NA RESIDENT MEETS GOVERNOR AT CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION
Balwierczak chats with Phil Murphy Wednesday evening in Wood-Ridge.
North Arlington resident John Balwierczak is pictured here with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) at a reception honoring the election of Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-9) who was elected last November succeeding the late William “Bill” Pascrell.
Murphy is a two-term elected official, diplomat, and former financier who has been serving as the Governor of New Jersey since 2018.
He is a member of the Democratic Party and was re-elected for a second term in 2021. Before becoming governor, Murphy was the U.S. Ambassador to Germany (2009–2013) under President Barack Obama.
Prior to his political career, he worked at Goldman Sachs, where he held various leadership roles. As governor, Murphy has focused on progressive policies, including expanding healthcare access, raising the minimum wage, and addressing the causes of climate change.
Also in attendance was Bergen County Commissioner Steve Tanelli and North Arlington Democratic Municipal Chairman Nick Antonicello.
Nellie Pou is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 9th congressional district. She was elected to this position in November 2024, succeeding the late Rep. Bill Pascrell.
Born and raised in Paterson, Pou’s parents immigrated from Puerto Rico in 1953. Pou has a long history of public service in New Jersey, having served in the General Assembly from 1997 to 2012 and in the New Jersey Senate from 2012 to 2025.
During her tenure in the State Senate, Pou held leadership roles such as Majority Caucus Chair and Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. She was also the Chair of the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus since 2006.
In Congress, Rep. Pou now serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security. Throughout her career, Pou has been a trailblazer, becoming the first woman and the first Latina to represent the 35th Legislative District in New Jersey and now the 9th Congressional District.
“I had the opportunity to meet the Congresswoman during my local council campaign and I believe she is the right person to succeed Bill Pascrell in the halls of Congress. North Arlington is lucky to have a friend like Nellie Pou working on behalf of working families, seniors and school-age parents,” offered the lifelong NA resident.