Hugo Cabrera Sworn in as North Bergen's First Hispanic Mayor

His parents came from Colombia looking for a better life. On Wednesday night their son took the oath as mayor of North Bergen, the first Hispanic mayor in the township's history.

Hugo Cabrera, a township commissioner since 1999, was sworn in at a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners at the Nicholas J. Sacco Junior High School auditorium on 85th Street. He follows Nicholas Sacco, who is stepping down after 41 years in local government, 35 of them as mayor.

"Tonight I had the honor of being sworn-in as the first ever Hispanic Mayor of North Bergen in front of my family, friends, colleagues and over 1,000 residents," Cabrera said in a statement after the ceremony.

A town that changed before its town hall did

When Sacco became mayor in the early 1990s, Hispanic residents made up about 41% of North Bergen. By 2025, Census estimates put that share at about 71% of the township's roughly 61,500 residents.

Cabrera, 61, has run the parks and public property department and also works as board secretary for the North Bergen Board of Education. He was first elected to the commission on a slate led by Sacco, who has called him his running mate since 1999. He has also been a critic of ICE enforcement.

"My parents came to this country from Colombia to build a better life, and I am proud to represent a community where so many families, including my own, have found an opportunity to live the American Dream," he said.

How the mayor is chosen

North Bergen uses the commission form of government. Voters elect five commissioners, and the commissioners pick the mayor from among themselves. That is how Cabrera got the job: the board chose him to fill out Sacco's term, which has about seven months left before the May 11, 2027 municipal election.

Sacco, who turns 80 next month, served in the state Senate from 1995 to 2023 and cited recent health problems as a reason for leaving early. Announcing his retirement at his annual Mayor's Ball earlier this month, he told the crowd, "I will soon fade away from being your mayor, but I'll never fade away from being your friend."

How Cabrera says he'll lead

Cabrera said he will work with his fellow commissioners to "make our community more affordable, help residents solve problems and ensure that North Bergen remains a great place to live, work and raise a family." He also said he plans to work with the governor, state legislators, county officials and neighboring mayors.

He brings more than 25 years on the commission to the job, including running the township's parks and public property department, and has been a voice for North Bergen's immigrant families. "I promise to work hard each and every day to earn your support and trust," he said.

Source: Mayor Hugo Cabrera's statement, Oct. 28, 2026; U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Originally reported by Hudson County View and HudPost.

Photo: Hugo Cabrera takes the oath of office in North Bergen on Oct. 28, 2026. Photo courtesy of Mayor Hugo Cabrera.