Assemblyman Julio Marenco (D-33) is suspending his re-election campaign for the June 10th primary, citing his commitment to the North Bergen Housing Authority after becoming their executive director in September.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I’ve dedicated my entire adult life to public service, from my time serving our country on U.S. Navy nuclear submarines to representing the people as an elected official, and I’m incredibly honored to have the opportunity to advocate for the people of the 33rd District,” Marenco said in a statement.
“I believe that it would be best for the constituents I serve for me to suspend my campaign at this time in order to devote my full attention to my role as executive director of the North Bergen Housing Authority, as well as to continuing to provide excellent constituent services. I thank the people of North Bergen and the entire 33rd District for their support and I look forward to having the opportunity to once again serve in elected office in the future.”
In June, Marenco was announced as part of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s slate as part of his bid for governor, one of four Hudson County incumbents, but he and Assemblyman John Allen (D-32) has since announced they won’t be running.
Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato (D-31) will be running alongside Bayonne 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer as part of Team Fulop, as HCV first reported, while Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-32) also remains on the slate.
“On behalf of the people of North Bergen and the North Bergen Democratic Municipal Committee, I want to thank Assemblyman Julio Marenco for his tremendous service to our community and for his willingness to put the best interests of our residents first,” added North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco.
“Julio has my unconditional support to lead our North Bergen Housing Authority and he has done an exceptional job there navigating through challenging circumstances, and I look forward to once again offering him our full support and confidence in a future campaign for elected office.”
Marenco, a former North Bergen Board of Education president and township commissioner, was elected to the state Assembly in 2023 under the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) banner alongside state Senator Brian Stack and now-Assemblyman Gabe Rodriguez.
While he’s not on the ballot this time around, Stack, also the Union City mayor, and the HCDO backing Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein, a three time mayoral opponent of Sacco’s, as HCV also first reported.
Back in August, Fulop floated 2020 congressional candidate Hector Oseguera as a “phenomenal” Assembly candidate in LD-33, but it remains unclear who will be on this ticket as of this writing.
However, as of this writing, sources with knowledge of the situation indicated that Wainstein and Rodriguez will not be running unopposed, with Fulop and Sacco still planning on backing a two-person sate.
 won't seek re-election, citing his commitment to the North Bergen Housing Authority after becoming their ED.){kind=link}
No no no ! John you should state how the tax payer will be saving dollars by having him stay in the dysfunctional agency. As bizarre as that sounds, next he’ll be working at the NBPA driving an EV with strobe lights at 180k. Stay tuned rabbit.