While the North Arlington Mayor and Council currently enjoys a total monopoly for local Republicans, the results from yesterday’s Primary indicate that may all change come this year’s General Election.
Of the 1,321 voters who participated, 932 were registered Democrats and only 389 were Republicans for a lopsided 71%-29% advantage for the party currently out of power!
More importantly, Democratic challengers John Yampaglia and Thomas Bradley received 816 and 801 votes respectively or 86.5% of all Democratic votes cast.
Conversely, Republican incumbents Mario Karcic and Donna Bocchino both received only 316 votes, or 81% of all Republican votes while President Donald Trump received 363 votes or 93.3% of all GOP votes cast.
Compounding the electoral woes of the two challenges incumbents, 9 Republicans wrote in candidates not on the ballot.
“By any reasonable standard, Karcic and Bocchino are two flawed and failed incumbents who have done nothing except support more spending, promotions and pay hikes in the middle of a pandemic. Karcic engineered a job for his nephew and pay raise for himself while Bocchino secured a 23% pay hike for her father and a raise for herself after being in office less than a year,” said one Democratic observer when asked to comment.
Former Vice-President Joe Biden easily defeated Bernie Sanders 757-145 while US Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Bill Pascrell disposed of token opposition.
Local Democratic leader Nick Antonicello was cautiously optimistic.
“When nearly 80% of the votes were cast by Democrats who have had enough of one-party rule and the antics of the occupant in the White House, I believe John and Tom have a great opportunity to restore the basic checks and balances we don’t have in wake of this massive urbanization of North Arlington and this obsession with multiple dwellings, more congestion and traffic along Ridge Road and this need to become an extension of Hudson County flies in the face of what North Arlington homeowners truly value and want.”
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