Editing North Bergen, New Jersey (section)

==Government==
[[File:North Bergen, NJ municipal building, April 2024.jpg|thumb|North Bergen Town Hall]]

===Local government===
North Bergen has been governed under the [[Walsh Act]] form of New Jersey municipal government since 1931.<ref>[http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF "The Commission Form of Municipal Government"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605155532/http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF |date=2015-06-05 }}, p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 8. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The township is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the [[City commission government|form of government]].<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of five commissioners elected [[at-large]] to the Township Committee in [[Non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] elections to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. After each election, each individual is assigned to head one of the five commissions and the commissioners select one of their members to serve as mayor.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 142.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, members of the North Bergen Township Committee are 
Mayor [[Nicholas Sacco]] (Commissioner of Public Affairs<ref>[https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/mayor-nicholas-j-sacco Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626172332/https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/mayor-nicholas-j-sacco |date=June 26, 2022 }}, North Bergen. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref>), 
Hugo D. Cabrera (Commissioner of Parks and Public Property<ref>[https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-hugo-cabrera Hugo D. Cabrera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626172332/https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-hugo-cabrera |date=June 26, 2022 }}, North Bergen. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref>), 
Frank Gargiulo (Commissioner of Public Works<ref>[https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-frank-gargiulo Commissioner Frank Gargiulo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626172331/https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-frank-gargiulo |date=June 26, 2022 }}, North Bergen. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref>), 
Julio Marenco (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance<ref>[https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-julio-marenco Commissioner Julio Marenco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626172324/https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-julio-marenco |date=June 26, 2022 }}, North Bergen. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref>), and 
Allen Pascual (Commissioner of Public Safety<ref>[https://www.northbergen.org/Officials/Bio/commissioner-allen-pascualCommissioner Allen Pascual] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930140438/https://www.northbergen.org/Errors/e500?aspxerrorpath=/Officials/Bio/commissioner-allen-pascualCommissioner |date=September 30, 2023 }}, North Bergen. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref>), all serving concurrent terms of office ending in May 2027.<ref name=Officials>[http://www.northbergen.org/Directory Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203120559/http://www.northbergen.org/Directory |date=February 3, 2018 }}, North Bergen Township. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.northbergen.org/_Content/pdf/budgets/CY-2022-Introduced-Budget.pdf 2022 Municipal User Friendly Budget] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419181624/https://www.northbergen.org/_Content/pdf/budgets/CY-2022-Introduced-Budget.pdf |date=April 19, 2022 }}, North Bergen Township. Accessed June 26, 2022.</ref><ref name=HudsonDirectory>[https://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/elected-officials/#ElectedOfficials Elected Officials] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112221516/https://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/elected-officials/#ElectedOfficials |date=November 12, 2019 }}, [[Hudson County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed May 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Hudson2019Municipal>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Hudson/95800/Web02.226438/#/ 2019 May Municipal Election North Bergen - West New York Unofficial Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930140518/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Hudson/95800/Web02.226438/#/ |date=September 30, 2023 }}, [[Hudson County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated May 17, 2019. Accessed November 14, 2019.</ref><ref>McDonald, Corey W. [https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/05/with-election-victory-north-bergen-mayor-continues-his-28-year-run.html "With election victory, North Bergen mayor continues his 28-year run"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707131121/https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/05/with-election-victory-north-bergen-mayor-continues-his-28-year-run.html |date=July 7, 2019 }}, ''[[The Jersey Journal]]'', May 15, 2019. Accessed November 13, 2019. "Sacco and incumbent commissioners Frank J. Gargiulo, Hugo D. Cabrera, Allen Pascual, and Julio A. Marenco cruised to reelection, each racking up more than 8,000 votes. Sacco was the top vote-getter with over 8,700 — more than double Wainstein's 4,026 votes."</ref>

