James A. Fife
Democratic · NJ · Mayor of Harrison, New Jersey
Fife is a retired high school principal and former community college trustee. He has served on local education, housing and redevelopment boards.
Where James A. Fife stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (8 records), Government Efficiency (1 record), Housing Affordability (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (13 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 8 support
Voted for Ordinance 1516, which established stormwater runoff, water-quality and groundwater-recharge standards for major development.
October 1, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1517, which required approval for removal of regulated trees and established tree-replacement requirements.
October 1, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Bond Ordinance 1515, which approved $20 million in borrowing to replace lead service lines in the water and sewer system.
September 17, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Supported EPA’s Passaic River cleanup and the use of Harrison’s PSE&G property for sediment processing at a community meeting.
August 26, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: theobserver.com
Voted for Ordinance 1484, which appropriated $1.2 million for water-main, hydrant and lead-service-line replacement.
June 13, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1467, which adopted flood-hazard maps, designated a floodplain administrator and replaced Harrison’s floodplain rules.
August 16, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to accept a state Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund grant for investigation and cleanup of the former Hartz Mountain property.
February 9, 2015Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1303, which banned smoking in municipal buildings, public parks and recreation areas.
February 3, 2015Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Voted to authorize a shared-services agreement consolidating Harrison’s 911 communications and public-safety dispatch with Bergen County.
August 7, 2023Supports Government Efficiency
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 13 oppose
Voted for Ordinance 1548, which allocated $1.75 million for heating and cooling improvements and an emergency medical services building.
December 16, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to adopt the Harrison Redevelopment Agency’s budget for fiscal year 2026.
November 24, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to adopt Harrison’s 2025 municipal budget.
April 15, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Bond Ordinance 1515, which approved $20 million in borrowing to replace lead service lines in the water and sewer system.
September 17, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1507, which raised scheduled pay for police captains, lieutenants and sergeants in PBA Local 22A.
April 23, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1489, which raised the mayor’s annual salary from $2,500 to $12,000 and councilmembers’ salaries from $1,500 to $6,000.
August 1, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1484, which appropriated $1.2 million for water-main, hydrant and lead-service-line replacement.
June 13, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to raise pay for Hudson County Community College’s full-time nonunion confidential employees by 2% or to $30,000 a year, whichever was greater.
December 3, 2013Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: hccc.edu
Voted for a college professional-staff agreement that raised the minimum salary from $36,000 to $40,000 and allocated $80,000 for other covered employees’ raises.
September 18, 2013Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: hccc.edu
Voted for Hudson County Community College’s $49.67 million operating budget for fiscal year 2014.
April 9, 2013Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to approve up to $4.25 million in state and county capital funding for Hudson County Community College’s Journal Square campus projects.
April 9, 2013Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: hccc.edu
Voted for a college academic-administrators agreement providing a 2% salary increase and $550 pay adjustments for covered employees.
November 20, 2012Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to transfer $2.3 million from unrestricted funds to Hudson County Community College’s plant fund for facilities, equipment and property costs.
April 10, 2012Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: hccc.edu
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted for Ordinance 1556, which updated affordability controls and development fees for very low-, low- and moderate-income housing.
March 3, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 3 support
Joined the Harrison council in asking the school district to arrange counseling and support for children affected by an ICE arrest on Harrison Avenue.
October 8, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: townofharrison.com
Voted for Ordinance 1556, which updated affordability controls and development fees for very low-, low- and moderate-income housing.
March 3, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to approve a living-wage policy for service contractors working for Hudson County Community College.
December 3, 2013Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: hccc.edu
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 6 support
Voted for Ordinance 1562, which allocated $500,000 from parking reserves for repairs to the town garage.
August 18, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1548, which allocated $1.75 million for heating and cooling improvements and an emergency medical services building.
December 16, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Bond Ordinance 1515, which approved $20 million in borrowing to replace lead service lines in the water and sewer system.
September 17, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1484, which appropriated $1.2 million for water-main, hydrant and lead-service-line replacement.
June 13, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to approve up to $4.25 million in state and county capital funding for Hudson County Community College’s Journal Square campus projects.
April 9, 2013Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to transfer $2.3 million from unrestricted funds to Hudson County Community College’s plant fund for facilities, equipment and property costs.
April 10, 2012Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: hccc.edu
Track record — General
General · 24 records
Joined nine other Hudson County mayors in endorsing Craig Guy for a second term as county executive in the 2027 election.
July 14, 2026
Source: hudsoncountyview.com
Voted for Ordinance 1553, which authorized a purchase of former Supor redevelopment properties for up to $29 million.
March 3, 2026
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1550, which regulated short-term rentals in Harrison.
December 16, 2025
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
A federal appeals court upheld dismissal of Anselmo Millan’s civil-rights suit against Fife and Harrison because it was filed too late.
August 15, 2025
Source: www2.ca3.uscourts.gov
Co-hosted a Harrison community resource fair with county and federal officials that connected residents with public services.
October 19, 2024
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for agency meeting rules that limited public comments to five minutes and set procedures for written comments and removal of disruptive attendees.
December 11, 2023
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted for Ordinance 1490, which set local cannabis transfer taxes at 2% for cultivators, manufacturers and retailers and 1% for wholesalers.
August 1, 2023
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to confirm a lien on Supor redevelopment properties for unpaid professional fees owed to the Harrison Redevelopment Agency.
December 12, 2022
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to convey agency land to Harrison for the Cape May Street Waterfront Park.
January 13, 2020
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Endorsed Amy DeGise for chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.
May 11, 2018
Source: hudsoncountyview.com
Voted for Ordinance 1325, which approved a settlement of property-tax litigation involving Red Bull Arena.
October 20, 2016
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Voted to ratify an EPA settlement over testing and remediation violations at the Heller site, with the developer covering the $37,500 penalty.
July 27, 2016
Source: townofharrisonnj.com
Submitted comments to EPA on the proposed Passaic River cleanup, raising concerns about bridge closures, ambulance access, traffic and waterfront access.
August 19, 2014
Source: semspub.epa.gov
Voted to create a business-administration associate-degree program at Hudson County Community College.
September 18, 2013
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to create associate-degree programs in radiography and environmental studies at Hudson County Community College.
April 9, 2013
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to raise Hudson County Community College tuition by 2% to $112.50 per credit for fiscal year 2014.
March 12, 2013
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to revise Hudson County Community College’s health information technology associate-degree program.
January 22, 2013
Source: hccc.edu
Voted for college health-insurance waiver incentives ranging from $1,800 to $4,500 a year for employees who had other coverage.
October 9, 2012
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to create a theatre-arts option in Hudson County Community College’s liberal-arts associate-degree program.
May 8, 2012
Source: hccc.edu
Voted for a policy requiring consideration of project labor agreements on eligible Hudson County Community College public works projects.
May 8, 2012
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to create an occupational therapy assistant associate-degree program with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
April 10, 2012
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to create a baking-and-pastry option in Hudson County Community College’s culinary-arts associate-degree program.
April 10, 2012
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to close two associate-degree programs and five certificate programs at Hudson County Community College after low enrollment and completion rates.
March 13, 2012
Source: hccc.edu
Voted to add health-services, human-services and English degree options and digital-art certificates at Hudson County Community College.
June 14, 2011
Source: hccc.edu
Past race James A. Fife ran in:
- For Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Harrison town, New Jersey · incumbent