Commissioner Cosmo A. Cirillo on Friday night formally announced his intention to run for mayor of West New York along with running mates Assemblywoman Angelica M. Jimenez, Commissioner Margarita Guzman, longtime residents Hiram Gonzalez and Walter Lopez.

Their slogan?

West New York Forward.

Cirillo and his running mates will kick-off their campaign with the grand opening of the West New York Forward headquarters at 6317 Hudson Avenue, West New York in New Jersey on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at 12:00 P.M.

Cirillo’s connection to West New York began when his grandparents immigrated with his father to the United States from Italy in 1972 and chose to call West New York their home. His family has lived here ever since. From a young age, Cirillo said he has exhibited a strong passion to serve the community, beginning his journey in government at the ripe age of 16 where he interned for the Town of West New York.

At the age of 20, Cirillo was appointed to the West New York Board of Education where he served for over four years, including two as its president. He has also served as the ABC board secretary and the deputy town clerk for West New York. As town administrator in the nearby Town of Guttenberg, Commissioner Cirillo currently applies his experience in municipal government to focus on senior services and recreation. He is proud to represent the residents of West New York as the youngest individual to become a commissioner within the town, bringing a fresh perspective to local government.

“I’m a lifelong resident with deep roots in the community and I possess a strong sense of governmental experience that I plan to employ when elected mayor,” Commissioner Cirillo stated. “I am an active community leader with a strong track record of delivering on the promises I have made. As mayor, I want to continue fulfilling those promises by working with my colleagues to improve our community, build recreation systems that will offer quality family activities, and expand resources to support our diverse business community.”

Running for commissioner is Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez, who is serving her sixth term in the State of New Jersey General Assembly. She serves as chair of the Human Services Committee, vice-chair of the Housing Committee, and on the Health Committee. Since taking office Assemblywoman Jimenez’ impact as a legislator has been felt statewide. She has been an advocate for New Jersey families, spearheading important bills on education and immigration, such as bill A-4743, which supports driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Commissioner Margarita Guzman is running for re-election. She has a passion for education and public service stemming from a family rooted in educators and lawyers. Commissioner for the Housing Authority, and then as the vice chairwoman for the Hudson County Democratic Organization, Commissioner Guzman brings a wealth of experience and understanding in municipal government and redevelopment.

Also joining Cirillo’s slate in West New York is longtime resident Hiram Gonzalez, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving the country for five and a half years, Gonzalez received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and worked as finance manager for the National Football League (NFL) and later on as assistant director for Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine. Currently, he is the assistant finance director for the Town of Guttenberg.

Building on the experience of his running mates, Walter Lopez pledges to use his experience as the former director of redevelopment for the West New York Housing Authority to help identify pragmatic solutions that will combat homelessness while ensuring the safety of senior citizens and families living in the buildings. He is currently working as a code enforcement officer and housing inspector for the town with a focus on making sure its residents are in a healthy and safe environment.

Pillars of West New York Forward include:

• Bringing Back a State-of-the-Art Recreation Center
• The Development of a Comprehensive Parking Plan that Includes the Implementation of Angled Parking Throughout Town
• The Revitalization of  Environmental Services in Order to Focus on Cleaner Streets and Quality of Life Initiatives
• The Establishment of a Business Improvement District to Revitalize Businesses Along Bergenline Avenue
• The Increase of Accessibility for the Mayor by Establishing Walk-In & Mobile Office Hours
• The Creation of a Division of Constituent Services to Steer Residents to Programs and Services they Need.

“I want to be the type of mayor that people can relate to and feel at ease when voicing their concerns,” concluded Cirillo. “Under my leadership, we will work together to move West New York forward and show the state what our small but vibrant town has to offer.”

Election day is Tuesday, May 9, 2023.  To learn more about the campaign, visit West New York Forward’s social media @WNYForward on Facebook and Instagram.