Two factions of the West New York Democratic County Committee will face off in the June primary for control of the local party organization – an early battle in the Hudson County warette that could help determine whether Democrats see a full-fledged war next year.
Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo has filed a slate of candidates for most of West New York’s 58 county committee seats and has asked Hudson County Democratic Chairman Vincent Prieto to permission to run on the organization line. Cirillo is preparing to challenge his onetime ally, Mayor Felix Roque, in 2019.
Roque is one of four mayors seeking to oust Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise next year. Cirillo and other key West New York political leaders, including Rep. Albio Sires, have endorsed DeGise. Roque is also backing Union City Mayor/State Sen. Brian Stack for Hudson County Democratic Chairman, and the West New York votes could prove critical if Stack suddenly finds himself in a contest.
The mayor currently has control of the county committee and has filed his own slate of candidates. He is expected to ask Prieto to give the line to the incumbents; Prieto, an ally of North Bergen Mayor/State Sen. Nicholas Sacco, a DeGise supporter and major stakeholder in the warette, is expected to give Cirillo’s candidates the line.