BALWIERCZAK, PAPILE & SEVER ENDORSED BY THE BERGEN COUNTY CENTRAL TRADES & LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO!
Local Democrats gain second significant labor nod in bid to oust MAGA incumbents Pronti, Bocchino and Karcic!
NORTH ARLINGTON – In another significant endorsement, the Democratic ticket of John Balwierczak, Dennis Papile and Cengiz “Jim” Sever have secured the support of the all-important Bergen County Central Trades & Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Mayoral candidate John Balwierczak was notified today of this labor backing.
“North Arlington is a blue-collar community that represents the traditional values of being the gateway to Bergen County. We oppose the gentrification and urbanization of NA that has led to tax hikes and the destruction of our business district. The proliferation of apartments constructed along Ridge Road is just another example of the kind of economic disaster most residents oppose. Between continued rolling tax reassessments and Pronti giving himself and his council cronies another raise to attend a single council meeting a month, change is necessary in Borough Hall,” noted Balwierczak, a life-long resident and graduate of North Arlington High School.
“I’m the underdog, but I’m a battler. I represent Viking blue. Pronti is from Bayonne,” chuckled the challenger.
The Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council is the county-level affiliate of the AFL-CIO in Bergen County, New Jersey. It serves as an umbrella organization that coordinates the political, legislative, and community activities of organized labor throughout the county. Rather than representing workers directly, it represents affiliated local unions and their members.
Their size and membership are large, and represents approximately 50,000 union members and their families.
It also includes roughly 50 affiliated local unions from both the public and private sectors.
These include unions representing:
Teachers
Police and public employees
Nurses and healthcare workers
Electricians
Plumbers
Communications workers
Operating engineers
Transit workers
Building trades
Machinists
Many others.
While Bergen County has nearly one million residents, 50,000 union members represent a substantial voting bloc, particularly because unions often mobilize not only members but also retirees and family members.
The council is active in numerous municipal elections and sponsor the following activities:
Endorsing candidates for federal, state, county, and municipal office.
Organizing “Labor Walks” and get-out-the-vote efforts.
Lobbying on labor legislation.
Supporting organizing campaigns.
Awarding scholarships.
Coordinating charitable and community service activities.
Providing a unified political voice for affiliated unions.
In local municipal elections, particularly in Bergen County, it is considered a strong endorsement that offers credibility with organized labor. That results in volunteer support, including door-knocking, phone banking, and voter outreach.
“This election is a referendum on the policies of the Pronti Administration’s inability to control taxes and spending, unbridled tax reassessments on an annual basis and turning his back on local retail businesses that are closing and leaving the community. Even Melray’s, the largest occupant on Ridge Road, has remained empty and dormant for over a year. Pronti has no plan of action. The only plan from Pronti is to give a blanket endorsement to out-of-town developers who are funding this urbanization at an alarming rate. I have not accepted a dollar in developer donations. I refuse to follow the failures of Belleville like my opponent who has copied those flawed policies his entire time as mayor,” offered the Democrat.
In other campaign news, longtime New Jersey Assemblymember Gary Schaer (D-36) of Passaic City has also endorsed his campaign to topple the Pronti political regime.
Local Democrats have also been endorsed by former North Arlington mayors Peter C. Massa and Edward Martone.
Meet the Candidates!
Call John Balwierczak at (201) 655-8497 and he’ll be happy to stop by and answer any questions you might have about the future of North Arlington.
Need a sign? Want to volunteer? Join this effort restore North Arlington’s community values as being the gateway to Bergen County.