NJ SENATOR PAUL SARLO (D-36) ENDORSES BALWIERCZAK FOR MAYOR OF NORTH ARLINGTON, PAPILE & SEVER FOR BOROUGH COUNCIL
Senator backs Democratic ticket, adds to a growing list of endorsements in this contest to end massive overdevelopment and ensure accountable local government.
NORTH ARLINGTON — New Jersey State Senator Paul A. Sarlo (D-36), one of the state’s most influential legislative leaders, has endorsed John Balwierczak for Mayor of North Arlington, along with Borough Council candidates Dennis Papile and Cengiz “Jim” Sever in the November 3, 2026, general election.
Senator Sarlo also serves as the longtime mayor of Wood-Ridge here in Bergen County.
Sarlo’s endorsement brings the support of a veteran Democratic legislator and longtime mayor to a local campaign focused on property taxes, responsible development, fiscal accountability and preserving North Arlington’s small-town character.
“Having the support of Senator Sarlo is an important endorsement for our campaign,” said Balwierczak. “His years of experience in state government and municipal leadership demonstrate the importance of responsible budgeting, planning for the future and making government accountable to the people it serves.”
Balwierczak has received numerous endorsements in this campaign including that of US Representative Nellie Pou (D-9), Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, County Clerk John Hogan, Assemblymember Gary Schaer (D-36), and former North Arlington mayors Ed Martone and Peter C. Massa. The ticket also secured the endorsement of the Bergen County Central Trades & Labor Council, AFL-CIO. 
The Balwierczak ticket is challenging the Republican-led administration of Mayor Dan Pronti, campaigning on a platform that emphasizes affordability for homeowners and seniors, greater scrutiny of municipal spending, a more responsible approach to development and restoring bipartisan representation to Borough Hall.
Balwierczak and his running mates argue that residents deserve a governing body that encourages public discussion, carefully evaluates redevelopment proposals and puts taxpayers’ interests first.
SENATOR PAUL SARLO: A RECORD OF PROVEN LEADERSHIP
Senator Paul A. Sarlo represents New Jersey’s 36th Legislative District, which includes municipalities in Bergen and Passaic counties. He serves as the New Jersey Senate’s Deputy Majority Leader and chairs the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, placing him in a key position in the state’s budgetary process.
A licensed professional engineer and planner, as well as a certified municipal engineer, Sarlo earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1991 and 1993, respectively.
His public service began in Wood-Ridge, where he served on the Borough Council from 1995 to 2000 before becoming mayor in 2000. He entered the state Legislature in the Assembly in 2001 and joined the Senate in May 2003.
Balwierczak, the Democratic candidate for mayor, is a lifelong North Arlington resident, homeowner and 2007 graduate of North Arlington High School, where he played varsity basketball for the Vikings.
Balwierczak has become an increasingly active voice in local politics, advocating for property-tax relief, greater accountability in municipal government and a development policy that protects the borough’s residential character of remaining small, safe, suburban and affordable.
His campaign has called for an end to frequent, piecemeal property reassessments in favor of a more predictable reassessment schedule. He has also pledged to scrutinize redevelopment proposals and municipal expenditures more closely to save tax dollars.
Balwierczak believes North Arlington needs a more balanced political environment in which residents have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their taxes, neighborhoods and quality of life. Currently, the entire North Arlington governing body is composed of only Republicans. No Democrat has served since 2019.
If elected, Balwierczak would reduce his mayoral salary by half and donate the remainder toward scholarships for graduating high school seniors.
DENNIS PAPILE & CENGIZ “JIM” SEVER FOR COUNCIL.
Dennis Papile, a longtime North Arlington homeowner who has lived in the borough since 1976, brings experience as a former business owner and current Bergen County employee. He has worked as a North Arlington crossing guard since 2015 and is a U.S. Navy veteran. Dennis is a husband, father, and grandfather.
Cengiz “Jim” Sever is a North Arlington homeowner and journeyman tile and marble installer who belongs to the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 7. His professional background reflects years of skilled trade experience, and his candidacy has received support from organized labor, including the New Jersey AFL-CIO. Sever is married with three children.
With Sarlo’s endorsement, the team is seeking to broaden its support among voters who want a change in direction at Borough Hall. Balwierczak, Papile and Sever believe their objective is to keep North Arlington a community that remains small, safe, suburban and affordable for working families, homeowners, renters and seniors.