Democrat suspends campaign as North Arlington mourns late mayor

Mark Yampaglia, the Democratic candidate for mayor of North Arlington, has announced that he will temporarily suspend his campaign following the death of his opponent, Mayor Joseph Bianchi.

Bianchi, a Republican, died yesterday after a battle with cancer.  He was 77.

“I am temporarily suspending my campaign so that Mayor Bianchi’s passing is appropriately acknowledged and I call on all residents to remember this special individual,” said Yampaglia, a councilman.  “I will reevaluate my efforts moving forward once this time of mourning has been completed.”

Yampaglia and independent Al Granell were opposing Bianchi’s bid for re-election to a second term next month.  It appears that the mayor’s name will remain on the ballot.

“The passing of Mayor Joseph Bianchi is a tragic and devastating loss for our community and pulls at the very fabric of North Arlington. Mayor Bianchi’s decades of public service as a volunteer firefighter, member and chairman of the North Arlington Planning Board as well as his elected service as a councilman and mayor are to be admired and praised,” Yampaglia said.  “I have had the distinct pleasure and honor to serve with Mayor Bianchi during most of my time as a borough councilman and I always found the Mayor to be bipartisan, independent and dedicated to the cause of honest an open government. He was nothing but considerate and fair and always put North Arlington first.”