NORTH ARLINGTON DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES OUTLINE VISION FOR COMMUNITY.

"Let's Keep NA small, safe, suburban and affordable, restore bipartisan government at the local level."

NORTH ARLINGTON, NJ — Democratic mayoral candidate John Balwierczak and Borough Council candidates Dennis Papile and Cengiz “Jim” Sever are campaigning on a message of affordability, responsible development, fiscal accountability and restoring two-party representation to North Arlington voters.

The Democratic ticket is presenting itself as a choice between maintaining the status quo and providing a new direction for a borough facing rising property-tax pressures, development concerns, rising crime and questions about the future character of the community.

JOHN BALWIERCZAK — FOR MAYOR

John Balwierczak, 37, is a lifelong North Arlington resident, homeowner and 2007 graduate of North Arlington High School, where he played varsity basketball. He previously ran for the borough council in 2024 and 2025.

He attended Jefferson elementary and the old Middle School prior (the old Wilson school facility) and worked in retail for FOODTOWN locally as well as his own private landscaping business.

A former member of the United Food & Commercial Workers, AFL-CIO (UFCW), John has a lifelong, and permanent hearing disability and receives SSDI compensation.

Balwierczak is also a personal investor in crypto currency for his own portfolio. His candidacy has been endorsed by the Bergen County Central Trades & Labor Council, as well as former North Arlington Mayors Ed Martone (1979-1983) and Peter Massa (2007-2014).

Balwierczak has become an increasingly active voice on local issues, particularly property taxes, over development, and the preservation of North Arlington's small-town character by remaining small, safe, suburban and affordable.

He is campaigning on a pledge to make affordability and responsible growth central priorities of the mayor's office.

While in a part-time position, he plans to be a full-time and engaged elected official.

Balwierczak has also proposed cutting the mayor's salary in half and directing the remainder toward a scholarship for graduating North Arlington seniors.

Balwierczak supports a bike & running path extending from the Kearny border to Lyndhurst along the Passaic River in cooperation with county funds, the establishment of a seasonal Farmer's Market to encourage local shopping and commerce, a dog park and greater cooperation with the North Arlington Board of Education on issues of mutual concern and infrastructure investment.

“North Arlington needs leadership that listens to residents, respects taxpayers and understands that development must serve the community — not the other way around. The unbridled construction on Ridge Road like OPUS has little support within the community."

Instead, Balwierczak is calling for reinvestment in the Ridge Road business district and ending the proliferation of apartment construction along Ridge Road. He wants to end random property reassessments which are only applied in 17% of New Jersey's 564 municipalities.

Balwierczak would revert back to property revaluations on a 7 to 10-year basis to like the remaining 87% of local communities.

"My goal is to remain the gateway to Bergen County and not continue the replication of urbanization and gentrification which is pricing out working families, especially seniors.
Balwierczak believes the current senior/veteran proposal lacks specifics like the cost and placement in a flood zone.

Balwierczak claims the current redevelopment plan encourages the construction of data centers and he would seek a moratorium on such development to ensure such a facility is environmentally safe with no tax burden for existing homeowners.

DENNIS PAPILE — CANDIDATE FOR BOROUGH COUNCIL

Dennis Papile is a longtime North Arlington homeowner who has lived in the borough since 1976. A former business owner and U.S. Navy veteran, Papile has worked as a North Arlington crossing guard since 2015 and is currently employed by the County of Bergen.

A husband, father, and grandfather, Papile brings a combination of private sector, public service and community experience to the campaign as being previously employed in the automotive sector.

Papile also emphasizes property-tax relief, greater fiscal accountability and the importance of having more than one political perspective represented on the Borough Council.

Papile believes residents deserve a Borough Council that asks tough questions, examines every expenditure and makes taxpayers the first priority by working together for the betterment of all.

CENGIZ “JIM” SEVER — CANDIDATE FOR BOROUGH COUNCIL

Cengiz “Jim” Sever is a North Arlington homeowner and longtime resident of the borough.

Originally from Brooklyn, Sever is a journeyman tile and marble installer and a member of Local 7, BAC. He is one of just a few municipal candidates that received the coveted endorsement of the New Jersey AFL-CIO in all of Bergen County.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is an umbrella group of unions representing more than 1 million working men and women and their families.

The state federation is a charter organization of the national AFL-CIO, which represents more than 12.5 million workers across the country in a wide range of occupations, from bricklayers and machinists to nurses, firefighters and teachers.

The union tradesman who is married and a father of three, is campaigning as a voice for working families and residents concerned about the direction of development and the affordability of living in North Arlington.

Sever is also a strong opponent of the policies and practices of President Donald Trump.

Sever believes the Borough Council should have greater representation from people who live, work, and raise their families in the community. Currently the council is entirely comprised of all Republicans, and no Democrat has served since 2019.

“Our town should remain a place where working families can afford to live, raise their children and retire with dignity.”

FIVE POLICY OBJECTIVES:

STOP RANDOM, PIECEMEAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS:

The Democratic candidates will seek to end the borough's use of individual, piecemeal reassessments and pursue a more predictable and equitable assessment process. The goal is to give homeowners greater certainty and prevent unexpected increases in the property-tax burden.

RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT — NOT MASSIVE OVERDEVELOPMENT:

Development should complement North Arlington rather than fundamentally change its character. The candidates advocate for responsible zoning, stronger scrutiny of large development proposals and infrastructure planning that accounts for schools, traffic, parking, flooding and public safety.

TAXPAYER ACCOUNTABILITY:

Every major expenditure should be examined through the question, Is this the best use of taxpayer dollars?

The candidates will push for greater transparency in municipal spending, closer scrutiny of contracts and expenditures, and a stronger effort to identify savings before asking homeowners to pay more. They also support a five-day a week Administrator, which currently does not exist.

PROTECT NORTH ARLINGTON'S SMALL-TOWN CHARACTER:

North Arlington's future should be shaped by residents, not simply by developers or political insiders who donate to the Republicans.

The candidates want to preserve the borough's neighborhoods, improve its business district, and ensure that redevelopment strengthens rather than overwhelms the community.

Democrats are concerned about the summer shootings which resulted in a double homicide on Ridge Road as well as the federal drug raid of a Belleville Pike business that has since closed.

"Safety is my #1 priority as mayor," offered Balwierczak.

Balwierczak believes investment in drone technology and a different deployment of resources on Ridge Road, especially on the weekends, would be a priority for review and consideration.

RESTORE BALANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO BOROUGH GOVERNMENT:

This election is about a vibrant, grass roots democracy.

They believe residents benefit when elected officials have to debate competing ideas rather than operate without meaningful opposition.

"We have had no Democrats on the governing body for 7 years," noted Balwierczak.

The Democratic ticket is seeking to restore a two-party presence on the Borough Council and provide residents with an alternative voice on taxes, redevelopment, spending and other municipal priorities.

Balwierczak, Papile and Sever are asking voters to consider a different direction for North Arlington — one centered on affordability, responsible development, fiscal discipline, neighborhood preservation and greater political accountability.

North Arlington can grow and improve without losing the qualities that have made it a desirable place to live.

The candidates are hosting a fundraiser this Wednesday beginning at 7:00 PM at the Arlington Diner and tickets can be purchased at the door. All supportive residents are invited to meet your Democratic team.

For more information, Please contact the campaign via e-mail at: NAFirstJB@gmail.com or (201) 655-8497.