Sheriff Frank Schillari Delivers Strong Endorsement in Jersey City Mayoral Race—A Law-Enforcement Legacy That Speaks Volumes

In a compelling show of leadership, Sheriff Frank Schillari has announced his full endorsement of Bill O’Dea for Mayor of Jersey City, placing his decades-long law-enforcement record behind a candidate who, in Schillari’s view, shares his commitment to public safety, fiscal responsibility, and community service.

Schillari’s letter to Jersey City neighbors emphasizes his credentials as a “career law enforcement officer and the elected Sheriff of Hudson County,” and underscores that during his tenure Bill O’Dea “has … proven himself to be a steadfast ally to law enforcement who supports the brave men and women who put on the uniform every day.” The endorsement goes further, detailing O’Dea’s track record of opposing county tax increases and refusing pay increases for his elected office—qualities that Schillari calls “fiscally responsible.”

A Legacy of Strong Leadership

Sheriff Schillari has served as Hudson County’s Sheriff since 2010, following years as Undersheriff, and has overseen one of the largest law-enforcement agencies in the county—more than 300 personnel, securing safety for a population of over 750,000 residents and handling county-wide responsibilities including parks patrols, SWAT, K-9 units, crash investigations and more. 

Under his leadership:

24/7 patrols in county parks and roads were instituted, strengthening round-the-clock community protection.  A dedicated Traffic & Crash Investigation Unit was created to supplement municipal police efforts and support traffic safety initiatives such as Vision Zero.  Modernization efforts included the rollout of body-worn cameras, updated radio systems, and new technologies for fingerprinting and video enhancement—raising transparency and effectiveness.  Significant grant funding was procured so that upgrades did not place additional burdens on taxpayers—an example of smart leadership in public safety and fiscal discipline. 

The Sheriff has had long and continued endorsements of his leadership reflect the trust he has earned throughout the years. At one point, all twelve Hudson County municipal mayors backed his candidacy for Sheriff. His “track record of public service as a veteran and police officer … makes Hudson County safer for people who live, work, study or travel here.” 

Why This Endorsement Matters

Sheriff Schillari’s endorsement of Bill O’Dea combines two powerful signals to voters:

Public-safety credibility: As someone who has understood policing, criminal justice and community interactions from the ground up, Schillari’s backing gives a stamp of approval to O’Dea’s public-safety agenda—including commitments to instituting more foot patrols, restoring the motorcycle unit, and releasing all crime-data transparently. Fiscal and operational accountability: Schillari emphasizes that O’Dea’s record of voting against tax increases and refusing pay hikes aligns with Schillari’s own approach of securing outside grant funding, modernizing without raising the burden on taxpayers, and managing a large law-enforcement organization responsibly.

In endorsing O’Dea, Schillari is not just endorsing a candidate—he is endorsing a vision in which law-enforcement leaders, public-safety practitioners and elected officials collaborate to make communities safer, smarter and more accountable.

O’Dea joins the list of endorsed candidates by the Hudson County Sheriff.

A Message to Jersey City Residents

“Bill is a lifelong Jersey City resident who truly cares about this community,” Schillari writes, underscoring the hometown roots of the candidate. He implores voters: “Please make sure to vote for Bill O’Dea for Mayor on or before Tuesday, November 4. Polls will be open from 6 am to 8 pm on Election Day, and Early Voting is available at sites throughout the city until Sunday, November 2.”

This is a message grounded in Schillari’s decades in uniform, his appreciation of the men and women who patrol the streets, and his understanding of the stakes when public-safety is tied to every resident’s daily life.

In Summary

Sheriff Frank Schillari’s endorsement of Bill O’Dea is more than political—it’s practical. Rooted in a long law-enforcement career marked by innovation, accountability and community trust, Schillari brings his record to bear in support of a candidate who pledges to deliver on those same principles for Jersey City. For voters who prioritize public safety, fiscal integrity and a community-first mindset, this endorsement signals a clear alignment and serious intention.