Jun Choi - Mayor of Edison

Mayor of Edison

Elected on a good government, reform-minded platform, Mayor Choi's administration brought fiscal stability to a bloated $140 million government. He stabilizes property tax increases from annual double digit increases to the rate of inflation. He reduced the size of government by 15% while improving services without permanently laying off any municipal employees. He completed several large scale economic development projects, including planning, negotiating and breaking ground on the largest redevelopment project in Edison's history—the 1.2 million sq/ft Edison Towne Square (former Ford Plant). He professionalized the Edison Police Department which earned accreditation in 2009 and completed the newly built Edison Public Safety Center. He restructured all the major departments so they operate more effectively and efficiently. Choi advanced several education projects including a township wide school construction plan and many energy efficiency programs. Mayor Choi also implemented new technologies that improved government efficiency such as Compstat (intelligence/data-driven policing), Citizen Service Request (on-line government service request and tracking system) and putting the entire municipal code (local laws) on the web for easy access.

Running on a platform to make government work better and reforming the Democratic Party, Choi won the June 2005 primary by a 56-44% margin, defeating longtime incumbent Mayor George A. Spadoro. While most of the county and state Democratic organizations endorsed Spadoro, Choi was endorsed by former Senator Bill Bradley, for whom he worked on the 2000 presidential campaign, and was unexpectedly endorsed by the UFCW and a number of traditionally candidate-neutral unions in Edison.

The 2005 Edison Mayoral campaign brought together four key factors that helped Choi win both the primary and general elections. An American Prospect article details these findings. They include 1) attracting new Asian voters into the process, 2) a 3) anti-Walmart or economic justice theme and 4) an effective Internet-based progressive mobilization. These dynamics, the article argues, can be a model for progressive candidates in developing a winning campaign.

During the primary campaign, Choi's campaign was attacked by the "Jersey Guys" who made anti-Asian, discriminatory comments on air. Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, two shock jocks, later apologized to Choi on their program. The controversy involved local radio shock jocks who made highly racist anti-Asian remarks on the air. The Jersey Guys made racist remarks regarding Choi and Asian Americans on their show over a few hours, in 2005 when Choi first ran for mayor. The Jersey Guys had said on their show that Asian Americans are not “real Americans." The controversy drew national attention and seven major advertisers withdrew their support of Millennium Radio.

For 2007 primary, Choi ran a slate of four council candidates under the "Edison Democratic Party" (Column A) ticket against the incumbent Democratic council (Column B), who were endorsed by state senator Barbara Buono as well as the county organization. Choi's opponent from his 2005 mayoral race, Bill Stephens, also led a slate of candidates under the "Edison Democrats for Change" ticket (Column C).

All four of Choi's council candidates won the primary. All four Democratic candidates subsequently won the general election. In addition, an attempt to create a ward system in Edison and expanding the council to nine members from seven was defeated in two municipal questions. Choi and the Democratic slate campaigned against the ward system. Despite a strong grip of the city council, Choi worked hard during his 4 years as Mayor to try to take control of and reform the local Democratic Party but was unable to gain the majority.

Despite the progress made, in June 2009, Choi lost his re-election narrowly in the Democratic primary during the height of the economic recession.