The beer wasn’t free at Brian Stack’s victory celebration, but the crowd loved it anyway.

Several hundred people turned up at Fomento Hall to see Stack give his victory speech, and were treated to the first minute or so of Queen’s classic song “We Will Rock You,” loudly looped over and over again for a good half an hour.  Leading up to Stack’s appearance, the audience grew so antsy that a cheer rose up when a balloon popped.

Stack had just trounced his opponent, Sal Vega, getting 77% of the vote.  He even beat Vega in his home town of West New York, where he’s mayor.  The two assembly candidates on his slate, Ruben Ramos, Jr. and Caridad Rodriguez, also won. 

When Stack finally made his way up to the podium, the roar was deafening.  By the time he uttered his first word, he was drenched in champagne – all the more special for a politician with a reputation that verges on teetotaler.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart” said Stack.  But his words were not so gracious to his opponent.  “This is one of the dirtiest, nastiest campaigns in the history of New Jersey,” he said, adding that “this is the beginning of the change that will sweep the rest of New Jersey.”

Stack said he will continue to govern with the same style he’s known for in Union City–  making himself accessible to the public and doling out help.  He added that he would open offices in both Union City and West New York, and that everyone will still know his cell phone number.

And with a flourish, Stack promised the town a gift.  “In the next week or two, we’ll have a giant party for everyone in the whole town,” he said.  He even promised to drink some champagne.

Despite his sweeping claims of change in New Jersey’s political scene, the Hudson County Democratic Organization wanted to reassure observers that the loss was not a fatal blow.  Spokesman Jack Bohrer pointed out that their candidates won nine out of 13 races.

“Nine out of thirteen ain’t bad,” said Bohrer.

Vega, facing his first ever loss, issued a simple, sober statement: “I accept the results of the election.”