Amatorio likely to take Lagana Assembly seat

Bergenfield Council President Arvin Amatorio is the leading candidate for a soon-to-be-open State Assembly seat in the 38th district, sources say.   If elected, he would become the first Filipino- American to serve in the New Jersey Legislature.

Amatorio would get the Assembly seat of Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), who is expected to move up to the State Senate once Gov. Phil Murphy nominates State Sen. Bob Gordon (D-Fair Lawn) to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.  Gordon’s resignation from the Senate, following his confirmation, would prompt a special election convention for his Senate seat.  Amatorio would run in a special election after Lagana moves up to the Senate.

A two-term councilman and immigration attorney, Amatorio will need to run in a November 2018 special election.