Del Russo, Cavadas and Bocchino have “No Interest” in debating their Democratic Opponents!
NORTH ARLINGTON – While the GOP candidates in this race have no problem politicizing Little League games and taking credit for the work and accomplishment of others such as the resurfacing performed at the soccer field, Allan Park and the Little League Field, NA Today has learned that the three GOP hopefuls are “petrified” at the thought of a side by side discussion with their Democratic counterparts for Borough Council.
Sources tell us that in particular, council candidate Donna Bocchino, the daughter of retired patronage employee James “Jimmy” Bocchino wants no part of any kind of debate or forum and her insistence on avoiding such a discussion has angered top Republicans!
Some say the Republicans don’t want a debate because they will have to explain the fundraising antics of her father that have been praised by Mayor Dan Pronti (click here for video of Pronti praising Bocchino).
In addition, Republicans remain mum on these slick promotional videos they say were not funded or paid for by tax dollars, but won’t tell anyone who paid for them and some sense they could be considered an “in-kind” contribution to the North Arlington Republican Club or the campaign committee of Del Russo, Cavadas and Bocchino.
“Why are they refusing to disclose the source of these obvious propaganda videos? It’s machine politics at its worst and this is why we need a healthy mix of Democrats and Republicans on the Mayor and Council to avoid this kind of partisan manipulation of our government and community,” said one longtime political observer who asked not to disclose his identity.
“What is the big secret? Why won’t they disclose who paid for these highly unusual and partisan videos just weeks before the election?” asked one local observer when asked to comment.
Local Republicans also don’t want to address the patronage position currently held by James “Jimmy” Bocchino, the candidate’s father.
Bocchino, a proficient fundraiser and chairman to the local GOP council campaign in which his wife is treasurer is Pronti’s top political lieutenant.
Bocchino was awarded an $8000 position as “Quality of Life” Officer and it seems the position was tailored for Bocchino since not a single person was apparently interviewed or even considered.
There is no area or regional municipality in all of North Jersey that has this unusual and obvious political patronage post.
Others believe candidate Kirk Del Russo, who was defeated in 2011 for a seat on the council does not want to discuss his long record of supporting tax hikes in wake of his refusal to oppose the EnCap housing scheme as a commissioner of the now defunct North Arlington Redevelopment Agency that endorsed the bankrupt proposal that sought to construct some 1500 units of housing in the Meadowlands, much of it low income housing!
In Cavadas, she is another first time candidate who poses as an unbiased volunteer when the record demonstrates otherwise.
Cavadas receives a political patronage stipend of $1500 while her husband’s company is the official Borough Electrician where she is employed. Some are asking will she continue in that capacity as a vendor or will it be a potential conflict of interest since council members approve payments to those who do business with the Borough?
There seems to be many issues with this ticket that would warrant not debating anyone at anytime.
They can run, and now they want to hide from public view.
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