02/24/2026
We join the BCRO in the attached statement. Republicans support Republicans, and we have no patience for losers and clout-chasers who use this party’s mantle for self promotion. Best of luck to Councilman Slasinski!
Oakland Republican Club
AN IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP MESSAGE ON
THE OAKLAND SPECIAL ELECTION
February 23, 2026
It has come to our attention that Frank Pallotta, a Mahwah county committee member and the Mahwah Republican Club President, is falsely portraying himself as a member of the Oakland GOP, urging Republicans and unaffiliated voters to vote against our incumbent Republican councilman Kevin Slasinski in an upcoming special election on March 10, 2026. A call went out on Sunday, February 15, using Pallotta’s voice and his personal cell phone number, with the caller identifying himself as “Frank with the Republican group here in Oakland.” The recorded call urged voters to cast their mail-in ballot votes for independent candidate Matthew Dumpert in the March 10 special election.
The entire Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO), the Oakland GOP as well as District 39 GOP are backing the only Republican in the race, Kevin Slasinski, who finished in a tie in the November election.
The Republican Party and our candidates will not be undermined by a rogue actor who uses deception and misleading tactics for personal spite. Being a party critic is one thing; actively and overtly working to defeat a fellow Republican in a general election is much more serious and needs to be addressed. Frank Pallotta does not live in Oakland, he is not a part of the Oakland GOP, and he certainly does not speak for the Oakland Republican party and yet he is spending time and money trying to derail the campaign of an incumbent Republican councilman.
We urge all Oakland voters to cast their votes in the March 10 run-off election for Kevin Slasinki.
As for Pallotta, for a Republican county committeeman and Mahwah GOP Club President to undermine members of his own party is an intolerable violation of trust. We call upon the officers and members of the Mahwah Republican Club to censure Pallotta and expel him from the club for violating the club's bylaws, and the Chairman of the Mahwah Republican County Committee to censure him for violation of the Mahwah County Committee bylaws. We also urge all Republican elected officials, municipal chairs, and county committee members to share this letter with other Republicans so that moving forward the message is clear that this type of behavior will never be tolerated within our party.
Signed:
BCRO Chairman Jack DeLorenzo
BCRO Parliamentarian & Park Ridge Councilman Will Fenwick
NJ Senator Holly Schepisi
NJ Assemblyman Robert Auth
NJ Assemblyman John Azzariti
NJ Republican State Committeeman Vincent Durante
NJ Republican State Committeewoman Darlene Shotmeyer
District 37 Chair Tom Toscano
District 38 Chair Laure Schroeder
District 39 Chair Kathie Durante
District 40 Chair Drita McNamara
District 39 Mayors:
Mayor Mike Ghassali, Montvale
Mayor James Barsa, Norwood
Mayor Eric Kulmala, Oakland
Mayor Carlos Rendo, Woodcliff Lake
Mayor Thomas Gallagher, Old Tappan
Mayor Danielle DiPaola, Emerson
Mayor Deidre Dillon, Ramsey
Mayor Al Kurpis, Saddle River
Mayor Peter Calamari, Washington Township
Mayor Tom Randall, Ho-Ho-Kus
Mayor John Morgan, Cresskill
Mayor John Glidden, Closter
Mayor Ray Arroyo, Westwood
Mayor Amy Wilczynski, Allendale
Mayor Joe McGuire, Northvale
Mayor Mark Bromberg, River Vale
Mayor Harry Shortway, Midland Park
Mayor Arman Fardanesh, Upper Saddle River
Mayor Jim Wysocki, Mahwah
Municipal Chairs:
Mike Best, Oakland
Phil Ross, Mahwah
Katie Cericola, Waldwick
Denise Orfanos, Haworth
Jon Kurpis, Saddle River
Phil Fredericks, Dumont
James M. Domville, Hillsdale
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