Every election is described as the most important election because they are.
Every election is important because the results will impact you, your family, and your pocket book as well as your community!
This Tuesday the future of responsible two-party government is on the ballot.
Do you want one political party completely dominating local government or do you prefer the checks and balance of a healthy mix of Democrats and Republicans no matter what your political persuasion?
If the Democrats win you will have an equal number of members of the council with Pronti casting the tie-breaking vote. If the Republicans win there will be no Democrats watching the store and no longer serving as a check in local government!
This Tuesday you will determine if $13,300,000 in new school spending is the appropriate course of action tied to nearly a $700 permanent tax hike for every homeowner.
There will be a second referendum in December and the total tax hike could swell to nearly $1000 per homeowner based on the assessed of your property.
The details of these school initiatives have been covered by NA Today and please review the information here or on our Facebook page for more details to these possible tax increases.
If you are unsure where to vote, please call the Clerk’s Office and ask for Katie Moore at (201) 991-6060.
Of the six candidates running, only one has any elected experience in longtime Councilman Mark Yampaglia who has been appointed twice and elected four times (2005, 2008, 2011 and 2016) by voters.
Yampaglia, who ran for Mayor last year is an attorney and local businessman with offices in Rutherford and Jersey City.
A former municipal defender, Yampaglia’s father is a retired municipal judge and brother is a member of the Planning Board.
A graduate of FDU with a BA & MA, Yampaglia is a graduate of The Touro School of Law and a member or the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa.
A graduate of NAHS, Yampaglia played baseball for the Varsity Vikings.
Yampaglia has had an interesting platform where he has proposed the following:
· A bike and running path at the Passaic Riverfront from the Arlington Diner to Riverside County Park
· Renovation of the North Arlington Senior Center
· A seasonal Farmer’s Market behind Borough Hall from Memorial Day to Labor Day
· Pocket parks and dog parks for greater recreational space
· Create a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) for hosting cemetery operations
· Control density through responsible growth and supporting construction of one-family homes
Mark and his wife Shirley, a registered nurse (RN) are parishioners of Queen of Peace Church where they were married several years ago.
Instead of seeking a three-year term, Yampaglia is seeking the unexpired term and should he be successful will have to resign the remainder of his current term which ends January 1st to assume office of this unexpired term on Wednesday.
Yampaglia is running against Donna Bocchino, the daughter of longtime political operative and retired BCUA patronage employee James “Jimmy” Bocchino who was appointed to the dubious position of Quality of Life Officer for $8000 (click here to hear Mayor Pronti’s praise of Bocchino’s fundraising on behalf of local Republicans). Bocchino ran twice and lost twice for council and is the Chairman to his daughter’s campaign. His wife Linda is the campaign’s Treasurer.
Bocchino lacks any practical elected or appointed experience in local government and supports the $13,300,000 school tax increase. She refused to debate the Democrats last Tuesday at the behest of Mayor Pronti.
Kirk Del Russo is a former candidate for council who was defeated by Yampaglia in 2011 over his support of the failed housing scheme known as EnCap that would have constructed 1500 units of high density housing and hundreds of low income properties. Del Russo also supports the $13,300,000 tax hike and refused to debate as well.
A former redevelopment commissioner, Del Russo supported Donald Trump’s attempt to revive the project over the overwhelming opposition of taxpayers and residents. Del Russo supported the notion of eminent domain seizure, the process of assuming control of private property for a perceived public purpose.
Del Russo has never been elected to public office.
The third Republican is Lynette Cavadas, whose employer; her husband is the Borough Electrician. She also receives a $1500 stipend from the Pronti Administration and some believe could be in a conflict of interest as a vendor to North Arlington if she were to also serve as a council member. She also supports the $13,300,000, $700 tax hike and refused to debate her Democratic opponents.
The other two Democrats in the race are popular newcomers both endorsed by the New Jersey AFL-CIO and working families.
Both homeowners, husbands and fathers as well, Thomas Hurley is a union carpenter and member of the Borough Zoning Board while Frank Marfino is a graduate of NAHS and the other life-long resident in the race. The captain of his Varsity Soccer team, Marfino is employed by Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G).
Both have stressed unity in the community and keeping North Arlington small, safe and suburban.
This election will in all probability yield a low turnout, but the stakes could not be higher.
You have the power to control taxes and spending for the first time in a long time.
You can send a message to these politicians that unnecessary spending and the proliferation of $1,000 tax hikes is not in the best interests of the community.
More importantly you can send a message to those who support these tax hikes without properly explaining the value versus cost.
Yes, much is at stake on Tuesday.
A Republican win will consolidate all political power in the hands of one man: Mayor Dan Pronti.
With no Democrats in the council North Arlington will become his town, a company town and machine style politics will flourish.
If these referendums pass, property taxes will skyrocket and the quality of life you enjoy in this suburban community will be urbanized into an extension of Hudson County.
You have the power this Tuesday.
Be wise, be objective and do the right thing for you, your family and your future.
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