Campaign 2008:
NORTH ARLINGTON DEMOCRATS FORMULATE CAMPAIGN STAFF, FUNDRAISER AND VOTER REGISTRATION TEAM
Democrats tap Councilman Al Granell to head effort with Nick Mazzolla & George McDermott as deputy campaign managers, next fundraiser scheduled for May 1st at Euro Lounge
Mayor Massa talks about finding Max, North Arlington's newest celebrity!
NORTH ARLINGTON - Local Democrats gathered Friday evening at the VFW Hall and began the process of building a campaign staff to re-elect Council President Steve Tanelli and elect former Councilman Mark Yampaglia.
Democratic Municipal Chairman Nick Antonicello, Sr. asked Councilman Al Granell to head the effort. Granell, who was elected in 2006 currently serves as chairman of the borough's finance committee which delivered a zero tax increase for homeowners.
"Al Granell is competent, qualified and enthusiastic about this campaign. He'll do an excellent job on behalf of the party. His selection of Nick and George to assist him gives us a fresh perspective from two individuals who have strong followings within the community. We're glad to have them," said Antonicello.
Antonicello announced that a series of fundraisers are being organized and the first will be held at The Euro Lounge on River Road at 7PM, Thursday, May 1st.
"We're going to recognize Councilman Jim Ferriero for his long service to the party and for his tenure as councilman. Our objective is to tap all of these new Democrats that voted in the February 5th presidential primary. With a 3-1 edge in Democrats voting over Republicans, we're very focused on engaging these residents to join the local party effort," observed Antonicello, an executive board member of the BCDO and retired union official with both the Steelworkers and AFSCME.
While the campaign begins to take shape, the monthly meeting of the club had about fifty attendees in which nearly half were new members.
"We're asking all members to invite a friend and get involved. This will be a 'grass roots' effort. We want to build a sustaining team of block captains and workers when we begin our door-to-door effort," noted Granell.
In other news, it was announced that Granell would be attending the Democratic National Convention as a member of one of the standing committees supporting Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Granell was selected for this prestigious role at the convention by Congressman Steve Rothman (D-9), who is Northeast Chairman of the Obama for President campaign.
"Al has proven himself in a short time to be a tremendous asset to the Democratic Party not only in North Arlington, but here in Bergen County. I was honored to select Al as one of our point people and I look forward to working closely with him in Denver come August," said the six-term Democrat and member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Led by club members Jim Hislop and President Ken Ludviksen, the party will be registering voters at the Post Office every Saturday morning. In just two weeks, the effort has yielded about 25 new voters.
"Voter registration is critical. We have learned that nearly 70% of the people who register will vote and support the candidate in which initiated the effort. Our goal is to register 250 new voters before the deadline," observed Ludviksen.
Between the fundraiser, recruiting new members and voter registration, the club has several other campaign activities underway,
"We'll take a pulse of the community as well as test some issues with residents. We're very confident in the record compiled by Mayor Massa and this administration. We have top flight people handling our media, polling and public relations. This will be a united effort in which victory in November is our only goal," said Antonicello.
Mayor Pete Massa was well received given the national media attention around Max, his cat that was lost this week.
"Some of you are probably wondering why I went through the personal expense of all those phone calls. It's simple. Me and my wife love that cat. I think my wife Val might love Max more than me," said the Mayor to the delight of the audience.
"Pets become part of your family. It's something that many people come to acknowledge over time. It was important we find Max because it is a house cat and it wouldn't survive on the streets. I'm glad that we found him and I'm shocked by all the well wishes and media attention this has caused. All in all it's been a happy ending," observed the retired police sergeant.
Some Democrats couldn't help but laugh about the story of Max and were not surprised by the bitter attacks of local Republicans who apparently ran to the press to undermine Mayor Pete's effort to find the cat.
"It's incredible how low these Republicans will stoop. They spread rumors and lies and the whole thing just blew up in their face. Now Mayor Massa received national press and was invited by WNBC in New York to be interviewed, but was canceled due to extensive coverage of the Pope's visit to New York City," said one confidante of the first-term Democrat.
"Getting bumped by his Holiness is all right with me. This was a goodwill story that had a happy ending. It's too bad that some people want to spin things for the sake of politics," said Massa.
Some people believe Massa was referring to postings on the website InsideBergen.com, which is rumored to have close ties to Lyndhurst Mayor Rich DiLascio, now a Democrat.
In 2006, it was rumored that Dilascio's political consultant was the chief strategist behind the hapless campaign of GOP mayoral hopeful Peter Norcia, now a Massa supporter and member of the Zoning Board. Many Democrats believed Dilascio was interested in being appointed borough attorney in exchange for his political guidance and support of the NA Republicans.
Massa won in a landslide capturing every district.
This isn't the first time this poorly visited site has attacked local Democrats.
"Some people need to get a life. They use a harmless issue like this and try to destroy the stellar record of a retired law enforcement official and educator. It only goes to show the ugly side of politics. The side of politics most people reject. Only a bitter, cynical individual would try to manipulate the search for Max into something evil.
I would hope that Mayor DiLascio would reject the kind of people who attack fellow Democrats in this manner," said one club member in attendance.
"Max for Mayor! Max is cool. Why would anyone go after a cat? This was great press for Mayor Massa and North Arlington," said another happy Democrat.