===Corruption===
After serving as Township Clerk from 1971 to 1979, Joseph Mocco was arrested on August 7, 1986, on charges of illegally dumping tons of construction material within North Bergen and other nearby communities.<ref>Sullivan, Joseph F. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/09/nyregion/new-jersey-closes-dump-a-bit-too-late.html "New Jersey Closes Dump a Bit Too Late"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819113204/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/09/nyregion/new-jersey-closes-dump-a-bit-too-late.html |date=August 19, 2016 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 9, 1989. Accessed June 2, 2015. "Another man convicted was Joseph Mocco, a former North Bergen Township Clerk and longtime political leader, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison."</ref> Mocco was convicted and began serving a prison sentence in July 1995. Mocco was paroled in 1999, with several special conditions imposed on him upon his release by the New Jersey State Parole Board designed to prohibit him from working or participating in local elections.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/parole/docs/reports/AnnualReport04.pdf 2004 Annual Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142629/http://www.state.nj.us/parole/docs/reports/AnnualReport04.pdf |date=April 2, 2015 }}, New Jersey State Parole Board. Accessed June 2, 2015.</ref>

In February 2004, Peter Perez, former commissioner in charge of Parks and Recreation, was sentenced to serve six months in a federal prison for accepting kickbacks and bribes from a contractor who had several business contracts with the township. He received a reduced sentence in light of his cooperation with authorities.<ref>Hague, Jim. [http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2396229/article-Perez-gets-six-months-in-jail-Former-Parks-and-Recreation-commissioner-ordered-to-repay--26K-to-town--pays--5K-fine "Perez gets six months in jail Former Parks and Recreation commissioner ordered to repay $26K to town, pays $5K fine"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705063136/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2396229/article-Perez-gets-six-months-in-jail-Former-Parks-and-Recreation-commissioner-ordered-to-repay--26K-to-town--pays--5K-fine |date=2018-07-05 }}, ''The Hudson Reporter'', February 6, 2004. Accessed July 4, 2018</ref>

On March 27, 2008, North Bergen Athletic Director Jerry Maietta and Guidance Counselor Ralph Marino were among 45 men swept up in a Bergen County raid. Bergen County prosecutors described the two as lower level operatives in an expansive network of bookies, package holders, drug dealers and drug distributors. Other transactions included knock-off women's purses and human organs.<ref>Gartland, Michael. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080329161252/http://www.northjersey.com/news/aroundnj/Mob-run_gambling_and_drug_ring_busted_authorities_say.html "45 charged in Mob-run gambling and drug ring"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', March 27, 2008, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of March 29, 2008. Accessed April 15, 2014.</ref>

On September 11, 2012, North Bergen's Superintendent of the Department of Public Works James Wiley pleaded guilty to one count of second degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct. Wiley was convicted for using the town's resources to participate in political campaigns.<ref>Conte, Michelangelo. [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/09/ex-north_bergen_dpw_chief_i_wa.html "Ex-North Bergen DPW chief: I was 'ordered' to send crews to campaign in Jersey City, Bayonne and more"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223113417/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/09/ex-north_bergen_dpw_chief_i_wa.html |date=February 23, 2014 }}, [[NJ.com]], September 11, 2012.</ref> In November 2015, two DPW supervisors were sentenced to five years in prison following their convictions on charges that they had directed department workers to work on political campaigns and perform work on behalf of supervisors and other officials.<ref>Akin, Stephanie. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/two-north-bergen-dpw-supervisors-sentenced-to-prison-for-misconduct-1.1454365 "Two North Bergen DPW supervisors sentenced to prison for misconduct"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114040219/http://www.northjersey.com/news/two-north-bergen-dpw-supervisors-sentenced-to-prison-for-misconduct-1.1454365 |date=November 14, 2015 }}, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', November 12, 2015. Accessed November 13, 2015. "Two former supervisors with the township Department of Public Works were sentenced to state prison Thursday for assigning their subordinates to work on election campaigns or do personal chores for them or their boss, law enforcement officials said. Troy Bunero, 49, of North Bergen and Francis 'Frank' Longo, 50, of Ridgefield Park were each sentenced to five years in state prison with no possibility of parole, according to an Attorney General's Office news release."</ref>

