Mayor

A 25-year Northvale resident, Joe McGuire was sworn in as Mayor in January 2023 with a simple promise: Make Borough government more transparent, accessible, and accountable. He's kept that promise.

Under his leadership, Northvale has modernized how residents engage with local government — from livestreamed council meetings and a revamped Borough website to a quarterly newsletter and expanded social media. He's delivered real quality-of-life improvements, secured grant funding for additional police officers, and cut Borough expenses by an estimated $100,000–$150,000 annually — savings that go straight back to taxpayers.

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Before becoming Mayor, Joe served four years on the Northvale Council and seven years on the Board of Education, including five as President. He's coached youth sports in Northvale for over a decade, served on Town Day committees, and brings 30 years of IT and tech industry experience to the job of running a smarter, more efficient Borough.

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Joe and his wife Sue have raised their family here. This is home — and that's exactly why he serves.

Councilman

Hovannes Bakalian brings a grounded, practical perspective to the Northvale Council — shaped by a career spanning property management, commercial real estate, and industrial sales. That experience has given him a firsthand understanding of how landlords, businesses, and residents can work together to build thriving communities.

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On the council, Hovannes is focused on what he knows best: strengthening Northvale's growing small business community, supporting smart development, and making sure the people who live and work here feel heard. He's known for his collaborative approach and his ability to bring people together around shared goals.

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Hovannes and his wife Tania are proud Northvale parents to three children — Never, Emma, and Chloe. Getting more involved in town life only deepened his commitment to give back and help keep Northvale what it already is: the best kept secret in the Northern Valley.

Councilwoman

Laura Fernandez joined the Northvale Council with a clear purpose: give back to the town she loves. After watching her family put down roots here over two decades, Laura and her husband Adam chose Northvale to raise their own family. That personal connection drives everything she does in office.

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Professionally, Laura brings 15 years of marketing and communications experience to the council, with a background working with notable brands and her own boutique consulting agency. Her expertise in digital strategy, social media, and community communications supports Northvale's efforts to keep residents connected and informed.

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Laura played a key role in bringing the Northvale Community Garden to life — contributing to the planning, organization, and community events that made it a reality. She also founded Northvale's Pumpkins for Pink event, an annual fundraiser benefiting breast cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering — a cause close to her heart as a breast cancer survivor.

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Laura is focused on smart, connected, community-first leadership — and making Northvale an even better place to grow up and grow old.