HUDSON COUNTY — Nicholas Sacco, state senator (D-Hudson) and mayor of North Bergen, wants Secaucus Assemblyman Vincent Prieto to become the speaker of the house, should he win re-election this November, according to news reports. Sacco has reached out to allies and sought to build a coalition across county lines between Hudson and Bergen counties to support Prieto, according to NJ.com.
He would be replacing incumbent Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) as speaker. Oliver became the first African-American female speaker of the 80-seat N.J. Assembly in 2010 and was first elected to the Assembly in 2004. Prieto is a construction code official from Secaucus who has also served in the Assembly since 2004.
“Anyone who tries to unseat her would be foolish,” said Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) in the Star Ledger over this summer. “I think she would have the vast majority, if not universal, approval from the caucus.”
Prieto is running on the Democratic ticket for the 32nd District along with Sacco, who has been in office since 1994, and Angelica M. Jimenez from West New York.