Rivas may challenge Sires in primary

Hudson County Freeholder Tilo Rivas, a close ally of Union City Mayor/State Senator Brian Stack, might challenge Rep. Albio Sires (D-West New York) in the 2018 Democratic primary for Congress in New Jersey’s 8th district, sources say.

A primary challenge to Sires is a signal that the warette in Hudson County, expected in 2019, will turn into a war this year.

Rivas, 70, who has held local office in Union City since 2001, announced last month that he would not seek re-election as a commissioner to focus on his Freeholder duties.

Born in the Dominican Republic, he immigrated to the United States in 1970.  Rivas won a seat on the Union City Board of Education in 2001 and was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2002.  He was elected freeholder in 2004 was re-elected four times.