Appellate Court stays North Arlington ruling

The race for mayor of North Arlington continues to be a mess.

Today, an appellate court judge stayed the order of Superior Court Judge Robert Wilson to allow Republicans to replace Mayor Joseph Bianchi, who died on October 10, on the November 6 ballot with Councilman Dan Pronti.    The matter has been remanded back to Wilson with instructions to hold a hearing on the matter.

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

Until Wilson rules again, Bergen County Clerk John Hogan will use the original ballots with the late mayor on them.

Among the issues: Republican Municipal Chairman John Bratowicz said that he held a county committee meeting to pick a replacement candidate, but the vice chair, Barbara Kaiser, submitted an affidavit saying that no meeting was held.

A hearing is expected on Monday, and it is likely that all twenty Republican county committee members will be subpoenaed to testify.