Sommer leaving Fulop’s office, but will remain close to Jersey City mayor

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Veteran political operative Bob Sommer is leaving the office of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop to start his own consulting firm.Fulop said Sommer, who spent the last year and a half as a special adviser to the Democratic mayor, will step down at the end of the month but continue to support the city government even though he’s not on the payroll.

“Bob is a key member of our team, and as he takes a step away from his daily governmental presence in Jersey City at the end of February, he will remain an essential resource within our structure,” Fulop said in a prepared statement. During the next few months, I’m thankful that Bob will be committed to completing key projects, and then I look forward to his role as a sounding board. Bob is a good friend — we congratulate him, wish him luck as he starts his own firm and look forward to his valued input as he continues to complement our efforts.”

Sommer, who was No. 78 on this year’s NJBIZ Power 100, is a former MWW Group partner and president of Observer Media Group. He also served as head of Devils Arena Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL team and the Prudential Center, until 2013.

He left that fall to work for Fulop, a rising star in New Jersey politics and a potential Democratic candidate for governor in 2017.

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