Julio Marenco, a familiar and popular figure in the 7th Ward of North Bergen, will run for office as commissioner in May on the ticket headed by Mayor Nicholas Sacco. Marenco will replace current Public Safety Commissioner Theresa Ferraro, who is retiring after serving for 16 years.
In North Bergen’s form of government, five people run for commissioner and choose a mayor from among themselves.
Marenco’s joining Sacco’s ticket creates a 3-2 balance of Latinos over non-Latinos. “It makes it more reflective of the community,” said town spokesperson Philip Swibinski.
“He comes from the section of town which I thought was important to service,” said Sacco. “We didn’t have any candidates running with us from the 7th Ward section of town for many years, which is where Julio lives. Much of that is below 32nd Street. And I thought this was a good addition. He’s been very active down in that area.”
“This is a team that has great performance,” said Marenco. “Once you get to North Bergen the roads are clean [of snow]. The kids, the rec programs are always full. And our taxes are the most stable in the area. That is not magic. That is hard work. That is teamwork. And I’m very happy to be a part of that team.”
Marenco, the son of a truck driver from El Salvador and a factory worker from the Dominican Republic, currently serves as president of the North Bergen Board of Education, a role he would give up if elected.
“People just like him so much. When they open the door and see Julio they glow.” –Anthony Vainieri
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Submarine service to political office
“I am a downtown kid,” Marenco said at a press conference at 90 Park Restaurant in North Bergen, where the announcement of his candidacy was made.
Originally from Union City, he moved to North Bergen with his family while in high school, then joined the military, serving on the submarine USS Whale.
“I traveled the world including the North Pole, South America, Europe, did a lot of very interesting things,” he told the North Bergen Reporter last week. “That’s a very confidential community, but it was a great period of my life. I learned a lot and did a lot. And that’s when I figured out I like public service.”
Using the G.I. Bill he attended Montclair State University for political science, then went to Seton Hall University for his Juris Doctor degree.
Along the way he found time to volunteer for political action and wound up serving as deputy campaign manager for Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. in his successful 2000 reelection campaign.
“It was a huge crash course in managing a campaign and learning the campaign side of governing,” he said of the experience.
Marenco was still in law school when he first began working for North Bergen. “Some [law students] want to be judges, some lawyers. I didn’t know what I want to be. So I interned for Mayor Sacco,” he said.
“Here’s a young guy who came in and he was involved more in [Pascrell’s campaign in] Paterson at the time,” recalled Sacco. “So I knew him as someone whose involvement politically was more there than here. But he quickly became more and more involved here from that point on. He was a good fit.”
“When he first started working as an intern with Nick, I guess he was 20-something years old, and he worked hard,” said Freeholder Anthony Vainieri. “He was into it. He liked it. It’s a big difference when you’re an intern just to be an intern. When there’s an intern that likes it, that brings something special to the role.”
“Mayor Sacco has always been great to me,” said Marenco. “He gave me a shot not knowing me, and since then every time something’s opened up he’s given me a shot.”
Asked when he recognized that Marenco was the right person for the commissioner role, Sacco said, “I watched him develop from one board to another and then saw his peers elect him as the chairman of the Board of Education so I knew he was ready.”
Public safety background
A former full-time professor, Marenco has taught law, international relations, government, and HR and labor law courses. Currently serving as an adjunct professor at FDU, he teaches political science.
As a member of the state parole board, he was nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. “On a day-to-day basis our main duty is of course deciding who gets and doesn’t get parole,” he said. “That’s the one that touches the public the most. You never want to make the mistake of letting somebody who is not ready go back to society and commit other crimes or hurt somebody.”
Although he is replacing Theresa Ferraro on the ticket, that doesn’t mean Marenco would automatically fill her role as public safety commissioner. That would be determined later if he is elected.
However, “Julio with his expertise in law and public safety would fit right in to the role of public safety commissioner,” said Vainieri.
“One does what’s best for the town,” said Marenco. “The mayor’s pretty good at putting people where they belong, and my background is public safety.”
Speaking about the North Bergen Police Department, he said, “First of all, the department is leaps and bounds ahead of where most departments are. They’ve done great things with community policing and diversity. At every event there are police officers, usually volunteering their own time. I’d like to continue to encourage that and all the other types of community policing.”
Marenco himself is no stranger to public events, lending his support at Winterfest and National Night Out against crime. “He’s always been a hard worker, and always makes himself accessible to people,” said Vainieri. “When he worked with me on my campaign I went door to door with him in his area and people just like him so much. When they open the door and see Julio they glow.”
Marenco is the brother of Julissa Marenco, Assistant Bureau Chief at the Federal Communications Commission and former president at Telemundo and White House Fellow.
“I’m very honored to be selected to run for this position,” said Marenco. “I’m joining a team that has guided this town in the right direction and continues to do so. The other commissioners have been mentoring me along. They way they do their job, their whole concern is North Bergen first. As someone whose family lives in North Bergen, I’d like to keep up the same type of enthusiasm and ability for the next four years and be a part of a great team for a great town.”
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.