A 2013 report issued by the office of the [[New Jersey State Comptroller]] stated that an attorney had been hired by the township between 1988 and 1990 for a [[no-show job]] for which he had been paid an annual salary of $18,800 plus benefits. While an employee of the township, the attorney said that he had been pressured to contribute to the mayor and other individuals affiliated with the mayor. His employment was terminated in 2006 after a disagreement with his political patrons.<ref>Baxter, Chris. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2013/06/nj_comptroller_legal_bills_wasted_money_north_bergen.html "North Bergen officials paid attorney to do nothing, NJ Comptroller says in new report"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], June 25, 2013. Accessed May 5, 2024. "An attorney for North Bergen made $18,800 a year plus health benefits, but township officials had no idea what he was doing, or whether he was even at work, according to a report issued today by the state Office of the Comptroller."</ref><ref>[https://www.nj.gov/comptroller/news/docs/nj_comptroller_2013_annual_report.pdf#page=22 ''Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2013''], [[New Jersey State Comptroller]]. Accessed May 5, 2024. "One township, North Bergen, paid an attorney a salary over a period of years and yet was unable to identify any services the attorney actually provided. After our staff requested additional information, the attorney in question resigned from his position. That case has been referred to the Division of Criminal Justice."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Senator Nicholas J. Sacco.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mayor Nicholas Sacco also represents the 32nd Legislative District in the [[New Jersey Senate]]]] -->
North Bergen is located in the [[New Jersey's 8th congressional district|8th Congressional District]]<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219202014/https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf |date=February 19, 2020 }}, [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 33rd state legislative district.<ref>[https://nj1015.com/whats-your-new-nj-legislative-district-20-moved-on-new-map/ Districts by Number for 2023-2031] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307042307/https://nj1015.com/whats-your-new-nj-legislative-district-20-moved-on-new-map/ |date=March 7, 2023 }}, [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 08}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 33}}

{{NJ Hudson County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 30,595 registered voters in North Bergen, of which 18,816 (61.5%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 2,462 (8.0%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 9,301 (30.4%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 16 voters registered to other parties.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-hudson-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Hudson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520233330/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-hudson-co-summary-report.pdf |date=May 20, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 78.1% of the vote (15,600 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 21.1% (4,209 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (164 votes), among the 20,134 ballots cast by the township's 32,627 registered voters (161 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 61.7%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-hudson.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Hudson County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226065926/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-hudson.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-hudson.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Hudson County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226063832/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-hudson.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 69.6% of the vote here (14,791 cast), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 28.7% (6,100 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (169 votes), among the 21,254 ballots cast by the town's 34,402 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.8%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Hudson County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520234307/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf |date=May 20, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 65.4% of the vote here (12,783 ballots cast), outpolling Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 33.5% (6,541 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (118 votes), among the 19,540 ballots cast by the town's 30,540 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 64.0.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Hudson County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520184200/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf |date=May 20, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential Elections Results
!Year
![[Republican Party (New Jersey)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (New Jersey)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 5, 2024 - Hudson County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.0% ''9,402''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.4%'''  ''10,734''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.6% ''690''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 3, 2020 - Hudson County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.8% ''7,484''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.7%'''  ''15,456''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.5% ''179''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 8, 2016 - Hudson County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.2% ''5,010''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''73.0%''' ''15,140''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.5% ''215''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref name=2012Election>{{Cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-hudson.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Hudson County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|21.1% ''4,209''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''78.1%''' ''15,600''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.8% ''164''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]'''<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-hudson.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Hudson County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2024.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.7%  ''6,100''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''69.6%''' ''14,791'' 
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.8% ''169''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Hudson County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520184200/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_hudson_co_2004.pdf |date=May 20, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|33.5% ''6,541''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.4%'''   ''12,783''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.4% ''118''
|-
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] received 60.5% of the vote (6,802 cast), ahead of Republican [[Chris Christie]] with 38.2% (4,296 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (147 votes), among the 11,704 ballots cast by the township's 33,134 registered voters (459 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 35.3%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-hudson.pdf |title=Governor - Hudson County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133337/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-hudson.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-hudson.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Hudson County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133308/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-hudson.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 73.9% of the vote here (9,680 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 22.3% (2,922 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 1.5% (200 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (151 votes), among the 13,106 ballots cast by the town's 28,555 registered voters, yielding a 45.9% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-hudson.pdf 2009 Governor: Hudson County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822214207/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-hudson.pdf |date=August 22, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

