Campaign 2008:
Herrmann & Bocchino loose with the facts and thin on message as two challengers try to take credit for zero tax increase budget.
Local Republicans refuse to release resumes or even mention EnCap by name!
NORTH ARLINGTON - How do you take credit for a budget you never constructed and when you don't currently serve?
That was the question North Arlington Democrats were asking after reviewing a brochure being distributed by Republican challengers James Bocchino and James Herrmann in their quest to create a record where none exists.
While Democrats have stabilized municipal taxes in four of the last five years with a 39% reduction in debt, challengers Bocchino & Herrmann are now crediting themselves with a "zero tax" increase even though they do not currently serve on the governing body (Click Here).
"Jim Herrmann raised taxes six consecutive times as a councilman. That's a fact. James Bocchino voted to appoint the DeCotiis law firm as bond counsel to the now defunct North Arlington Redevelopment Agency. The same agency that gave us EnCap and DeCotiis is the same law firm that is suing North Arlington on behalf of EnCap. Maybe this is why they won't debate or even mention the words EnCap in their campaign literature," echoed Councilman Al Granell, campaign manager for Council President Steve Tanelli and former Councilman Mark Yampaglia.
Democrats called the GOP literature "politically delusional" given the Republican record for raising taxes and squandering $45 million dollars in community host fees.
"James Herrmann raised taxes approximately 121% in the four years he served as a councilman. He was bounced from office in a 12-district landslide only to arrogantly have himself re-appointed days before his term was to expire. It took a Bergen County judge to remove Mr. Herrmann after he ignored the vote of "no confidence" he received from voters in November of 2003," observed Granell.
Democrats were equally skeptical of a campaign brochure that failed to list the resumes or accomplishments of the two GOP hopefuls (Click Here).
"Where is Mr. Bocchino's resume? Why doesn't he mention he served on the North Arlington Redevelopment Agency? Why doesn't he reveal he's a retired patronage employee of the Bergen County Utilities Authority? What are his credentials to serve as a councilman? Why doesn't Mr. Herrmann mention he's raised taxes every year of his public service as both a school trustee and councilman? Why don't they mention their support of EnCap, eminent domain seizure and low income housing?" questioned Granell.
"It's very apparent why they won't debate. They would have to defend the outright lies in this campaign brochure. They would have to explain to taxpayers why they support a revaluation of all homes in a down real estate market. They would have to explain to voters why they want to reevaluate every residential property and raise your taxes," said Granell, the borough's finance chairman and architect of this year's "no tax" increase budget.
Democrats were also critical of the cozy financial relationship between EnCap and the local GOP.
"When are local Republicans going to explain why they took nearly $25,000 in campaign donations from a law firm that's costing North Arlington taxpayers nearly $500,000 in legal fees? The truth is that Bocchino and Herrmann support EnCap. Always have and always will. They want to turn back the clock to the failed and discredited ways of a Republican past that doesn't work. Neither Bocchino or Herrmann have ever cut taxes or cut spending. They want to see Democrats and Mayor Massa fail because what they really want is political power at any cost," observed Nicholas Antonicello, Democratic Municipal Chairman.
