CAMPAIGN
2007:
THE CASUALTIES OF ENCAP
Who will join Kaiser, Guida and Pitman as the next
political casualty for their unbridled support of a project the voters
love to hate?
Spanola, Yampaglia surging in campaign's final days!
RUTHERFORD
- Anyone who attended the Rutherford candidate's forum Friday
evening got the feeling those in attendance were angry at incumbent Mayor
Bernadette McPherson who not too long ago was projected as one of the
future leaders emerging within the Democratic party of Bergen County.
Easily
elected to the council, McPherson was elected mayor in a 1,200-vote
landslide over former Mayor Andy Bertone just eight years ago.
But times
have changed.
Now Mayor
McPherson is perceived as a savvy political insider, a dual-job holding ally
of Joe Ferriero and Senator Paul Sarlo who's support of EnCap is without hesitation or question.
And there
lies her problem.
EnCap, the controversial developer on the
verge on being bounced by the NJMC has become a political lightening rod for
politicians who have opposed the public's desire to see this project scrapped
once and for all.
It all
started in 2002 when 20-year incumbent Leonard Kaiser, thought to be invulnerable
was vanquished by perennial Democratic candidate Russ Pitman, who had lost
six council races and one race for the board of education. But Pitman quickly
switched sides and North Arlington Democrats dumped Pitman in a lopsided
primary win for new Mayor Pete Massa who ran off-the-line and without the
support of the BCDO or incumbent Senator Paul Sarlo, a longtime Encap ally.
In 2005
Lyndhurst voters decided they had enough of local political icon James Guida, a
township commissioner and mayor off and on since 1977. Guida not only lost
the title of mayor, but failed to even remain a commissioner.
Guida was
a big time EnCap supporter.
Guida was
replaced by Republican Richard DiLascio who ran against the EnCap project only to become EnCap's most reliable ally. Not only did
DiLascio switch sides, he now has switched parties in an effort to bolster the
re-election efforts of Senator Paul Sarlo who is seeking a second term against
former Lyndhurst school trustee Mike Guarino, the retired Bergen County Health
Director and longtime opponent of EnCap.
Not only
did DiLascio become a reliable ally for EnCap, but DiLascio decided to meddle in the North Arlington general election for
mayor much like Sarlo did in the Democratic Primary. But like the primary, the
result was the same as pro-EnCap candidate Norcia was easily defeated by anti-EnCap Councilman Pete Massa who carried
10 of the borough's 12 districts.
This
year's race for North Arlington council features two pro-EnCap candidates in Joe Bianchi and
Richard Hughes versus anti-EnCap incumbents Phil Spanola and Mark Yampaglia.
Like
Kaiser, Guida and Pitman, Yampaglia also was a EnCap casualty when he lost his bid for re-nomination as a member of
the Pitman ticket.
The experience was not memorable.
"When
I ran with Russ for re-election, the handwriting was on the wall. The people hate EnCap. I realized I had made a huge error in
judgment. I made a vow that if I had the opportunity to serve again I would
oppose this project the way I should have from the start. When Mayor Massa beat
Russ, I called him and told him I made a
mistake regarding EnCap. he appreciated my candor and honesty,"
noted the incumbent.
Yampaglia
not only endorsed the winning ticket, but he worked hard to ensure that Massa
would win the fall election and was rewarded by Massa for that support when he
was appointed back to the council to fill Massa's unexpired term.
"Councilman
Yampaglia has been a reliable and consistent ally as it pertains to EnCap, eminent domain seizure and low
income housing. When I was faced with filling my vacancy, Mark was a logical
choice given his commitment to stopping EnCap,"
said the new mayor.
Yampaglia,
who was seen campaigning door-to-door in the all important Seventh Election
District said things have not changed when it comes to EnCap.
"The
people are opposed to this project. It's pretty much universal with voters. How
Bianchi and Hughes can continue to support EnCap is really beyond me. I
learned my lesson the hard way," observed Yampaglia.
While
local Republicans are counting on this year's tax increase to propel them to
victory, Democrats are cautiously confident.
"Our
polling tells us people are upset about EnCap and realize this administration did not create the financial problems we face
today. They realize this mayor did not create the mess that was left behind
for others to fix. The people know who ran this community for the better part
of three decades and raised taxes seven
consecutive times. Bianchi & Hughes have no credibility when to comes
to taxes and spending," noted Democratic Municipal Chairman Nick
Antonicello.
The fact
remains that Len Kaiser runs the Republican Party and Bianchi & Hughes are
just an extension of a failed political past. People know that EnCap is the reason for this tax hike and
Bianchi & Hughes along with Len Kaiser support EnCap," said Antonicello.
Speaking
of polling, it looks as though Bernadette
McPherson will be fourth local mayor to lose because of her support of the
controversial housing project.
Sources
close to the Hipp campaign tell NA Today that the incumbent has
negative ratings close to 50% and will be a landslide loser come election day.
"Bernadette
McPherson is going to lose badly come election day. The only question will be the margin of the loss and if that loss
will help other Republican candidates like senate candidate Mike Guarino who
could benefit from this impending landslide," noted one Democrat
familiar with the Rutherford situation.
According
to the numbers, Hipp has a 15 to 25 point lead over McPherson when you factor
the margin of error.
And what
about North Arlington?
"Anyone
who supports EnCap is at risk. No question about
it. The issue is lethal for any candidate or incumbent. If you support EnCap, you will be on the losing
side," noted Antonicello.
