Elvin Dominici Encarnación hopes to earn more votes than he did the first time he was on the ballot for Jersey City Council.The community activist and finance professional previously failed to land an at-large seat after campaigning in 2021. But he is back at it again, running to represent Ward D on the slate of mayoral candidate Bill O’Dea, who’s currently a county commissioner.“While I didn’t win that race, it only deepened my understanding of the city’s political landscape and strengthened my resolve to fight for my community,” he said in response to emailed questions.Encarnación’s focuses are on public safety, affordable housing, and improving public services and resources. On O’Dea, he said he’s “someone I deeply respect and admire for his tireless advocacy for affordable housing and for keeping our public spaces accessible to all residents.” The non-partisan election isn’t until next year, but several candidates have already begun campaigning in the various races.EncarnaciónYousef Saleh has occupied the Ward D seat since being appointed as the replacement for the late Michael Yun in 2020. He won a special election later that year to finish out Yun’s term before being elected in 2021 to his first full term as part of a successful campaign on Mayor Steve Fulop’s ticket. He said over text message that he is “most likely” running for reelection to his second 4-year term.After redistricting, the area now consists of the city’s entire northern tip, including the Heights where Saleh and Encarnación reside. It’s bordered by Hoboken, the Hackensack and Hudson rivers, Holland Tunnel and has a jagged southern border that touches or is near 12th Street, 13th Street, 16th Street, Montague Place, Jefferson Avenue, Franklin Street, Manhattan Avenue, Beach Street, Duffield Avenue, James Avenue, and Tonnelle Avenue.  Heading into the race, Encarnación, 45, labels himself as “not a career politician” and that’s “exactly” why he’s the best person for the job.“My life and my work have always been about community activism, not politics. I’ve been on the ground, helping people face-to-face with real issues,” he said in those emailed responses.“Whether it’s organizing tax preparation seminars for working families, helping immigrants with their citizenship applications, or pushing for reforms to improve public safety, my efforts have always been focused on taking action that directly benefits the people of Jersey City Heights.”Encarnación also hit on his understanding of the struggle and hard work it takes to achieve a better life as someone who’s “lived it.”“From my first job at a car wash while learning English at Hudson County Community College, to earning my MBA and master’s in accounting from Saint Peter’s University, to advocating for immigration reform—my life has been about perseverance, education, and dedication to this community,” he said.Encarnación has been an advocate for the Latino small business community, co-founding the Hispanic American Commerce Association, after first stepping foot in Jersey City as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic a quarter century ago. He’s also taught basic math at Hudson County Community College.The community activist feels he’d be different from his predecessors because of his “true open-door policy.” Residents could approach him at any time to discuss their concerns. That’d be part of his broader effort to be proactive in addressing issues as they arise — not after the fact.His decision to run ultimately stemmed from his time in the Heights when he noticed families and children at risk because of the traffic.“When I lobbied to get a traffic light installed at the intersection of Poplar Street and Summit Avenue, it wasn’t as a politician, but as a concerned parent and community member,” said Encarnación. “The successful installation of that light after gathering over 600 signatures showed me the power of grassroots activism and reinforced my belief that we can create meaningful change by being persistent and working together.”Safe streets also mean his attention will be on crime prevention.Additionally, Encarnación said “creating and protecting” affordable housing is important to him. He says he’s advocated for “solutions” alongside individuals like Tom Zuppa, president of the Journal Square Community Association.The candidate also wants to expand resources for small businesses, particularly Latino-owned businesses, which are “vital to the character of the Heights.”The post Meet the Candidates: Dominici Encarnación to Make Second Bid for Council Seat appeared first on Jersey City Times.