U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) is making good on his word of leading the charge to replace West New York Mayor Felix Roque in 2019, hosting a fundraiser next month with a handful of political allies all committed to taking out the incumbent.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Sires will be joined by Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez (D-32), Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez (D-7), as well as Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo, Gabriel Rodriguez and Margarita Guzman to host the first fundraiser for “West New York Stability 19” on June 7th.
Cirillo, a rumored Roque challenger for May 2019, is the treasurer of the committee, according to a copy of the invitation.
A source who spoke under the condition of anonymity said that while Cirillo was on the short list of potential candidates to oppose Roque, it was “too early” to say who it would ultimately be (Gabriel Rodriguez and Jimenez have also been floated as possibilities).
The event will take place just two days after West New York voters select their 58 Democratic committee members: the aforementioned anti-Roque faction are backing a full slate on the line, while the mayor appears to face a difficult off the line endeavor after losing a court battle to disqualify candidates last month.
Sires, who helped Roque defeat Sal Vega in 2011 and again endorsed him in 2015, vowed to “make a change in West New York for the better” in March after Roque decided to back state Senator (D-32)/Union City Mayor Brian Stack and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop in an effort to replace Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise.
The entire West New York Stability team is supporting DeGise for re-election, as well as his daughter’s bid to become the next chair of the Hudson County Democratic Organization.
That vote, where Amy DeGise will go head-to-head with Stack, will take place on June 12th with a time and location yet to be determined.
