Arvin Amatorio is a Filipino-American attorney and politician, currently serving his second term as the mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a two-term councilman and council president. Amatorio is the second Filipino to serve as mayor of Bergenfield.[2]
Arvin Amatorio | |
|---|---|
 Amatorio in 2024 | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | Filipino-American |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, politician |
| Known for | Mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey |
Early life and education
editAmatorio was born and raised in Baler, Aurora, Philippines, to public school teachers.[3] He earned a degree in economics from Colegio de San Juan de Letran and later obtained a Juris Doctor from San Sebastian College in Manila.[4] Amatorio immigrated to the United States in 2002.[3] He is pursuing a master of liberal arts in international relations at Harvard University.[5]
Career
editWhile still in the Philippines, Amatorio worked at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 1996.[4] He later worked at the defunct Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau under the Department of Finance before it was deactivated.[6]
After immigrating to the United States in 2002, he was admitted to practice law in New York in 2006.[4] He is also admitted to practice both in the US Southern District and the Eastern District Courts of New York.
From 2006, he practiced immigration law in New York, became a litigation lawyer, and later opened his immigration law office in Bergenfield, New Jersey.[4][7]
His early career involved defending the Filipino nurses in the civil case, known as the “Sentosa Case," after they were sued by their recruitment agency and medical facilities in New York State court. Amatorio also represented the Republic of the Philippines through the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) during the forfeiture cases filed by the Philippines, in this case the US Southern District Court of New York, specifically concerning the claim on a piece of Claude Monet's Water Lily painting and other properties sold by former First Lady Imelda Marcos secretary Vilma Bautista. Except for Water Lily, the other claimants, including the Class (Human Rights victims) represented by Robert Swift, Golden Buddha Corporation, the company that substituted Rogelio Roxas, and the family of Vilma Bautista, reached a court settlement.
Political career
editA member of the Democratic Party,[8] Amatorio was first elected to the Bergenfield Borough Council, serving two terms as councilman and council president in 2015 and 2018.[2][9] He was considered as a replacement for former Assemblyman Joseph Lagana in New Jersey's 38th legislative district, but the position went to Chris Tully, Amatorio’s former colleague on the Bergenfield Council.[10]
In 2019, he was elected mayor of Bergenfield, the second mayor of Filipino descent, after Rober Rivas.[11][12] He defeated two-time incumbent Republican Mayor Norman Schmelz in a fiercely contested race, prompting Amatorio to file a defamation lawsuit against Schmelz.[13]
Amatorio was re-elected mayor of Bergenfield in 2023, running unopposed.[8]Amatorio is also the Bergenfield Municipal Chairman of the Democratic Committee of Bergen County.
Following his 2019 election, Amatorio sparked controversy by choosing not to re-appoint a long-serving municipal judge, instead appointing Franklin Montero, Bergenfield's first-ever Latino judge[14], who also became the only Hispanic Municipal judge in Bergen County that time. Bergenfield previously appointed Cathy Madalone, the first female Police Chief[15], and later Mustafa Rabboh, the first Muslim Police Chief[16] in Bergen County, which Amatorio both supported as a council member.
In early 2022, despite opposition from critics citing cost, Amatorio pushed for the construction of the new Borough Hall, which had been debated for more than a decade. Amatorio was later sworn in at the new building in January 2024, marking his second term and the first official use of the new Borough Hall after overseeing its construction.
Amatorio advocated redevelopment and revitalization of the business district, a move that brought opposition fearing congestion and could increase population in the school district, a myth Amatorio dispelled. In 2023, Amatorio and the Bergenfield Council commenced construction on a multi-purpose field costing more than $4 million, utilizing the $2.6 million grant received for the project. This decision raised concerns about potential tax increases after Amatorio and the Borough Council spent over half a million dollars upgrading 12 parks in Bergenfield with new equipment.
Personal life
editAmatorio met his wife, IIya Evangelista Amatorio, while working at the DILG in the Philippines in 1996.[4] They have two children, Lance and Andrew.
He is a member of Lex Talionis Fraternitas,[8]and the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York, Jose Rizal Lodge 1132. He is also a Chapter Commander of the Knights of Rizal, Bergenfield Chapter.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio". Bergenfield.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Y. Yang, Angelica (January 11, 2020). "Fil-Am lawyer sworn-in as Bergenfield, NJ mayor". GMA News Online. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Rimando, Roel (January 11, 2024). "How a Filipino immigrant became a mayor in New Jersey and changed the political landscape". Asia News Network. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Llavanes, Jr., Dave (January 3, 2024). "Filipino lawyer from Aurora takes oath as mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Arvin Amatorio at LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "G.R. Nos. 142801-802". lawphil.net. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
- ^ Visaya, Momar G. (January 10, 2020). "Filipino lawyer sworn in as Bergenfield, New Jersey mayor — Life Eastyle Magazine". Asian Journal News. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c Jr., Dave Llavanes (November 11, 2023). "Fil-Am lawyer Arvin Amatorio re-elected as mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "Filipino-born lawyer savors council victory in Bergenfield - News - NorthJersey.com". November 18, 2014. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Wildstein, David (2018-04-27). "Gottheimer aide may get Assembly seat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
- ^ Biryukov, Nikita (March 27, 2019). "Amatorio running for Bergenfield mayor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "Fil-Am Amatorio wins Bergenfield, New Jersey mayoral race". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 7, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ Wildstein, David (February 18, 2020). "Bergenfield mayor files defamation suit against ousted incumbent". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Bergenfield Appoints Latino-American As Municipal Judge". Teaneck, NJ Patch. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "Bergenfield to swear in first female police chief". News 12 - Default. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Kaulessar, Ricardo. "Mustafa Rabboh, Bergen County's first Muslim police chief, is sworn in". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
External links
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