Read North Bergen Mayor Hugo Cabrera’s inaugural address

The following is the inaugural address of North Bergen Mayor Hugo Cabrera, who was sworn in last night at the town’s first new mayor since 1991:

Thank you for being here to share this very special moment with me and my family.

To stand before you as Mayor of North Bergen is an incredible honor. This community means everything to me and I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me.

Before anything else I want to speak about my friend, my mentor, and our Mayor, Nick Sacco.

I’ve known Mayor Sacco for as long as I can remember. Throughout that time, he has been someone I could turn to for advice, for encouragement, and for an honest answer. He has taught me so much about public service, about leadership, and about being there when people need you.

That friendship has meant so much to me that I named my daughter, Lauren Nicole, after him.

So, Mayor, your legacy has been part of my family for a long time.

And your legacy will live on throughout North Bergen in ways both big and small.

It lives in the personal moments that never make the newspaper. A phone call returned. A family helped through a difficult time. A resident who knew someone at Town Hall would listen and care.

It also lives in the accomplishments that have transformed this community. The overpasses connecting our neighborhoods across Tonnelle Avenue. The Waterfront Park and the parks and playgrounds where generations of children will grow up. The recreation centers and libraries that have opened doors for so many families.

You have given this Township so much to be proud of.

You leave some very big shoes to fill. And I know it will take all of us, working together, to fill them.

To your family, I do owe an apology. I know you thought retirement meant you would finally have him all to yourselves. But I’m still going to be calling him for advice. Frequently.

Mayor, regardless of official titles, you will always be my Mayor.

Thank you for your friendship, your confidence in me and everything you have done for North Bergen.

I also want to thank everyone here tonight, and everyone throughout our community who supports our team and cares so deeply about our Township.

To my fellow Commissioners, Allen Pascual, Claudia Rodriguez and Anthony Vainieri, thank you for your trust and partnership. I look forward to continuing our work together.

To Township Administrator Janet Castro, Chief Financial Officer Robert Pittfield, Township Attorney Tom Kobin and Township Clerk Erin Barillas, thank you for your dedication and for the work you do every day on behalf of our residents.

And to all our Township employees, thank you. You keep this community running, and I am proud to serve alongside you.

To all the elected officials joining us tonight, thank you for your support. I am committed to working with the mayors of our neighboring towns, our county leaders, our state legislators, our members of Congress, our United States Senators, and our Governor to deliver for North Bergen.

Our residents deserve leaders who work together and that is the spirit I will bring to this office.

I also want to thank my family.

My wife, my children, my son-in-law, my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren. Thank you for your love, your patience and your support. You have shared me with this community for many years and I could never have reached this moment without you.

To my two sisters, including my sister who traveled from Florida to be here, thank you for standing beside me.

And most importantly, to my mother.

As the son of parents who came to this country from Colombia, I know this moment carries a special meaning for our family. Mom, the values you taught me, the sacrifices you made and the love you have given me brought me to this stage tonight. I hope I have made you proud.

Becoming North Bergen’s first Hispanic Mayor is an honor I will carry with tremendous pride and responsibility. I hope a child watching tonight can see that there is a place for them in the future of this community, including right here.

I will be a Mayor for every resident, in every neighborhood. Whether your family has been here for generations or you are just beginning your life in North Bergen, you deserve to be heard, respected, and served.

After so many years as a Commissioner, I know how much the everyday concerns matter. Safe streets. Clean parks. Programs for our children. Support for our seniors. A Township government that answers the phone and helps solve a problem.

Those will remain my priorities, along with working to keep North Bergen affordable and protecting the quality of life our residents deserve.

I love this community. I believe in its people. And I promise to give you my very best, every single day.

Thank you for this extraordinary honor. Let’s get to work.