MONTVALE, N.J.—Calling himself a bridge builder among communities and people in North Jersey—as well as potentially in the Middle East—Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali announced his intention to oppose U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer in 2020 to represent the Fifth Congressional District.
“That’s what I bring to the table: international experience with an understanding of [Middle East] culture, language, history of the area’s politics; maybe I can help with the peace process and I think I know what each side wants; maybe I can be that link,” Ghassali said.
Meanwhile, Gottheimer, of Wyckoff, is expected to seek election to his third term. He’s a leader of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus; he serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he works on subcommittees for national security, international development, and monetary policy; and he’s on subcommittees for capital markets, securities, and investments, and diversity and inclusion.
Gottheimer defeated Republican John McCann, of Oakland, 53 percent to 45 percent in November 2018. McCann, now Emerson’s borough attorney, announced this spring he’s back in the race for Congress and pledged “to finish the job.”
The 116th U.S. Congress took office in January, with Democrats taking control of the House while Republicans maintain an edge in the Senate. The midterm election is Nov. 3, 2020.
‘A bridge builder’
Ghassali, who said he’s busy focusing on his campaign message and platform preparing for his campaign kickoff July 1, served two council terms and is in his first term as mayor. He is expected to be unopposed for a second term as mayor this year after winning the Republican nomination June 4.
An official congressional campaign start-up rally for Ghassali will be held Monday, July 1 at the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church Banquet Hall, 55 West Midland Ave., Paramus, from 7 to 8 p.m.
The date is also when Ghassali says he’ll file a petition to enter the 2020 race.
Ghassali said during his tenure as mayor he has helped steer the community through rough periods including negotiations with intervenors before settling the borough’s affordable housing plan in late 2017.
Ghassali told Pascack Press that his candidacy was an example of “when planets line up,” with 100 percent support from his wife, sons, and employers.
He said his wife told him he has to run because he brings qualities to the race that no other candidate could offer.
He said he could use his background, knowledge and perspective “to do something against hate and hatred, as well as help towns to reduce taxes.”
Ghassali said he can help to bring new businesses to towns in the 5th District, similar to what’s happened in Montvale.
This includes new commercial development such as the Shoppes at DePiero Farm, MSK Bergen, and new developments on Sony Drive and Mercedes Drive.
Another focus could be on helping towns with ideas to reduce property taxes, he said.
‘Still working’ on campaign
“Frankly I’m still working on all of these,” he said.
Ghassali said “Often it’s the small things that add up” in costs for towns.
He cited one example of local cost cutting where he delayed painting borough hall for a year, or more, to save $20,000 since the paint job was not needed.
Ghassali said concluding the town’s affordable housing settlement in late 2017 helped save the town many thousands in legal fees for negotiations and court battles.
He said he realized that “we could fight and spend all this money, and it’s not my money and I would look good” but that settling the litigation with three intervenors was the most cost-effective strategy.
“Like all the towns around us we were being sued for thousands of units,” said Ghassali, recalling the topsy-turvy legal battles and court-supervised negotiations with developers looking to build high-density “inclusionary housing” on former commercial/office properties.
Such inclusionary housing mandates a 15% affordable set-aside for rental units or a 20% affordable set-aside for market-rate units.
‘May have to fight’
Asked about Montvale’s affordable housing obligations after 2025—when the current settlement expires—Ghassali said Montvale has no space left for development.
“We went through all the rounds and met all of our obligations and we may have to fight this as far as after that,” he said.
Ghassali said a local committee is looking at affordable obligations after 2025.
Ghassali came to the United States in 1980 when he was 15. His family settled in Dumont and moved to Montvale in 2004, where he now lives with wife Maryann and two sons, Ellie and Danny.
Ghassali is a contract language analyst with top-secret clearance and continues to help in human rights causes with refugees and child hunger.
Ghassali worked for Unilver in Englewood Cliffs for 15 years before starting his own company, consulting with food companies on shipping best practices to reduce in-transit damages.
His company was sold to Genco Supply Chain Solutions and FedEx acquired Genco.
Ghassali joined Feed The Children in 2011 and has helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to help needy families and veterans nationwide.
Ghassali is president of the Pascack Valley Mayors Association. He holds a degree in biology and sociology.