Mayor Nicholas Sacco is announcing his retirement from elected office, as well as his full and unequivocal support of his longtime colleague Commissioner Hugo Cabrera to succeed him as the next Mayor of North Bergen. First elected to local office in 1985 and serving as Mayor since 1991, Mayor Sacco has amassed an undeniable record of progress and success for North Bergen and his leadership has enabled the local government to positively impact the lives of generations of residents. Mayor Sacco made the announcement tonight in front of hundreds of supporters at his annual Mayor’s Ball fundraising event.

“Serving as Mayor of North Bergen has been the honor and privilege of my life and I cannot thank the people of this community enough for the tremendous support they have given me over the years, which has enabled us to do so many wonderful things,” said Mayor Sacco. “When we overwhelmingly won re-election in 2023 I fully intended on completing this term in office. However, recent health challenges as well as many conversations with family, friends and colleagues have led me to decide that it is in the community’s best interest for me to pass the baton to my close friend and longtime running mate Commissioner Hugo Cabrera, whose experience and vision for North Bergen’s future are exactly what we need in our next Mayor. I’m grateful for all that our administration has accomplished, and I’m certain that Commissioner Cabrera as well as Commissioners Allen Pascual, Claudia Rodriguez, Anthony Vainieri and our entire organization will continue to lead North Bergen forward for many years to come.”

Examples of Mayor Sacco’s transformative leadership include:

• Investing in public safety through the expansion of the North Bergen Police Department and enhanced technology, helping earn North Bergen recognition as one of New Jersey’s safest cities by independent analysts
• Massively improving the local infrastructure, including building three overpasses spanning Tonnelle Avenue that have made it possible for residents to conveniently travel East and West
• Completing the full renovation of the North Bergen Public Library’s Main Branch, which was recently dedicated to longtime Library Director Sai Rao, as well as opening the Downtown Recreation Center and Library to ensure that all residents have access to these vital services
• Opening new public parks including the Waterfront Park on River Road and Paterson Plank Road Park, and renovating all existing local parks with new playground equipment, playing fields, passive areas and more
• Launching the NB CARES program to assist residents in need with temporary housing, food, clothing and more after disasters like fires, floods or other situations that force them from their homes
• Starting beloved annual traditions like Winterfest, National Night Out, Halloween, Christmas and Easter children’s parties and many other events that are enjoyed by thousands of people each year
• Dramatically growing the Recreation Department to serve children and adults with programming in sports, performing arts and more
• Effectively managing municipal finances to maintain stable property taxes over the long term despite drastic cuts in state aid
• Operating the state’s most effective snow removal program and investing in equipment and personnel to keep residents safe during heavy snows and other extreme weather events
• Installation of speed bumps to improve pedestrian safety and protect residential neighborhoods
• Extensive road paving and infrastructure improvements, including the revitalization of Bergenline Avenue
• Expanded parking options, including new municipal parking lots, angled parking spaces, modernized meters and an improved parking management system
• Expanded senior services and programs, including recreational outings, community events, medical transportation and food distribution assistance
• Improving communication and accessibility for residents through the creation of a municipal Help Desk, a dedicated Spanish-language social media page, a new notification app and expanded social media outreach

“Nick Sacco will go down in history as one of the most significant and influential elected officials to ever serve in local office in New Jersey, with a clear record of accomplishment that will continue to positively impact North Bergen residents for generations to come,” said North Bergen Township Administrator Janet Castro. “I’m honored to have had the opportunity to serve with Mayor Sacco and wish him the absolute best in his well-deserved retirement.”

A longtime North Bergen resident whose parents immigrated to the United States from Colombia, Hugo Cabrera will serve as North Bergen’s first ever Hispanic Mayor, fulfilling a historic milestone for a community that has grown significantly and is now the majority of the local population. Commissioner Cabrera was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1999 and has led the Department of Parks and Recreation for the past ten years.

He has overseen the township’s highly successful Recreation program, which serves thousands of children and adults and provides numerous programs and activities, and he was instrumental in the development and improvement of numerous public facilities, including the Downtown Recreation Center and Library, North Bergen Pool and much more. Cabrera has been an outspoken advocate for local immigrant communities and has frequently spoken out against abuses by ICE, and he is married father and grandfather who works as the Board Secretary to the North Bergen Board of Education.

“I have had the opportunity to learn so much about public service from being at Mayor Sacco’s side for so many years, and his selfless decision to step aside now is just the latest example of him putting the community first and doing what is best for North Bergen,” said Commissioner Cabrera. “I’m grateful to have the support of Mayor Sacco and my fellow Commissioners as I prepare to follow in his footsteps, and I’m incredibly excited for this next chapter. I look forward to working with Governor Mikie Sherrill, our state legislators, county leaders and neighboring mayors to build on the progress we’ve made and create an even brighter future for North Bergen. This community means everything to me, and I promise to work hard each and every day to make North Bergen more affordable, solve problems, help people and carry on the legacy of public service that Mayor Sacco has exemplified throughout his career.”

In addition to his tenure as Mayor, Nicholas Sacco served as a longtime member of the New Jersey State Senate where he successfully advanced critical legislation in areas such as public safety, economic development and consumer protection. He was also an educator who worked as a classroom teacher and later became Assistant Superintendent of the North Bergen school district. The Nicholas J. Sacco Junior High School was named in his honor in 2025 in recognition of his dedication to public education and the positive impact he has made on the lives of thousands of local students.

Commissioner Cabrera is also announcing his support, as well as the support of the other Commissioners, for Nick Sacco, Jr. to be appointed to replace Mayor Sacco on the Board of Commissioners, once a vacancy occurs. Sacco, Jr. has followed in his father’s footsteps as a public servant and educator, serving as Principal of Lincoln Elementary School and volunteering his time at the Recreation Department and the North Bergen Public Library managing programs for local children. He is a married father of a young son in local public schools and sports programs, and represents a new generation of public service in North Bergen.

“Nobody worked harder for North Bergen than my dad, and he always found the time to be a great father and grandfather at the same time,” said Nick Sacco, Jr. “I want to thank my dad for everything he has done for our community and congratulate him on his retirement. I’m honored and grateful to have the support of Commissioners Cabrera, Pascual, Rodriguez and Vainieri for the opportunity to serve on the Board of Commissioners and continue giving back to the place that means everything to me. This is an exciting time for North Bergen and I promise to work as hard as I can to live up to my dad’s example and make our community an even better place to live and raise a family.”

Mayor Sacco will submit an official letter of resignation to the Township Clerk in the coming days that will be effective October 28, 2026. The remaining members of the Board of Commissioners will then hold a public meeting where they will vote to fill the vacancy created by the Mayor’s retirement, appoint Commissioner Cabrera as Mayor, and assign municipal departments to the Commissioners.

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