Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R), a leading Republican candidate in this year’s gubernatorial race, said she is “heartbroken” to hear that state GOP Committeeman Russell Maffei was one of the victim’s in last night’s fatal North Bergen hit-and-run.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Our entire team is heartbroken by the tragic loss of a longtime friend and one of our earliest supporters, Russell Maffei,” Guadagno wrote on her Facebook page just after 10 a.m. this morning.
“Russ was a beloved leader in his community and a integral part of the NJGOP family. Mike and I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones.”
Maffei, one of two NJ GOP committee people from Hudson County and the chair of the Jersey City Republican Party, also had a known presence in the Hudson County Republican Party.
Jose Arango, the county Republican chair, also paid tribute to his friend via Facebook this morning. Here is what the post said verbatim:
“Russell Maffei a brother a friend a good soul with a great love to the Republican Party Russ was like and respected throughout the community , he dedicated his life to the GOP even at the last minute of his life he was working for the NJ GOP he loved to be the State Committee Man was running for re election this year in June 6 primaries and as JC Chairman was the column of the county organization , God Bless Russ and Marie Toure , our prayers are with the families.”
Also lost in the fatal accident was Marie Tauro, a former vice president of the Jersey City Tea Party and a commissioner on the local municipal utilities authority.
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in connection to the crash early this morning and the prosecutor’s office has confirmed that the man in custody is a county corrections officer.
No additional information is currently available.
