Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari endorsed Elvis Alvarez, the Republican nominee for sheriff, to succeed him at a fundraiser at the Coach House Diner in North Bergen last night.
The longest serving sheriff in Hudson County history, Schillari switched to the Republican party about six weeks after losing the June 10th primary to Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis.
On Monday, he, along with Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, endorsed the Hudson County GOP ticket on the November 4th ballot, which includes Alvarez and six state Assembly candidates, and made his support even more emphatic on Tuesday.
“This last election, the Democrats threw me to the curb … The Democratic system is not working like it used to in our day when we were young, growing up. And I believe that Jack Ciattarelli will bring the state back to where it belongs,” he declared.
He referred to the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) backing Davis over him, which prompted Schillari to run on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” ticket.
” … This is not about me, this is about the new generation: Republicans have to fix this state and I’m proud that I switched over. We have to bring it back where it should be. So I’m going to do everything I can to get every vote I can get for all my friends in the Republican party and I’m gonna work with Elvis. I told him I have his back, whatever he needs, I’m there, so I’m honored to support you,” Schillari concluded.
Alvarez, a retired West New York police detective, humbly and happily accepted Schillari’s support.
“I’m usually not usually a person whose at a loss for words, but I kind of am right now. An endorsement from the sheriff is huge in so many ways. Being a police officer myself for 25 years … I did the best of my ability, I always worked with the community, to bring people together,” he said.
“Most importantly, I served with honor, distinction, and I was highly decorated. I did my 25 years, just like Sheriff Schillari – here’s done 40, if I’m ever lucky, I’ll do that – No problems, squeaky clean, always tried to do the right thing. You enforce the law, but you can also work with empathy towards your community. If I’m elected, I’d like to do the same thing: I know I have big shoes to fill.”
Alvarez still faces an uphill battle against Davis next month, given that Hudson County is one of the bluest in the state and hasn’t elected a Republican sheriff since John Kaiser earned that distinction in 1904.