===Public safety===
The North Bergen Police Force was founded in 1923, replacing the peace force known as "roundsmen", who began patrolling the township at night in 1907.<ref>[http://www.northbergenpolice.com/community/history.aspx History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102001604/http://www.northbergenpolice.com/community/history.aspx |date=January 2, 2015 }}, North Bergen Police Department. Accessed January 1, 2015. "An organized peace force known as 'roundsmen' existed in North Bergen since 1907. Roundsmen patrolled the township, mostly in the evening hours and helped protect the community against robberies, fires, and disturbances."</ref> The North Bergen Police Department attracted negative publicity in 2025 after a series of alleged "pranks" by its police chief, which included defecating on the floor, spiking a coffee pot with prescription drugs, and inserting a hypodermic needle into an officer's penis. The chief and his predecessors also allegedly pressured officers into writing more parking tickets in order to raise money for the township.<ref name=pranks>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nj-police-chief-accused-turning-department-animal-house-rcna198241|title=N.J. police chief accused of turning department into 'Animal House'}}</ref>

North Bergen's fire department merged with those of the neighboring communities of [[Guttenberg, New Jersey|Guttenberg]], [[Union City, New Jersey|Union City]], [[West New York, New Jersey|West New York]] and [[Weehawken, New Jersey|Weehawken]] in 1999 to form [[North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue]] (NHRFR).<ref>[http://northhudsonfire.com/about-north-hudson-regional-fire-rescue/ About] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321150131/http://northhudsonfire.com/about-north-hudson-regional-fire-rescue/ |date=March 21, 2020 }}, [[North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue]]. Accessed March 31, 2020. "In 1999, North Bergen, Union City, West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg combined their fire departments into an award-winning and nationally recognized fire-protection unit called North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue."</ref><ref>Strunsky, Steve. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/10/nyregion/road-and-rail-fewer-firefighters-but-lots-of-chiefs.html "Road And Rail; Fewer Firefighters But Lots of Chiefs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918164702/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/10/nyregion/road-and-rail-fewer-firefighters-but-lots-of-chiefs.html |date=September 18, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 10, 1999. Accessed January 1, 2015. "When the newly formed North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue -- made up of departments from Union City, North Bergen, West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg -- swore in its leaders last Monday, it had an unusual and somewhat unexpected command structure: two chiefs and two executive directors."</ref> Engine 1, Engine 6, Engine 9 / Battalion 3, Engine 13 and Ladder 5 are all located in North Bergen.<ref>[http://northhudsonfire.com/coverage/ Coverage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321150141/http://northhudsonfire.com/coverage/ |date=March 21, 2020 }}, [[North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue]]. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref>

NHRFR and North Bergen Emergency Medical Services (headquartered at 63rd Street and Granton Avenue) were among the many Hudson County agencies that responded to the January 2009 crash of [[Flight 1549]], as did [[Palisades Medical Center]], where 57 of the survivors were treated for injuries.<ref>Staff. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/07/22/miracle-on-the-hudson-survivors-to-return-to-waterfront-to-thank-nj-emergency-responders/ "'Miracle on the Hudson' survivors to return to waterfront to thank NJ emergency responders"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001163218/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/07/22/miracle-on-the-hudson-survivors-to-return-to-waterfront-to-thank-nj-emergency-responders/ |date=October 1, 2020 }}, ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', July 26, 2009; Page 4. Accessed November 13, 2019.</ref><ref>Tirella, Tricia. [https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/08/02/a-pat-on-the-back/ "A pat on the back; Flight 1549 survivors thank local first responders"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001161321/https://archive.hudsonreporter.com/2009/08/02/a-pat-on-the-back/ |date=October 1, 2020 }}, ''[[The Hudson Reporter]]'', August 2, 2009, Pages 5 & 17. Accessed November 13, 2019.</ref>