Northvale Borough Council · Nov 3, 2026
Hovannes
Bakalian
Hovannes Bakalian, the incumbent, is running for Northvale Borough Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 4 candidates are running for 2 seats.
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The race · Borough Council
- 01Hovannes BakalianYou’re reading
- 02Jean Marie Cerbasi
- 03Laura N. FernandezIncumbent
- 04David E. Sillery
Background
- About
- Hovannes Bakalian is a Northvale councilman with a career in property management and commercial real estate. His campaign site says he also worked in industrial sales.
- Campaign website
- www.northvale2026.com
Joseph E. McGuire, Hovannes Bakalian and Laura N. Fernandez share a campaign website paid for by the Northvale GOP. Northvale 2026 (McGuire, Bakalian and Fernandez campaign): Home
On the record: Hovannes Bakalian
12 sourced01Affordable housing3 sourced positions
Voted yes to adopt Ordinance 26-05 amending the borough's affordable housing regulations to address the Fair Housing Act (passed 4-0, March 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · Mar 11, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes to adopt Ordinance 26-06 raising minimum affordable housing requirements in the Paris Avenue and Residential Multifamily inclusionary overlay districts (passed 4-0, March 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · Mar 11, 2026LinkHow the council voted
as recorded in the borough's meeting minutes
During the vote on Ordinance 26-05, said the affordable housing requirements have been forced on the borough by the state.
Own statementBorough of Northvale · Mar 11, 2026Link
02State gas tax1 sourced position
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-95 urging the Legislature and Governor to repeal the gas tax escalator (passed 6-0 on the consent agenda, May 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · May 13, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Budget and taxes3 sourced positions
Voted yes to adopt Ordinance 26-09 raising the 2026 budget by 1.5% ($127,888.76) above the amount the cap law otherwise allows (passed 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · Jul 8, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-129 adopting the 2026 municipal budget (passed 6-0, July 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · Jul 16, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Northvale 2026 campaign site for Joseph E. McGuire, Hovannes Bakalian and Laura N. Fernandez
Joint campaign site says the team cut professional service expenses by $100,000 to $150,000 a year and utility costs by about $2,000 a month.
Own statementNorthvale 2026 (McGuire, Bakalian and Fernandez campaign): HomeLink
04Roads and drainage2 sourced positions
Voted yes to adopt Bond Ordinance 26-10 appropriating $270,000 to resurface White Avenue from Livingston Street to Tappan Road (passed 6-0, September 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · Sep 9, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes to adopt Bond Ordinance 26-11 appropriating $195,000 for stormwater and drainage improvements (passed 6-0, September 2026).
Council voteBorough of Northvale · Sep 9, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Development1 sourced position
Northvale 2026 campaign site for Joseph E. McGuire, Hovannes Bakalian and Laura N. Fernandez
Joint campaign site pledges to fight for smart, responsible growth that keeps the town's character intact.
We will fight for smart, responsible growth that keeps the character of this town intact.”
Own statementNorthvale 2026 (McGuire, Bakalian and Fernandez campaign): AboutLink
06Ballot listing1 sourced position
Listed in the Republican column of the Bergen County Clerk's official 2026 sample ballot for Northvale council.
Own statementBergen County Clerk · Nov 3, 2026Link
07Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for Northvale Council in 2023 (won).
Own statementBergen County Clerk · Nov 7, 2023Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Hovannes Bakalian: their words and their votes on the same issue
Affordable housing
In their words
During the vote on Ordinance 26-05, said the affordable housing requirements have been forced on the borough by the state.
Mar 11, 2026 ·as recorded in the borough's meeting minutes ·Borough of Northvale · Mar 11, 2026
On the record
Voted yes to adopt Ordinance 26-05 amending the borough's affordable housing regulations to address the Fair Housing Act (passed 4-0, March 2026).
Mar 11, 2026 ·Borough of Northvale · Mar 11, 2026
Voted yes to adopt Ordinance 26-06 raising minimum affordable housing requirements in the Paris Avenue and Residential Multifamily inclusionary overlay districts (passed 4-0, March 2026).
Mar 11, 2026 ·Borough of Northvale · Mar 11, 2026
Budget and taxes
In their words
Joint campaign site says the team cut professional service expenses by $100,000 to $150,000 a year and utility costs by about $2,000 a month.
Northvale 2026 campaign site for Joseph E. McGuire, Hovannes Bakalian and Laura N. Fernandez ·Northvale 2026 (McGuire, Bakalian and Fernandez campaign): Home
On the record
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-129 adopting the 2026 municipal budget (passed 6-0, July 2026).
Jul 16, 2026 ·Borough of Northvale · Jul 16, 2026
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