Fil-Am lawyer sworn-in as Bergenfield, NJ mayor

Naturalized Filipino-American lawyer, Arvin Amatorio, took his oath as the mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey, last Sunday.

He went up against incumbent Republican Mayor Norman Schmelz, and won the elections by 166 votes.

Amatorio is the second Fil-Am mayor to be elected into power, since the term of Fil-Am Robert Rivas from 2000 to 2002.

Amatorio, who practices immigration law in the States, was sworn-in by Democrat Senator Joe Lagana at the Bergenfield Borough Hall.

"Thank you, EVERYONE, who took their time to join me in this momentous event and to all of you who celebrated with me in spirit. God bless," Amatorio wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Amatorio, who hailed from the Philippines, is the son of two public school teachers. He attended college in Manila, and graduated with degrees in Economics and Law.

After meeting his future wife, Ilya Evangelista-Amatorio, he moved to the States with her in 2002. Four years later, he started practicing immigration law to help fellow Filipinos "live the American dream."

In 2015 and 2018, he served as a Bergenfield Borough Councilman. In his campaign website, he is known for producing consecutive budgets with a zero percent tax increase and organizing outreach health fairs in his communities.

His slate included Councilwoman Ora Kornbluth and Councilman Buddy Deauna. Both were also sworn-in to power during the ceremony on Sunday. — MDM, GMA News