HACKENSACK- Bergen County officials last night swore in incumbents Tracy Silna Zur (D-Franklin Lakes) and Steven A. Tanelli (D-North Arlington) for their third terms at the Freeholder reorganization meeting in Hackensack last night. The two won approximately 60% of the votes in a historically purple county during the 2018 midterm elections. In addition, last night the Board chose their 2019 leadership as Germaine Ortiz (D-Emerson), Mary Amoroso (D-Mahwah), and Joan Voss (D-Fort Lee) to serve as Chairwoman, Vice-Chair, and Chair Pro Tempore respectively. Bergen is now one of two counties in the state to have an all-female leadership team. This is also the first time in the county’s history that there is a Latina Chairwoman.

Several leaders from across the state came to Hackensack to recognize these historical moments including First Lady Tammy Murphy, Senator Bob Menendez who gave the oath of office to Germaine Ortiz, commenting that only in America could the children of immigrants become a U.S. Senator and Freeholder Chair, Congressman Bill Pascrell who swore-in Tracy Zur, Congressman Josh Gottheimer who administered the oath of office to Mary Amoroso, Senator Joe Lagana, Assemblyman Chris Tully, Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Bergen Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato, and many municipal leaders.

“Women have made great strides, but all of us – men and women alike – must never be complacent when it comes to equality,” said Freeholder Chairwoman Germaine Ortiz. “I decided to run for public office to improve the lives and opportunities of the people in my community. These ideals will always guide how I govern and as a new challenge arises; I will not forget why I decided to be a public official, to help those less fortunate and create a better future for all in or communities.”

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