Hugo Cabrera Sworn In as North Bergen, N.J.'s First Hispanic Mayor

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — Hugo Cabrera was sworn in Wednesday night, Oct. 28, 2026, as North Bergen’s first Hispanic mayor, succeeding Nicholas J. Sacco, who retired after more than three decades as mayor. At the same ceremony in a packed Nicholas J. Sacco Junior High School auditorium, Nicholas J. Sacco Jr. took his father’s seat on the Board of Commissioners.

Sacco: “It was time”

Sacco told the crowd he had retired a few hours earlier. He said he left a meeting in the commission chambers, came up to his office and “couldn’t go any further. I had enough.” But, he promised, “I’m not going anywhere.”

He recalled a promise he made years ago to leave the township “in a better place than when I found it. And you know what? I believe I did.” He added, “Nobody succeeds alone. It’s all done as a team, and this has been the greatest team I have ever played on.”

Commissioners pay tribute

Cabrera thanked Sacco for 24 years of mentorship: “You will always be our mayor.” Commissioner Claudia Rodriguez said, “Our mayor built this town from the ground up.” Commissioner Anthony Vainieri said he gave his daughter the middle name Nicole after Sacco, adding, “These are going to be hard shoes for all of us up here to fill.”

During public comment, residents raised recent ICE activity in Braddock Park and asked about the process for filling the vacancy.

Sacco Jr. joins the commission

The commissioners unanimously appointed Nicholas J. Sacco Jr. to the vacancy, and he took the oath surrounded by family. He said his father “always found time to be a great dad and grandfather,” and closed: “Together we’re going to make sure that [North Bergen] continues to be a great place to live.” The board named him Director of Parks and Public Property.

Cabrera takes the oath

Commissioner Allen Pascual made the motion to name Cabrera mayor. “On this board for 24 years, we’ve been in trenches together,” he said. Vainieri seconded it, and Rodriguez called Cabrera “the best person to take on the torch.” The vote was unanimous. He then took the oath with his family beside him and was named Director of Public Affairs.

Visiting officials recognized from the stage included Hoboken City Council President Ruben Ramos, Hudson County Clerk Junior Maldonado, County Commissioners Bill O’Dea and Bob Baselice, and former Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.

“You’re my mayor”

Cabrera opened his first address as mayor by turning to Sacco: “I’m still going to call you Mayor every day that I call you. Till the day I die, I’m going to call you Mayor, because you’re my Mayor.”

After thanking his wife, Teresa, and family, he switched to Spanish to speak to his mother, Doña Luisa, who came from Colombia as a young immigrant with his father. He recalled that after she broke her hip, she still wanted to cook the next day.

“Es una mujer especial, y ella es la que nos da a todos nosotros la fuerza. … Ojalá que estés orgullosa que tu hijo es el primer alcalde hispano.”

“She is a special woman, and she is the one who gives all of us strength. … I hope you are proud that your son is the first Hispanic mayor.”

Cabrera closed with a pledge: “I plan to work with every neighboring mayor. I plan to work with every legislator in our district. I plan to work with our governor.” The goal, he said, is “making sure that North Bergen moves forward.”

Related coverage: What new North Bergen Mayor Hugo Cabrera inherits

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