Despite a highly spirited and competitive campaign, “The New Beginnings West New York” slate appears to have swept the 2019 municipal elections, paving the way for Commissioner Gabriel Rodriguez to become the next mayor.
The New Beginnings team was backed by U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) and while Roque continued to chip away until the last second of the final round, he was not able to repeat his success against the machine like he did in 2011 – when he was first elected.
Rodriguez ran with Commissioners Cosmo Cirillo and Margarita Guzman, as well as new candidates Victor Barrera and Yoleisy Yanez.
With them taking office next week, it’s all but a sure thing that Rodriguez will be named mayor at Tuesday’s reorganization meeting.
According to the Hudson County Clerk’s Office, Cirillo was the top vote getter with 3,616 votes and Roque missed a seat on the board by 656 votes. He earned 2,717 votes, behind Yanez, who notched 3,373 votes and finished fifth.
In an interview in front of Town Hall during an impromptu celebration, Rodriguez said West New Yorkers can now look forward to a mayor who is held accountable.
“Availability. Availability to commissioners and availability to new beginnings because West New York deserves it,” he said.
Six other candidates competed in the hotly contested affair, but they were a long ways off from striking distance.