Why are North Arlington Republicans so afraid of responsible, two-party government?
That’s a sharp and politically charged question—so let’s unpack it thoughtfully.
When you say, “North Arlington Republicans are afraid of responsible, two-party government,” you’re suggesting they resist political balance or shared power. To understand why that might be the perception (or reality), here are a few possible explanations—some more charitable, others more critical—depending on one’s point of view:
1. Desire to Maintain Control
Incumbent Advantage: If one party holds most or all of the local power (e.g., town council, school board, etc.), they may resist sharing it simply to maintain control.
Fear of Policy Change: They might worry that a stronger opposition would push for policies they oppose—higher taxes, zoning changes, school reforms, etc.
2. Genuine Ideological Belief
Some local Republicans might truly believe their policies are best for the town and see the opposition as promoting ideas they think are harmful—regardless of the merits of a two-party system.
3. Lack of Political Competition
In many small towns, the dominant party (in this case, Republicans) faces little organized opposition. That can breed complacency or resistance to calls for “balance” because they’ve been unchallenged for so long.
4. Cultural or Tribal Politics
Like in national politics, local parties can become tribal. In such cases, even responsible voices from the other side are seen not as partners but as threats.
5. Voter Apathy or Misinformation
Sometimes, fear of two-party governance isn’t from the politicians, but from the voter base. If residents are misinformed or deeply partisan, elected officials may reflect that sentiment rather than lead against it.
6. Strategic Framing
On the flip side, it’s possible that opponents of North Arlington Republicans are using the “fear of two-party government” rhetoric to highlight a lack of political competition and advocate for change.
Here in North Arlington the local Republicans are obsessed with conspiracy theories and alike as to the notion of two-parties sharing government responsibility is abhorrent in idea or deed. They actually hate the notion that Democrats are running candidates and won’t campaign on their miserable record of rolling reassessments, tax appeals and out-of-court settlements with former employees’ costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Could you imagine attacking a 90-year-old, disabled US Army veteran simply because he is a Democrat? An individual who has served his country, state and community for more than thirty years in numerous volunteer capacities like the planning, zoning and library boards. But they hate him because he advocates for responsible two-party government and has the temerity to challenge this closed club of all Republicans all of the time. Attacks on members of his family who are private citizens, for the purposes of what?
But when you question the record and actions of these woefully unqualified candidates receiving $1,000 a month to attend a single meeting, what do they have to hide?
This is a party controlled by a Mayor who pushed the popular Joe Bianchi into retirement and for years was the most critical of the community’s longest serving mayor. Even Democrats while opposing him from a political standpoint, respected his contributions to North Arlington.
In essence, what do they fear?
A former Republican who switched parties and can verify the machine-style way the Republican Party operates and this half-assed attempt to retire school trustees who for the most part is objective, independent and non-partisan in their words and deeds?
Do we really want school trustees taking orders from Dan Pronti?
Do you want politics first and public policy last on the governmental back burner?
Local Democrats have no interest in politicizing the school district.
While they have serious misgivings about eminent domain seizure they do not support, the GOP refuses to go on the record opposing that practice and the answer is why?
This power grab is politics all of the time while promoting a false narrative that taxes are not rising.
This is the reason why elections are ugly, stockpiled by GOP political donors who have billed the community over $350,000 in legal fees since January 1, 2024.
Is it a coincidence that the current Borough Attorney is also the largest single donor to the Pronti political machine.
Ten years of no opposition and they can’t even admit property taxes are rising as they refuse to run a record that is a fake, a phone and a fraud.
Having a two-party government is good for North Arlington because one person in the form of Pronti is the boss, and he doesn’t even have a vote!
If you hate random, rolling reassessments as engineered by Pronti, then you need to consider Democrats this fall for the change we seek as a community.