Recruited by the Hudson County Progressive Democrats, Stephanie Martinez has announced plans to challenge the North Bergen county commissioner seat in the 8th District, which also includes most of Secaucus.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am excited to give the voters of the 8th district a real choice, not the same machine-backed candidates who haven’t done anything to fix the problems facing Hudson County. We need someone who actually cares about addressing the challenges facing this county, from affordability to parks and green spaces to public safety,” she said in a statement.
“I believe by actually giving voters a choice between a progressive future and the same failed politics the HCDO has been peddling for decades we can win this election, move this county forward, and being to address the problems facing North Bergen.”
Martinez also describes herself as a Gen Z candidate that “understands that environmental justice is social justice” and an organizer who was active while attending St. Peter’s University.
She rounds out a progressive slate of county challengers for the June 6th primary, which includes Eleana Little for county executive, TJ Senger in the 1st District, Adrian Ghainda in the 2nd District, Mamta Singh in the 4th District, Ron Bautista in the 5th District, and Alex Valdez in the 9th District.
With Hudson County Commissioners Chair Anthony Vainieri seeking a seat on the North Bergen Board of Commissioners with Mayor Nick Sacco, he is expected to relinquish his county seat this summer (which he will have to do if victorious).
At Team Sacco’s campaign kickoff rally last night, they revealed Baselice, the executive director of the township parking authority, as their preferred candidate to succeed Vainieri, who is also the chair of the county Democrats.
The last time there was an open county seat in the 8th District, the North Bergen Democratic Committee took care of business, with Vainieri winning the 2014 primary with about 83 percent of the vote after Freeholder Thomas Leggio decided to retire.
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