Union City’s deputy director of public affairs, Milagros “Millie” Villareal, surrendered to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City on Feb. 16 after prosecutors informed her attorney that she was being charged with bribery and official misconduct. According to First Assistant County Prosecutor Terrence Hull, Villareal had been under investigation for nearly a year for having allegedly hired a North Bergen woman to work in the municipal court offices in exchange for her registering as a Union City voter. Villareal is the city’s former court administrator, and was appointed to that job in 1992 by the late mayor Bruce Walter. Villareal was arrested after she turned herself in, and was released on $5,000 bail set by State Superior Court Judge Elaine Davis. Hull said last week that the Special Investigations Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office had been tipped off that there was possible misdealing in a 1998 election, so they probed the situation and came to a conclusion. “We contacted her attorney and advised him that she would be given the chance to turn herself in,” said Hull. “It’s an unfortunate situation, but one that is very serious, considering the charges against her. At this point, the matter is pending a grand jury investigation and we will proceed from there.” Hull said the case goes back to the municipal elections of Mayor Rudy Garcia held in 1998, when he ran against his now-Unity Team ally, Freeholder Brian Stack. Garcia said last week that he could not comment on the pending investigation, but he provided documentation saying the woman who was allegedly hired in return for her vote had been hired in November of 1997, before he even considered running for mayor. At press time, Milagros Villareal chose not to comment, on the advice of her attorney. Public Affairs Commissioner Ray Lopez, for whom Villareal works, said that Villareal had been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing by the city. “It’s unfortunate that this has happened, said Lopez last week. “I felt she was a competent individual and was capable of doing her job. For now, we can all hope for the best.” Villareal faces second-degree offenses on both charges and could face up to a maximum of 10 years or $100,000 fine on each count, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.