North Bergen Candidates Reject Endorsement That Was Never Offered

NORTH BERGEN, NJ — Assembly candidates Tony Hector and Frank Alonso issued a statement this week rejecting any support from U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez, despite not receiving an endorsement from him.

Rep. Menendez has endorsed the Hudson County Democratic Organization-backed slate in the 33rd Legislative District, which includes candidates aligned with State Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack. Hector and Alonso, running under the “Democrats for Change” banner, responded by stating they would never accept support from Menendez or anyone affiliated with what they called the “Menendez/Stack political machine.”

“Let us make this very clear: we would NEVER, under any circumstances accept the support of anyone associated with the corrupt Menendez/Stack political machine,” the statement read.

The pair also accused Stack of holding “unconstitutional” dual roles as mayor and state senator, and using those positions to centralize power and control local elections.

“Brian Stack controls all three branches of government through his unconstitutional dual office holding and his Chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and for years that has made the political establishment in New Jersey afraid to call out the obvious, blatant corruption on display each and every day in Union City,” a beautiful community that Stack has transformed into his own personal ATM for himself and his cronies,” says the statement.

Dual office holding was banned in New Jersey in 2007, but both Stack and Sacco were beneficiaries of a grandfather clause that allowed officials already serving in multiple roles to continue doing so. Hector and Alonso are backed by Sacco, who served simultaneously as North Bergen mayor and state senator for nearly 30 years. He stepped aside after redistricting placed him in the same legislative district as Stack, avoiding a primary by retiring.

Hector and Alonso tied their criticism to the recent sentencing of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who was given 11 years in prison on federal corruption charges. They claim political allies of Menendez—including Stack, County Executive Craig Guy, County Administrator Abe Antun, and others—continue to shape local and state politics.

The statement also named former Governor Jim McGreevey, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis, and Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole as part of what the candidates allege is a larger network of political influence.

“Trust me, the Sacco team candidates never have to worry about an endorsement from me. That’s because I don’t endorse smarmy candidates who only complain, moan and do absolutely nothing for the residents they pretend to want to serve,” said Mayor Brian Stack in response. “I’m far too busy working around the clock, helping residents to worry about the remnants of Team Sacco.”