Mayor Jimmy Davis' council slate complete with this announcement

BAYONNE -- First Ward Councilman Tommy Cotter announced he will run for re-election in May, filling out the remainder of Mayor Jimmy Davis' ticket.

Cotter's bid rounds out Davis' slate and solidifies a second go-around for the council as a whole. The mayor and his slate entered office off of a clean sweep in the 2014 municipal election.

"Four years ago the Davis team was elected to turn this city around, and that's exactly what has happened," Cotter said in a statement. "I'm so excited to hit the streets and work towards victory in May, because our city is finally on the right track and we can't let anyone stop our progress."

Cotter says he has seen a variety of improvements to his ward in the southernmost portion of the city, including improvements to the Dennis P. Collins Park. He also spearheaded the return of the Bayonne Fall Festival.

"Tom Cotter understands how important it is to fight for our city's future, which is why he's always been an advocate for improving our parks and our programs for kids and families," Davis said. "I'm excited to run again with Councilman Cotter and to have our full team now in place."

Cotter will face off against Sharma Montgomery, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former candidate for the city Board of Education. 

The full council team will face off against mayoral hopeful Jason O'Donnell and his ticket, comprising Montgomery, Kevin Kuhl, Dan Ward and Melissa Enriquez-Rada, during the city's nonpartisan election on May 8.

Still yet to be announced is O'Donnell's Third Ward council candidate. Gary La Pelusa, Sr., the incumbent Third Ward Councilman, announced his bid for re-election but remains unopposed.

Each candidate will now have to submit a nominating petition to the city clerk's office by the March 5 deadline.

Mayoral and at-large candidates must obtain 360 valid signatures, first ward council candidates need 124 signatures, second ward nominees will require 113 signatures and third ward candidates must submit 123 signatures, according to city clerk Robert Sloan.