Mina Ekladious will seek Democratic nomination
By David Wildstein, March 22 2026 3:19 pm
The president of the Kearny Policemen’s Benevolent Association will seek the Democratic nomination for Hudson County Commissioner for a district seat where the longtime incumbent is retiring.
Mina Ekladious kicked off his candidacy on Thursday at a fundraiser the said brought in about $37,000.
At the event, Ekladious pledged to work on improving public safety throughout the county, along with traffic safety, parking, infrastructure and flooding issues.
He will face Alex Valdez, a retired sergeant in the New Jersey National Guard and non-profit activist from Kearny.
The incumbent, Albert J. Cifelli, was first elected in 1995 after serving eleven years as a Harrison councilman in a tenure that overlapped with the legendary Mayor Frank E. Rodgers was mayor; Rodgers, a former state senator and county clerk, was mayor for 48 years.
Hudson County’s District 9 includes East Newark, Harris, Kearny, Secaucus, and part of Jersey City.
