “I’m ready to give back.”