WEST NEW YORK – Like many in the Capitol on Jan. 6, Albio Sires talks about being ushered to safety as mobs stormed the doors.

The next day, the congressman from Hudson County was safe – physically at least – but not at all comfortable with what he called a “horrible” experience.

Combine that with a growing political polarization that erased such routine events as Dems and Republicans dining together in the House cafeteria, Sires made a decision.

He would retire. So he sold his local condominium and got an apartment in town with plans to spend more time in Florida.

But things changed.

Proving perhaps that it is just about impossible for a long-time politician to simply leave the stage, Sires, 72, is running for mayor in the town’s May 9 election.

As is the norm for most politicos in similar situations, Sires says people in this city of about 50,000 implored him to run.

Then again, it doesn’t look like he needed much prodding.

Sires, who was mayor for a bit more than 10 years beginning in 1995, says it was the best job he’s had in politics. Besides serving in Congress from 2006  through 2022, Sires is a former state Assemblyman and speaker.

He said that as mayor, “You can accomplish things you can’t accomplish in Congress.”

The current mayor, Gabriel Rodriguez, is seeking an Assembly seat, clearing the way for Sires.

His opponent is Cosmo Cirillo, who is now a city commissioner.

Under the town’s form of government, voters elect five commissioners every four years. While the commissioners select the mayor, it is clear that each team will pick Sires or Cirillo if they win.

Cirillo said in a previous interview that voters are wondering why a congressman would want, in a sense, to go backwards, and be mayor again.

Sires says that’s no issue and that voters know he aims “to do the best that I can for West New York.”  He is backed by many of Hudson County’s Democratic luminaries, including Sen. Bob Menendez and state Sen. and Mayor Brian Stack from Union City, the town just to the south.

When we met last Saturday in his Palisade Avenue campaign office, Sires spoke of his accomplishments as mayor, including holding the line on property taxes, increasing the police force from 102 to 128 officers and creating a regionalized North Hudson fire department. The latter accomplishment took much heavy lifting as advocates had to overcome many lawsuits.

But he didn’t do all that he wanted and problems still linger, he said.

The West New York public library is an ancient building; Sires wants to build a new library/media center on the site of the old Schlesinger’s clothing store on Bergenline Ave. Many old-timers will recall Schlesinger’s as the place to go in North Hudson if they needed a suit for just about any special occasion.

A few blocks away – everything in compact West New York is a few blocks away – is a vacant lot at Broadway and 65th Street.

Sires and his team say there is $65 million in state money available to build a school on the site and that is what he wants to do.

His opponents want to use the land for a community center and a parking deck.

Sires, citing the prospect of state aid, says the land can be used only for a school. He said it’s easy to talk about parking, but “What about the children?”

So far, the campaign has not been nasty. His opponents have said Sires is “too old,” but that hardly constitutes a savage personal attack.

But there is about two weeks to go.

After our chat, Sires headed to the town’s nearby Little League field for ceremonies to open the 2023 season. There is tradition here. A West New York team went to the Little League World Series back in the 1960’s and the local high school, Memorial, often has strong squads.

It was a nice show. All the teams and players were uniformed and standing in groups. They recited the Pledge of Allegiance and just like a real game, the National Anthem was played.

The guest speaker was Rickie Ricardo, who does Spanish language broadcasts of Yankee games.

Sires and current mayor Rodriguez spoke to the assembled youngsters about the joys and community building of baseball.

Cirillo was there as well and he and Sires shook hands.

But Cirillo, who is a city commissioner, was not asked to speak. Challenging the political establishment in Hudson County apparently comes with a price.