NA candidate Jim Sever attends labor workshop for AFL-CIO members!
Congressman Frank Pallone (D), the dean of the New Jersey congressional delegation poses for a quick photo today with North Arlington Democratic council candidate Cengiz “Jim” Sever. Sever is the only union member running in this year’s General Election for councilman.
NORTH ARLINGTON – Cengiz “Jim” Sever attended a weekend workshop for union member seeking public office this November which will be a big boost to the Democratic locals who are trying to break up an all-Republican Mayor & Council!
Sever, a homeowner, husband and Dad is a member of the New York based Local #7 where he’s been employed for more than two decades.
There are approximately 2,000 AFL-CIO members that reside and vote in North Arlington.
Sever said his campaign is one of “common sense,” and that protecting homeowners from massive overdevelopment and random reassessments are destroying North Arlington’s appeal as a small, safe and suburban bedroom community. 
“Our opponents are wrong on massive overdevelopment that even the Republican candidate for NJ governor disagrees with them. The residents are tired of these tax hikes and now we find out that hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on legal fees and settlements. Tax refunds to homeowners due to successful tax appeals is now the norm versus the exception,” offered the candidate.
“Tax refunds to residents only demonstrate how ineffective these random tax assessments have become. They are unfair and not equitable. North Arlington is in the business of massive legal fees and payouts in lawsuits they cannot win,” offered the Democrats.
The Democrats are shocked that a $200,000 settlement was rewarded to a former library employee and the council voted “yes” yet again!
“What motivated this former employee to sue North Arlington and what were the facts of the case? Who is being protected from public scrutiny? We need an investigation as to why the borough was held liable for this amount of money and where is the accountability and transparency of this borough council? It does not exist. It is a clown car of political hacks spending our tax dollars with no consideration for the community,” blasted candidate John Balwierczak.
“They can make all the personal attacks on me they want. I’ll hold them accountable on their actions and votes. DeCicco and Del Russo are nothing but political puppets of Dan Pronti, pure and simple. They selected a candidate who rarely votes, and her running-mate is a real estate agent and the original EnCap sympathizer who thinks eminent domain seizure is just fine,” offered the former Republican.
The Democrats said they will hold DeCicco and Del Russo’s “feet to the fire” regarding this outrageous settlement of $200,000.
“This will be an issue in this campaign whether they like it or not,” offered the Democrats.
Frank Pallone Jr. is an American lawyer and Democratic politician who has represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1988—initially serving the 3rd District until its shift in 1993 to the 6th District, which includes Middlesex County and parts of Monmouth County.
Pallone currently serves as the Ranking Member of the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee—a position he assumed in 2023 after previously serving as Chair from 2019 to 2023.
Pallone has also played key roles in advancing major legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and measures to strengthen oversight of cosmetics safety and Medicaid provisions.
Born and raised in Long Branch, New Jersey, Pallone earned a B.A. from Middlebury College, an M.A. from the Fletcher School at Tufts, and a J.D. from Rutgers‑Camden.