New for immediate release:

Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-9) was the guest speaker at a Democratic fundraiser Wednesday evening for council hopefuls Balwierczak & Sever.

NORTH ARLINGTON – The Arlington Diner was the location Wednesday evening as the local Democrats greeted freshman member of Congress Nellie Pou (D-9) as the featured speaker for a fundraiser in honor of council candidates John Balwierczak and Cengiz “Jim” Sever.

Pou, a former state legislator in both the New Jersey General Assembly and Senate endorsed the ticket and looked forward to working with them on issues of mutual concern like the Passaic River restoration and renovation where Democrats have proposed both a walking and bike path for residents.

Pou succeeded the late Bill Pascrell who represented North Arlington in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 until his passing last year.

Also, in attendance was former NA Mayor Peter Massa who is the only person ever to serve as a school trustee, board vice-president, president, councilman and two-term mayor.

Massa urged those in attendance to bring back a two-party government in wake of rising property taxes due to the rolling tax reassessments being imposed by the incumbents, Kirk Del Russo and Amanda DeCicco.

“On this issue, Democrats are on the side of homeowners. The incumbents are killing economic growth and making North Arlington less attractive and more expensive,” observed Massa.

“Rolling Republican reassessments are poor public policy that is unnecessarily raising property taxes on seniors on fixed incomes. They are unfair and discourage home renovation and improvement. We need a healthy mix of Democrats and Republicans so that taxpayers have a friend in both John and Jim as representatives on the Borough Council.”

Any resident interested in joining the campaign is urged to contact (201) 655-8497. Signs are still available, and two Democrats are canvassing the community in these final weeks before election day.

“We are grateful for the support we have received, and we have offered voters a specific plan for the future which our opponents refused to do. What we do know is that they are committed to these rolling reassessments no matter what voters want, and that’s why electing both Jim and me is critical for the change North Arlington needs,” offered John Balwierczak, a life-long resident and graduate of North Arlington High School.

The Democrats in this campaign have secured the endorsement of the Bergen County Central Trades Council as well as the New Jersey AFL-CIO, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, Sheriff Anthony Cureton and US Representative Nellie Pou (D-9).