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 CAMPAIGN 2008:
COUNCILMAN JIM FERRIERO TO RETIRE AFTER SIX YEARS ON GOVERNING BODY
 Life-long Democrat and WWII veteran ran five times for borough council with wins in 2002 and 2005!
NORTH ARLINGTON - Councilman Jim Ferriero, the elder statesman of the governing body and the county's oldest freshman councilman in 2003 will not seek a third, three-year term according to party sources.
Ferriero, a combat veteran of World War II and one of the community's most respected citizens served briefly as council  president and was part of the ticket that broke the Republican stranglehold on local government.
Ferriero ran with former Mayor Russ Pitman in 2002 along with running-mate Stan Dunaj in what must be regarded as the single biggest political upset in North Arlington history when Pitman, a perennial candidate who had never won before stunned the establishment by defeating five-term incumbent Republican Leonard R Kaiser, the longest serving mayor in NA history.
 Pitman, who sought a seat on the council in 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000 and 2001 along with a school board defeat in 1999 defeated Kaiser 2,339 to 2,214 or 125 votes. Ferriero, who was now running with Pitman for a third time received 2,315 votes and knocked off nineteen-year incumbent Charles Belmonte who finished fourth with 2,150 votes. Ferriero's running-mate Stan Dunaj was defeated by then Councilman Jim Ward 2,225 to 2,209. Ward would resign in frustration a year later after Democrats took two more seats and gained control of the governing body for the first time since 1981.
"Councilman Jim Ferriero is one of our party's elder statesman and I want to thank him not only for his service as an elected official, but for his years of service in various civic organizations and involvement with our veteran's organizations. His good humor and practical judgment will be missed," said Mayor Pete Massa, who has served with Ferriero since January of 2005.
Ferriero is probably best known for his long service as a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as his membership in the Calo-Sass VFW and the Alexander Stover American Legion. Ferriero has been a chief organizer of the Memorial Day Parade and Veteran's Day festivities.
 Politically, Ferriero is the longest serving council member and the first Democrat to be re-elected to consecutive three-year terms since former Councilman Edward Sanzalone in 1980. Ferriero first ran for council in 1990 with Cathy Gutkowski on a ticket headed by Municipal Judge Emil Yampaglia who challenged Mayor Len Kaiser. The Democrats were casualties of the Florio tax hikes and were easily defeated.
Originally a supporter of EnCap, Ferriero switched his position in the summer of 2006 when Massa defeated Pitman in the June Democratic Primary 833 to 584. Ferriero was re-elected to a second term in 2005 when he defeated Independent George McDermott 2,096 to 1,553.
"The Democratic Party owes a debt of gratitude to Jim Ferriero for the decades of service he gave to North Arlington. He has served as a committeeman, club member and councilman. No responsibility was too much or to small for Jimmy. When this party was broke and on it's back politically, it was Jim Ferriero who stepped forward to run so that voters had a choice. He has served his community, his party and his country with great distinction over the decades and we know he will continue to help in anyway we need him," noted party chairman Nick Antonicello, who helped formulate the ticket and strategy that led to the upset of Kaiser some six years ago.
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