Last November, Edward “Bo” Scannavino and Denis Jaslow both filed petitions to run in the special election against the candidate North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco appointed, Allen Pascual, for the seat on the Board of Commissioners.
However, only Scannavino appeared on the ballot because he brought a suit against Jaslow in Hudson County Superior Court to prove that Jaslow was not a legal resident of the township when he filed his petition to run. A Superior Court judge agreed.
“I wasn’t happy with that,” Jaslow said. “I can’t deny that. I was upset with Bo at the time.”
“I was never angry at Denis,” Scannavino said. “I know he was angry with me, but I never had ill feelings towards him. I just had to do what was politically correct. I had to take Sacco head on and couldn’t do it with Denis on the ballot.”
Turn the clock ahead five months.
It’s been said that politics can create some strange bedfellows, but none stranger than this.
Scannavino and Jaslow, fierce rivals and enemies then, are now allies, running on the same political ticket, headed by former deputy public safety director and longtime police Lt. Joseph Marino. They are running in the May 13 election against Sacco and the entire Board of Commissioners.
“I’d have to say it’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen, but anything can happen in politics,” said Scannavino, a long-time political foe of Sacco. “Denis now lives in the town and he’s eligible to run. I’ve never said anything bad about Denis Jaslow. He’s a hard political worker and he’s an asset to the ticket. He does a lot of good things for the people of North Bergen and wants to do good things for North Bergen.”
Marino, Scannavino and Jaslow are joined on the “Corruption Free in 2003=Lower Taxes” ballot with Hudson Ridge tenant leader Marissa Suarez and activist Eugene McCrohan.
Marino, who spent 40 years on the North Bergen police force and still heads the North Bergen Police Activity League, was the deputy public safety director for five years, until the position was abolished in 1999.
Now 71, Marino was talked into running for mayor and heading the ticket to oppose Sacco.
“I’ve lived all my life here,” Marino said. “I’m 71 and still in good shape. I am very disgruntled about the way the town is going. People are getting indicted and pleading guilty to corruption. Cops are being fired for no reason. I’ve known Denis and Bo for a long time and they’re good, honest people. They’re trying to do something good for the town. I’m not a politician and I’ve never run for public office, but I’ve been here all my life and think I can change things for the better.”
Marino said that he was approached by Scannavino just last week to see if he would be interested to head the ticket.
“Bo’s a good friend,” Marino said. “He felt that I could add some credibility and leadership to the ticket. I’m retired now and don’t need the headaches. But I think Sacco gives the town a bad name. I know there are a lot of people who don’t know what’s going on in the town and want answers.”
“Joe Marino heads the ticket because he has a lot of people who respect him in North Bergen,” Scannavino said. “Joe Marino warrants heading the ticket.”
After Scannavino got Marino to commit to running, it was Marino who reached out to Jaslow.
“Joe Marino is a beautiful guy,” Jaslow said. “He’s done so much for the community through the PAL. When he called me and asked me if I would be interested, I said I would do anything for him. But then when he mentioned Bo, I wasn’t happy with that at first. I definitely have my feelings.”
Added Jaslow, “Politics can do some strange things. It’s politics. We worked things out. We’re moving forward and going to try to end the corruption. My goal is to get Sacco out of office. Now, I don’t think the association between me and Bo is weird. We have a common goal. It’s a unified effort. It’s a coalition. We’re going forward and we’ll be working hard to reach our goal May 13.”
Scannavino said that he didn’t think there was ever a hatchet that had to be buried.
“I welcome Denis Jaslow,” said Scannavino, who was soundly defeated by Pascual in the special election last November. “I know what Denis Jaslow can do. I’ve known him since 1985. Denis’ political ambitions have always been in line. We’re fine. We’re together.”
As strange as that may seem.