NA DEMOCRATS ENDORSE NJ FIRST LADY TAMMY SNYDER MURPHY FOR US SENATE! 
Borough Democrats come out strongly for Murphy, as expected council candidates will share organizational line with her in leading the way to a fall victory.
Former councilman Tom Zammatore endorses local ticket as Democrats unify behind Balwierczak and Yampaglia!
RUTHERFORD – North Arlington Democrats strongly endorsed New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy for the United States Senate as Bergen County has quickly consolidated behind her candidacy in the race to replace incumbent Robert Menendez. Local Democratic council hopefuls John Balwierczak and John Yampaglia will be running in the Democratic organization column with Snyder-Murphy expected to head the ticket come the June Primary. A contingent of North Arlington Democrats attended a “Meet & Greet” today held at the residence of former Rutherford mayor and freeholder (now supervisor), Bernadette McPherson. Balwierczak and Yampaglia also picked up the endorsement of New Jersey Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36) as well as Bergen County Democratic Committee Chairman Paul Juliano and former local councilman Tom Zammatore as the locals are working hard to consolidate all segments of the party in what is shaping up to be a competitive and spirited contest for borough council.
In recent weeks former NA Council President Al Granell along with former council member Bob Myers and former two-term Mayor Peter Massa have all indicated they support the ticket of Balwierczak and Yampaglia.In the race for US Senate, Bergen Democrats are supporting Snyder-Murphy, the wife of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. Tammy Snyder Murphy is a native of Virginia and a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A., English and Communications, 1987). She and her family reside in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Tammy and New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy have been married for 30 years and together have four children: Josh, Emma, Charlie, and Sam. A transformative experience for the Murphy family was proudly representing the United States in the Federal Republic of Germany from 2009 to 2013. Tammy, individually and together with her husband, spoke and led on behalf of the United States of America. She chaired meetings, gave speeches, and hosted meals and receptions, strengthening our nation’s relationship with a critical ally while impacting the lives of thousands of Germans and Americans. Upon returning to New Jersey, Tammy and Phil realized that the incredible state they call home needed bold new leadership. Together, they founded a think tank to explore ways to help grow the middle class and jumpstart New Jersey’s economy. During the campaign, transition, and now as First Lady, Tammy has been energized and inspired traveling the state and meeting New Jerseyans to hear their concerns, utilizing her experience in the private and nonprofit sectors to work through policy ideas and solutions. Democrats have had a stranglehold on both US Senate seats as no Democrat has lost since 1972 when then incumbent Senator Clifford Case (R) defeated former Congressman Paul Krebs. Case would then lose the 1978 GOP Primary to conservative Jeff Bell who would be easily defeated in the fall contest by former Olympian and New York Knickerbocker, Bill Bradley. While North Arlington Democrats are building a positive agenda for change, local Republicans seemed mired in the past or taking credit for ideas and proposals Democrats brought to the table.
Specifically, GOP incumbent Brian Fitzhenry seems obsessed with railing against the sale of the dilapidated and mismanaged water utility that saw Democrats engineer a $4 million dollar yield for a property valued at less than $300,000 at the time of the transaction. Fitzhenry made the sale the centerpiece of his failed bid for council where he was crushed by former councilman Steve Tanelli, now a county supervisor seeking reelection to a fourth term. And if fighting twenty-year old battles about a water utility that needed to be sold thanks to Republican mismanagement, now the GOP is copying from Democratic proposals to construct a walking and bike path from the Arlington Diner to County Park. Former Democratic Councilman and then mayoral candidate Mark Yampaglia called for the proposal to build the bike and walking path five years ago. Now it seems the North Arlington Republicans are endorsing a Democratic initiative.“When we win we will work with our Republican colleagues and counterparts at the local level to ensure the construction of a bike and walking path becomes a reality. We will lobby hard with our county, state and federal legislative partners that this becomes a priority,” noted both Balwierczak and Yampaglia, who intend to file for council come the March 25th petition deadline. According to sources, the locals have already secured some 300 signatures and plan to submit 500 come the deadline. “People want and seek progress. We are more than happy to give our GOP counterparts the credit as long as we can get the job done. There are clear differences between us, but in this case we applaud the Republicans for endorsing our initiative to transform River Road some five years ago,” offered both Balwierczak and Yampaglia.“We’re the team that wants to keep North Arlington first, to retain our character and charm as the gateway to Bergen County and we’ll leave it to Brian and Allison to further gentrify and urbanize NA into an extension of East Newark and Harrison. We believe most residents want North Arlington to remain small, safe and suburban and the recent array of car break-in’s and alike threaten those values. Urbanization and the plethora of construction of multiple dwellings along Ridge Road lacks any serious community support. We look forward to comparing and contrasting our vision of North Arlington and demonstrating the reality that responsible two-party government is best for taxpayers and this notion of emulating one-party rule in places like Cuba and North Korea is not shared by the electorate,” offered the candidates. The local Democrats will be meeting in February at a time and date to be determined. Want to assist bringing sensible and common sense government to North Arlington? 
Contact the candidates at (201) 655-8497 or via email at [email protected]