WEST NEW YORK – In front of his family and nearly 80 supporters, West New York Mayor Albio Sires was sworn in at the War Memorial in Trenton Tuesday as the newest member of the state assembly. As 33rd District assemblyman, Sires, a Democrat, will represent Guttenberg, Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken, West New York and the Jersey City wards C, D, and E. Sires was among four new Democrats taking seats in the General Assembly, bringing the number of Democrats in the lower house to 35 – the highest level in eight years. “It was a very proud moment for me,” said Sires last week. “As I was being sworn in, I remembered that this day marked the anniversary of when I first came to this country in 1962. I only wish my parents could have been here to see this.” Sires has served as mayor of West New York since 1995, having won re-election to a second term in May 1999. He takes the seat previously held by Assemblyman Louis Romano (D-West New York) who had served in the Assembly for eight years. Sires said he would use his seat to contribute to the welfare of his towns and the state. “It is an honor to serve the people of the 33rd District,” Sires said. “When you are sworn into office, there is a sense of history to your position. I not only have to work faithfully for the 33rd District, but I have to be mindful of the entire state’s goals and needs.” Sires joins his counterpart, 33rd District Assemblyman and Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia, as one of only two Hispanics to represent Hudson County in the assembly. “I am very pleased to be joining Albio,” said Mayor Garcia. “I feel he has demonstrated his ability to work and improve his town and it mirrors the very close commitment we both have for our residents.” “It is clear the people of the 33rd District wanted me to work hard for their interests,” Sires said. “I pledge to work tirelessly to attract more business to our state and make state government more responsive to the needs of middle-class working families. As mayor, I have seen bipartisan support work for the people’s benefit. I hope to continue to work with my fellow Democrats and Republicans for the betterment of the 33rd District.” Sires is a former New Jersey All-State high school basketball player. A graduate of St. Peter’s College, he earned his Master’s degree form Middlebury College in Vermont. He also is a former public school teacher and coach. Sires immigrated with his family to the United States from Cuba when he was 10 years old and became the first Cuban-born American to be elected mayor of West New York. As part of his commitment to the advancement and rehabilitation of the housing and community projects in West New York, Sires has earned the “Community That Works” award from the State of New Jersey for his administration’s efforts to “provide innovative and cost-effective services through privatization.” Sires held a management position in the administration of former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean and also brings his experience as a successful business owner to the public sector.