Judge says North Arlington GOP never held meeting, but gives them until 11AM to do so

A Superior Court Judge has ruled that the North Arlington Republicans never held a meeting to pick a new candidate for mayor, but gave them until 11 AM tomorrow to select a new candidate.

The incumbent, Republican Joseph Bianchi, died on October 10.

On Friday, a state appellate court judge invalidated Judge Robert Wilson’s order to allow Republicans to switch their candidates.   Wilson had accepted North Arlington Republican Municipal Chairman John Bratowicz’s claim that he held a county committee meeting to pick Councilman Dan Pronti as a replacement candidate, rejecting an affidavit from vice chair Barbara Kaiser saying that no meeting was held.

Today, Judge Estela De La Cruz took over the case.

Subpoenas were issued to all twenty members of the Republican county committee.

Vote-by-mail ballots had already been mailed, and some voters had already cast their votes using a ballot that had Bianchi’s name.