Nidia Rivera Lopez
Nidia R. Lopez (born September 13, 1949) is the Councilwoman for Ward C, the Journal Square area, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
Councilmember
On February 9, 2009, incumbent mayor Jerramiah T. Healy (who was running for reelection) announced his city council slate. Lopez was his choice to represent Ward C. She was elected by the residents of Jersey City on May 12, 2009. Councilwoman Lopez won a first ballot victory by defeating five opponents with a majority of the vote. Mrs. Lopez is the first Hispanic councilwoman ever elected to the Jersey City City Council. Her husband, Benjamin Lopez, was Jersey City's first Hispanic councilman elected in 1981 for Ward E. Councilwoman Lopez's term expires on June 30, 2013.
Residence controversy
After the city council election the runner up candidate for Ward C, James P. "Jimmy" King, filed a lawsuit against Lopez alleging that her primary residence is in Florida. If such was the case, she could not vote in New Jersey and furthermore be an elected official there. After King's arrest in the Operation Bid Rig, Norrice Raymaker, the third place candidate, took over The Case Against Lopez. On December 4, 2009, State Superior Court Judge Maurice Gallipoli ruled that Lopez may remain as a Jersey City councilwoman.