The Jersey City Independent"

We told you yesterday that thousands of people descended on Central Avenue in the Heights on Saturday for the third annual Everything Jersey City Festival. And it goes without saying: wherever there are thousands of local people, there will likely be some politicians. Saturday was no exception, with a bevy of pols making the rounds.

Here’s the quick — and likely abridged, since we only had three sets of eyes on site — who’s who. Mayor Jerramiah Healy was there, hanging out on his own when we saw him. Not alone was Council President and 2013 mayoral hopeful Peter Brennan — he was walking around with council members Bill Gaughan and Nidia Lopez, freeholders Bill O’Dea and Anthony Romano, and state Assemblyman Ruben Ramos. Ward E councilman and mayoral hopeful Steven Fulop was also at the festival; we spotted him a few times alone, and later listening intently during a walk with former Ward D council candidate James Carroll. U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, who represents the Heights in the House of Representatives, was also on hand; he gave a rousing speech to festival-goers about being from a family of immigrants.

The congressman — along with Brennan, Gaughan, Lopez, Ramos and Romano — later came by the festival sponsors’ meet-and-greet tent to sign the petition to save Urban Enterprise Zone funding, one of many things on Gov. Christie’s chopping block, and pose for pictures with volunteers. We only had a cellphone on hand, but David Diaz of the Central Avenue Special Improvement District quickly lent us his camera, and we were able to get a few good shots off. (It’s worth mentioning that when Healy passed by the UEZ petition earlier in the day, he also perked up and signed on.)