Our Community Needs Home-Grown North Arlington Borough Council Candidates!
OPEN CALL TO REGISTERED DEMOCRATS OF NORTH ARLINGTON TO RUN FOR THE POSITION OF BOROUGH COUNCIL!
February 16, 2023
Dear North Arlington Resident:
Responsible and competitive two-party government is critical to a vibrant and open local democracy.
Despite having more registered Democrats than Republicans here in the community, the current make-up of the North Arlington Mayor & Council is comprised of seven Republicans and no Democrats!
This one-sided monopoly by North Arlington Republicans has had a debilitating effect on open government as only loyalists to the current GOP Administration are considered for appointments to boards & commissions as well employment opportunities here in the borough.
Coupled with the after effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic, many residents have been reluctant to get involved for health concerns and as we come back to a healthier environment, we want to restore a competitive electoral process for our residents now.
Sadly, many good-paying jobs are going to individuals who don’t even reside in the community like at the Police Department where someone could earn in excess of $100,000 annually!
As Democrats, we believe “home- grown” North Arlington Borough Council Candidates and those with a stake in the community such as residency and home ownership matters.
Graduates of NAHS should also be strongly considered for employment should they have an interest in public safety and law enforcement as a career.
In 2023, there will be a short ballot of candidates for the New Jersey Legislature and Bergen County government and the ticket will be led by our Senator Paul Sarlo and his Assembly running-mates Gary Schaer of Passaic City and Clinton Calabrese of Cliffside Park. Because all of the top-of-the-ballot candidates will be Democratic incumbents and Democrats generally out-perform Republicans in these off-year elections, this is a great opportunity for Democrats to regain a foot-hold on the North Arlington Mayor & Council once again.
Having only one side, one-party and a single point-of-view is not what a healthy democracy is all about.
Therefore, we are seeking civic-involved residents with an interest in community affairs, politics and local government to seek local office.
North Arlington has a plethora of individual talent be it a retired senior or parent active in the various sports-related opportunities for our children. Members of fraternal and religious or education organizations make for interesting candidates as well. Those who are employed by government or the teaching community, lawyers or architects and accountants also make for excellent candidates.
The issue for NA Democrats is to make the case for an open dialogue that is no longer a monologue of just Republicans voting together 100% of the time with no tangible discussion or debate on the issues taxpayers really care about.
You have witnessed on Ridge Road for example an “urbanization” of the community from a place that for decades has been small, safe and suburban, and the gateway to Bergen County and not an extension of Hudson County.
If you have an interest in what the future holds for North Arlington, we would like to speak with you.
Running for local office is the best way to impact our future by having an active presence and role on our local governing body and bringing representation to the thousands of Democrats, Independents and undeclared voters who feel left out with no stake in the process!
We’re all residents of a great community, but currently our local democracy is dying on the vine and this is a year where winning at the local level is legitimate, real and ready to occur after an absence of a deliberative cross conversation of Democrats and Republicans offering different ideas on how to move North Arlington forward.
If you are interested in running for one of the two council seats that will appear on the ballot come the June Primary as a Democrat, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] or text to (201) 937-4277 and we can arrange a time and date to discuss this opportunity with you.
The responsibilities of a council member are roughly 10 to 15 hours a week with mandatory attendance at monthly meetings, council caucuses and other municipal events.
The compensation for this part-time post is about $10,000 annually.
If you are not interested, but know someone you believe would make a responsible elected official, please call me to discuss.
Thank you for taking the time to read this request for candidates and note there is a process of gathering a small number of signatures to qualify for the June ballot.
Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out and help us restore a competitive and respectful, two-party discussion back to North Arlington once again.
Sincerely,
Nick Antonicello
Chairman,
North Arlington Democratic Municipal Committee
(201) 937-4277 (mobile)
We will be having a meeting of the Municipal Committee shortly to discuss the recruitment of candidates for the 2023 at the Arlington Diner with date and time to be announced shortly.