Campaign
2008:
GOP GOES BEGGING FOR DOLLARS!
Candidates Bocchino & Herrmann criticize Mayor
Massa for stopping Arlington Valley, plead for political control that
would ensure gridlock to local government!
NORTH
ARLINGTON - In a series of fundraising letters signed by the candidates dated
April 30th and a second letter undated (click here to see letters), the local Republican Party is
back on the attack!
The April
30th letter was paid for by the North Arlington Republican Club and the second
undated letter does not reveal who was responsible for payment. New Jersey
election laws require that all political correspondence and solicitations
contain a "paid for" line.
"The
second letter seems to be in violation of the state's ELEC laws. If they
can't run a proper campaign, how can anyone expect them to manage the finances
of a $20 million dollar operation," questioned one Democrat after
reviewing the document.
After 22
years of uninterrupted political control of North Arlington, Republicans are
itchy for political power no matter what the consequences to taxpayers.
"They want to muzzle Pete Massa and
render the office of mayor irrelevant. They desperately want control of the
community and thus a throwback to squandered host fees, high taxes and the
embracing of redevelopment schemes like EnCap,"
observed Councilman Al Granell, who will serve as this year's campaign manager
for Democrats Steve Tanelli and former Councilman Mark Yampaglia.
Democrats
called Bocchino & Herrmann's criticism of local government "comical given the fact the Kaiser
Administration practically bankrupted North Arlington."
"With
Jim Herrmann on the council, he raised taxes 121%. He supported EnCap. He was a "yes" man for
Len Kaiser. It's as simple as that." said one local Democrat after reading
the letters by the Republicans.
"We've reduced the borough's debt some 39% from
$28 million to $17 million. Mr. Bocchino has no tangible credentials to manage
this community and Mr. Herrmann raised taxes
every year he was an elected official on the council as well as the school
board. They can't talk about their own record, so they lie about ours,"
observed Council President Steve Tanelli.
Tanelli, who
was elected and re-elected by record margins in 2004 and 2005 continued his
call for "live debates" with Mr. Bocchino and Mr. Herrmann.
"It's
easy to have someone write a letter for you and sign it. The time has come for
the GOP ticket to stand on their own two feet and face the public. The fact they don't even bother to attend
council meetings speaks volumes of their commitment to bipartisan
government," noted Tanelli.
Democrats
were confident based on the record.
"We produced a "zero tax"
increase budget without a single, solitary suggestion from Mr. Hughes or
Mr. Bianchi. Mr. Bianchi admitted as much to being a rookie at the last council
meeting. It's a shame they need to lie to mask the fact they have no record of
accomplishment," said Granell, the council's Finance Chairman and
architect of the 2008 municipal budget.
Democrats
were taken aback by the attacks on Mayor Pete Massa, who has made stopping EnCap the centerpiece of his tenure on the
governing body.
"In
the letter dated April 30th, they accuse Democrats of bringing redevelopment to
a standstill. That's right. We stopped EnCap. We called for a federal inquiry and stopped a
project nobody seems to support other than Mr. Bocchino and Mr. Herrmann. These
accusations long confirm this ticket's support of EnCap and Arlington
Valley. It was Bocchino who happily solicited campaign donations from EnCap lawyers and it's the same Jim Bocchino who set the table for EnCap as a member of the now defunct North
Arlington Redevelopment Agency. He was rejected convincingly in 2006 and he'll
be rejected again because people are tired of politicians like Bocchino who's
only reason for running is to gain political control and take this government
hostage," challenged Granell.
Democrats
called the race for council a choice between "the past and the future."
"Bocchino
and Herrmann represent a failed past that few
people support. Both were soundly rejected at the polls because of their blind loyalty to former Mayor Len
Kaiser. Both have endorsed EnCap in words and action. Both supported the solicitation of EnCap lawyers to the tune of nearly
$25,000 in campaign contributions. Who are they soliciting now? Donald Trump? Democrats represent the change homeowners
deserve. They delivered on a no-tax increase budget while stopping EnCap. They want to keep North Arlington
small, safe and suburban. The contrast in tickets couldn't be
greater," said Nick Antonicello, Sr, the Democratic party's municipal
leader.
