As the West New York mayoral matchup between Public Affairs Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo and outgoing U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) heats up, former Mayor Felix Roque is set to host a “courtesy breakfast” on Saturday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I would like to invite you my friends to a courtesy breakfast this Saturday, December 17 at 9:30 A.M. The location is Rinconcito Colombiano located at 6319 Bergenline Avenue, West New York. ‘Together We Can’ Felix E. Roque, M.D.,” Roque wrote in an Instagram story last night.
Roque accompanied the post with a picture where he was standing in front of the chair he sat in during the board of commissioners meetings, while Together We Can was his campaign slogan in 2011, 2015, and 2019.
“This is a way to say thank you to all my previous constituents that have been there for me and are still here for me. I’m not announcing anything yet, but I’ve gotten a lot of calls and I know I’ll have a great ticket if I decide to run,” Roque told HCV over the phone.
Cirillo, a two-term commissioner, announced a mayoral bid earlier this month and has already rolled out Revenue and Finance Commissioner Margarita Guzman and outgoing Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez (D-32) as two of his running mates.
While Roque was bested by the New Beginnings West New York team, headed by now Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and including Cirillo and Guzman, he has teased a comeback tour on multiple occasions and his upcoming breakfast will continue to fan the flames.
A pain management specialist by trade and also a retired U.S. Army colonel, Roque has thus far been highly critical of Sires, a former three-term mayor, and Rodriguez – the latter who is expected to replace Jimenez in the state Assembly – and has praised Cirillo.
The West New York municipal elections are on May 9th, 2023, where the top five vote getters for commissioner will then select a mayor amongst themselves – something that will be a sight to behold if Roque does end up fielding a full five-person slate.