Once in office, Schundler developed a reputation as a politician who could not be "bought off." This strongly resonated in a city with a long legacy of corruption dating to the Frank Hague era. He subsequently won a full term in 1993 with 69% of the vote—the largest margin of victory since Jersey City returned to the Mayor-Council form of government in 1961, and according to some sources, in the city's entire history. He won a second full term in 1997, winning a run-off election by a substantial margin.