BALWIERCZAK: POU IS THE “RIGHT STUFF” FOR NORTH ARLINGTON!
NA local happy to have her support for NA Borough Council.
NORTH ARLINGTON – When the 9th District lost Rep. William “Bill” Pascrell (D-9), residents were worried about reliable leadership for North Arlington in the halls of congress.
Those fears were relieved when former NJ Senator Nellie Pou (D-35) emerged as Pascrell’s logical successor last November.
“Congresswoman Pou makes sense for North Arlington. She understands government at the municipal, county, state and federal levels. She served as a county administrator, state legislator in both houses and now in the United States House of Representatives. Her help, assistance and advice will help us turn around North Arlington and bring back responsible two-party government. Seniors, working families, homeowners and tenants can rely on her to watch our back in Washington as our reliable elected official,” offered Balwierczak who is seeking a seat on the North Arlington Borough Council with Cengiz Sever, a local homeowner, husband and father.
Born on May 20, 1956, in Paterson, New Jersey, she has had a distinguished career in public service. Pou began her legislative tenure in the New Jersey General Assembly in 1997, becoming the first woman and first Latina to represent the 35th legislative district. She served there until 2012, after which she was elected to the New Jersey Senate, where she served until 2025. Throughout her time in the state legislature, Pou held significant leadership positions, including chairing the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus since 2006 and serving as the Senate Majority Caucus Chair.
In August 2024, following the passing of our long-time Congressman Bill Pascrell, Pou was selected as the Democratic nominee to represent New Jersey’s 9th congressional district.
She won the general election in November 2024 and assumed office on January 3, 2025.
Pou’s election marked a historic moment, as she became the first Latina to serve in Congress from New Jersey.
Throughout her career, Pou has been a strong advocate for healthcare, social justice, and economic issues, aiming to improve the quality of life for her constituents.
“North Arlington is a blue-collar community that demands common sense leadership. Congresswoman Pou will work hard for our community values,” offered Balwierczak.
In 2024, John ran as a Democratic candidate for the North Arlington Borough Council, aiming to break the Republican majority in local government. Despite his efforts, he was not elected but expressed gratitude for the experience, referring to it as a “constructive learning experience.”