Roque slams primary opponents on municipal ID vote

West New York Mayor Felix Roque slammed three county-backed commissioners attempting to oust him for voting to table a municipal ID program pushed by Roque and Sue Colacurcio, the only West New York Commissioner sticking by Roque.

“Many of our residents are being denied the opportunity to earn a better living to support their families due to their inability to secure drivers licenses” Roque said. “When are they going to stop caring more about politics then the great people of West New York?”

Commissioner Gabriel Rodriguez is making a bid for Roque’s seat. Commissioners Cosmo Cirillo, Margarita Guzman are backing Rodriguez’s bid and attempting to oust Colacurcio. The three incumbents are running alongside school trustee Victor Barrera and Yoleisy Yanez, a local middle school teacher.

Roque and Colacurcio are running alongside school board member Maite Fernandez, West New York recreation commission member Richie Acosta and Ana Luna, a secretary in the town’s rent control department.

The schism in West New York was spawned from last year’s Hudson County warette, which saw factions break out as elected officials in the county rallied behind either Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise or State Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack.

Roque backed stack, and though most of Hudson has once again united since Amy DeGise was elected Hudson County Democratic chairwoman, a feud with Rep. Albio Sires has left West New York’s mayor out in the cold.

Roque called for Sires, a former West New York Mayor to retire from Congress. Sires seems to have taken the call personally.