Chaparro fights back, says her district must send a Latina to Trenton no matter what

A Hudson County lawmaker who is at risk of losing party support for re-election next year says she’s concentrating on her job for now and will let the voters decide her political future.

“I’m not naïve to the games that are played in Trenton – I’m in my fourth term as a representative from Hudson County,” said Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro (D-Hoboken).  “I know how it works.”

The newly-drawn 32nd district includes Hoboken and part of Jersey City.  Her running mate, Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City) announced his candidacy for State Senate in February, just hours after the apportionment commission approve the new legislative map.

Mukherji told the New Jersey Globe on Thursday that he is meeting with prospective running mates and expects Jersey City and Hoboken to each get one Assembly seat.

It’s not clear if the Hoboken seat will go to Chaparro or to a pick by the two-term mayor, Ravi Bhalla.

Chaparro has declined comment on whether she will run again.

“I didn’t wish to address this topic at this time, as I believe it’s way too early to have these discussions but given conversations out of my control that are occurring in the political arena.,” she said.  “I wanted people to hear directly from me instead of the rumor mill.”

No matter what, Chaparro committed to fight to make sure that one of the 32nd district Assembly seats is held by a Latina.

“If for some reason I do not run, I am committed to ensuring that Latina representation remains in Trenton coming from our District.  Hispanics and Latinos make up 40% of Hudson County’s population,” Chaparro stated.  “I intend to ensure that representation of this community remains in Trenton – whether it’s me or someone else.

“We need female elected leaders.  We need Latina elected leaders.  We need diverse voices representing a diverse community,” said Chaparro.

In the next-door 33rd district, it appears that Hudson County might send one less Latina to Trenton.  Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez (D-West New York) is expected to be dropped from the Democratic organization line and replaced by West New York Mayor Gabe Rodriguez.  Another incumbent, Assemblyman Pedro Mejia (D-Secaucus) is not expected to run again and the front-runner to replace him is North Bergen Commissioner Julio Marenco.

Chaparro made it clear that she intends to focus on her Assembly seat through the remainder of the term, regardless of what party leaders decide.

“Even if I’m not the pick of the Mayor or my colleagues in the Assembly, I’m committed to serving the residents of this district until at least January 2024,” she said.  “I owe it to all residents to focus on this legislative session, especially the 33,400+ people who showed up on Election Day last November to send me back to Trenton.”

Still, Chaparro believes it’s “extremely premature to begin playing these power games when we barely started this legislative session.”

“I don’t think it’s fair to the residents who just elected us to look beyond this term right away,” she said.