Sires raising money as he awaits his primary challenger

Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York) has less than a week to go before the April 2 filing deadline, when he’ll find out just how tough, easy or non-existent his reported primary challenge will be.  The sudden threat of a primary as part of the current Hudson County warette seems to have re energized the six-term Democratic congressman, who spent the evening raising money, just in case.

Sires had a strong turnout at his fundraiser tonight, with every town in Hudson represented — except for Union City.  Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark) and Newark City Councilmen Luis Quintana represented Essex, Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage from Union, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson, and Michael Soliman of Mercury Public Affairs — representing U.S. Senator Bob Menendez — were in attendance.

So far, only 70-year-old Hudson County Freeholder/Union City Commissioner Tilo Rivas has been mentioned as a possible primary challenger.  Rivas is a staunch ally of Union City Mayor/State Sen. Brian Stack, who is part of a four-mayor coalition mulling a Hudson political war.