UNION CITY – Adam Ocasio, an HR manager and Union City resident, announced this week that he is running for one of the five Union City Board of Commissioners seats in May with hopes of becoming mayor. In Union City’s form of government, the five commissioners choose a mayor from among themselves.
The present mayor, Brian Stack, who is also a state senator, is up for re-election May 11.
Ocasio is running independently, though he hasn’t ruled out a possible collaboration with other candidates if approached. So far, Frank Scarafile, a Stack critic, has also announced plans to run.
Ocasio, an Emerson High School graduate, has been a Union City resident for 21 years. Although he has no prior experience in government, he cited his volunteer efforts with the homeless shelter and family groups as examples of his commitment to the city.
“I think that it’s time for a little bit of change,” said Ocasio on Friday. “We need to bring some integrity to Union City and Hudson County politics.”
Ocasio said he hopes to encourage other “regular people” who want to make a difference or run for office.
Ocasio is about a quarter of the way to collecting the total 400 signatures he needs to have his name on the ballot. The filing deadline for petitions is March 18.