RANKING MEMBER MARK YAMPAGLIA PROTECTS TAXPAYERS OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
If there is one constant for North Arlington homeowners and taxpayers; its Councilman Mark Yampaglia!
The quiet and modest elected official may not self promote himself, but his record speaks to his concern for local homeowners, especially seniors on fixed incomes.
Since being appointed to the Borough Council by then Mayor Russ Pitman, Yampaglia has had a consistent voting history of opposing tax hikes and being a fiscal watchdog of sorts for homeowners.
Having been appointed twice and elected four times, Councilman Yampaglia opted to seek the unexpired term this year and should he be successful, would run again in 2020 in a presidential year which is a favorable environment for local Democrats since they have won in those cycles since 2004.
Republicans have tried to create the bizarre narrative that rolling assessments have stabilized Property Taxes, but in many cases the reverse has occurred and was the springboard that elected Yampaglia in 2016 despite the fact Democrats were outspent by a wide sum.
Of all the candidates running in 2019, only Councilman Mark Yampaglia has a record of opposing tax hikes and standing with homeowners.
In huge contrast, Yampaglia finds himself on the ballot against Donna Bocchino, the daughter of James Bocchino, a twice-defeated council candidate and now the GOP’s chief fundraiser and political lieutenant to freshman Mayor Dan Pronti.
Pronti’s controversial selection of Bocchino as the borough’s “Quality of Life” Officer has become a major campaign issue.
Yampaglia defeated appointed council member Kirk Del Russo in 2011, who is seeking a full-term this year. Del Russo is a former redevelopment commissioner who blindly supported the failed EnCap housing scheme while Yampaglia fought to stop the proposal that would have added some 1500 units of housing in the Meadowlands of which a large portion would have been low income units.
Yampaglia’s reelection is critical to maintaining responsible two-party government and a healthy balance of Democrats and Republicans in a community where Democrats outnumber Republicans.
Yampaglia has an impressive record and resume by any political standard.
A graduate of NAHS where he earned a Varsity letter for playing baseball, Yampaglia received his BA and MA from FDU and his JD from the Touro School of Law. A local businessman with law offices in Rutherford and Jersey City, Yampaglia is a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa.
The son of retired municipal judge Emil Yampaglia, Mark is a former Public Defender and is the only council member to be appointed by two different mayors and elected four times (2005, 2008, 2011 and 2016).
Yampaglia is the Borough’s ranking council member who has served with five different mayors (Pitman, Massa, Bianchi, Sheedy and Pronti).
Known as a bipartisan problem solver, Mark strongly supported the Federal Express distribution center at Porete Avenue which started under Mayor Pete Massa and was brought to completion under former Mayor Joe Bianchi who passed last October.
In the June Primary, Yampaglia despite appearing at the very bottom of the ballot received more votes than any other candidate from both political parties!
“Mark has the makings of an easy reelection win. A strong educational resume as well as a record of public service for more than two decades, Mark can speak to protecting homeowners and taxpayers alike. Mark is a local businessman and a product of our public schools. He draws support from Democrats as well as Republicans and undeclared voters. His opponent has no record of government service and has failed to make any serious case why he should be denied another term of office,” offered one political insider when asked to comment.
“There is no viable or rational explanation to support a Republican monopoly of local government. Voters want and expect a healthy mix of Democrats and Republicans and voters expect candidates with a serious resume of public service and the ideas offered to move NA forward. Mark has provided those ideas in 2018.”
Some of Yampaglia’s policy initiatives include:
· Creation of a bike path and walking trail at the Passaic River that would connect Riverside Park to the Arlington Diner
· The creation of dog parks and additional community gardens
· The renovation of the North Arlington Senior Center
· The creation of bike lanes on Ridge Road
· The investigation of PILOT’s (payments in lieu of taxes) from the Archdiocese of Newark for hosting Holy Cross Cemetery
· Creating new parking strategies for tenants and homeowners
· New leaf collection and snow removal initiatives
· The creation of a seasonal Farmer’s Market behind Borough Hall from Memorial Day to Labor Day
· Lobbying the state legislature for permanent funding for hosting cemetery operations
“This is not the time to lose a reasonable and responsible public servant like Mark to satisfy the political objectives of the Bocchino’s. We need Mark Yampaglia now more than ever before.”
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