Biography
Albio Sires is a Cuban-born American politician and businessman who has served in various political roles in New Jersey. Born on January 26, 1951, in Bejucal, Cuba, he immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 11. They settled in West New York, New Jersey, where Sires attended Memorial High School and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Marketing from Saint Peter's College in 1974. He furthered his education with a Master of Arts in Spanish from Middlebury College in 1985.
Sires began his political career as the mayor of West New York, New Jersey, serving from 1995 to 2006. He was the first Hispanic individual to hold this position and was recognized as Mayor of the Year in 2004. In 2000, he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 33rd district. He served as Speaker of the Assembly from 2002 to 2006, becoming the first Hispanic person to hold that role in New Jersey.
In 2006, Sires was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 13th congressional district. He served in Congress from 2006 to 2023, focusing on issues such as affordable housing, mass transit, and international relations. After retiring from Congress, he returned to local politics, winning the mayoral election in West New York in 2023.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Marketing from Saint Peter's College, 1974
- Master of Arts in Spanish from Middlebury College, 1985
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Political Experience:
- Mayor of West New York, New Jersey: 1995–2006, 2023–present
- Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly: 2002–2006
- U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 13th Congressional District: 2006–2023
