EDITOR'S NOTE: These are the verbatim responses of the candidates for Essex County Executive to questions presented by The League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area. The candidates were given an equal amount of space for their answers.
Essex County Executive
Candidates - Vote for one (four year term)
Marilynn M. English – Independent, Licensed Mortgage Banker/Broker, former Assistant Vice President at JP Morgan
Herbert Glenn – Republican, Data Entry Clerk, Essex County Corrections
Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (incumbent) – Democrat, Essex County Executive
What expenses could be reduced or revenue enhancements found so that Essex County does not have to reduce services to residents in this tough economic climate?
Ms. English: Eliminate the contracts and jobs to donors. Examples of this are the miniature golf course costing us $6.6 million and maintenance of the parks for another $6 million, when we have a fully staffed Parks Department with a budget of $16 million. Eliminate County purchases from donors at purchase prices higher than appraised values (Kip's Castle $5.6 million). We must have accountability for how our money is spent and why. From my three years of Open Public Records Act requests, and attendance at Freeholder meetings, it appears that the entirely Democratic Freeholder Board (the Legislation) approves whatever Joe DiVincenzo (the Administration) wants, without discussion. And we, the taxpayers of Essex County are paying dearly as a result of those votes. As of March 2010, we had more than $1.1 billion in bond debt. We have been told by the County Executive, that grants are free. They are not free; we pay for them through bond debt, principal, interest, sales tax and property tax. Most of the "things" that the County Executive spends our money on we do not need. If we eliminate his pet projects, and his jobs and contracts to donors, we can save millions of dollars.
Mr. Glenn: Essex County has a near $700 million budget, which leaves plenty of room for cuts without hurting essential services. The payroll is padded with double dippers, those receiving more than one public paycheck. I would end the double dipping and reduce the ranks of the politically connected workforce who are working in county government just to pad their payroll. We need to reduce the size of government by changing the compensation structure and developing tasks that represent more efficient service to the residents. I have already stated I would take a 20 percent pay cut as county executive and I would cut top level pay by 10 percent. Work performance has diminished and morale is abysmal based on the limited opportunity for workers to expand their talents and increase skill development. Restructuring priorities starting with administrative and departmental job descriptions will help to save money. Shared services in law enforcement, legal services and a master economic development plan to lower expenses and help escalate low tax incentive for new businesses should also be challenged. Essex County needs to eliminate the responsibility of being property managers.
Mr. DiVincenzo: During the last eight years, my administration has taken proactive steps to reduce the cost of government and create new revenue sources. We significantly reduced our workforce through attrition and layoffs to 3,500 in 2010 from 4,200 in 2003, cut unnecessary contracts and consultants, and worked with County agencies to do the same. A variety of shared service and inter-local agreements have created new revenue: $16.7 million by housing federal inmates and immigration detainees in the Correctional Facility, $350,000 by housing Passaic and Hudson County inmates in a locked medical unit at East Orange General Hospital, $5 million by housing Passaic County juvenile detainees in our Juvenile Detention Facility, and $10 million by treating Passaic County psychiatric patients at our Hospital Center. The old Newark Jail was transformed into the LeRoy Smith Public Safety Building, producing about $1.7 million in annual savings and rental income from office space. In addition, we operate all our recreation facilities like businesses; revenue collected this year will be about $10 million compared with $3 million collected in 2003. Of particular note is the fact that Turtle Back Zoo has been a self-sufficient facility, with revenue exceeding operating expenses, for the last three years.
How do you and your opponents differ on the major issues facing Essex County?
Ms. English: I am representing the people. This "grassroots" effort began with 4,000 Verona, Cedar Grove and Montclair residents who were against the deer killing when non-lethal methods were available that were less expensive and less traumatic. The County Executive, who initiated the hunt, told us it was "free," but after I researched the spending on this "alleged free hunt," I found that it cost us more than $370,000 over three years, when we could have spent $200,000 to spay/neuter or inoculate. Residents were told lies and even through the research presented, the elected officials did not care. They voted the way they were told with only one Councilman actually doing any research. I have never run for office; both candidates have. I am not sponsored by a major party, but by average people. People who want to be able to live peacefully in their towns and enjoy a nature walk and not have to work two jobs to be able to live in Essex County. I represent the 4,000 residents who wanted their voices heard and did not and those others who do not vote because they say "why bother?" I am representing those people, so their voices will be heard.
Mr. Glenn: Spending. My opponent and I differ with the type of priorities that are being targeted not helping to build communities or developing small businesses. It is more like spending money because we have it. We need a real economic engine developed. The current system of political welfare; supplementing the payroll for elected officials is unacceptable. We must target duel pay, overtime pay and no-show pay while redirecting priorities from creating luxury parks to creating jobs and sustaining communities with limited services.
Mr. DiVincenzo: Essex County is where I was born, raised and decided to stay and raise my family. Throughout my life, I have always been committed to serving the public.
For the last eight years, you probably have seen the words "Putting Essex County First" on flyers, signs, billboards, letters, the Web and county facilities. These words are the slogan of my administration, but they have a deeper, special meaning that drives my staff and me every day. Putting Essex County First reminds and motivates us that it is you, the residents of Essex County, whom we serve.
Essex County today is very different from the place I inherited eight years ago. High ethical standards are maintained. Long unfinished projects that were under litigation or neglected (Correctional Facility, Historic Courthouse, Hospital Center, Juvenile Detention Facility, historic Parks System) are now models for the State and institutions that we all can look to with pride.
I truly enjoy serving our residents as their County Executive. It is a job I take seriously and to which I have tirelessly dedicated myself. The public trust is a special trust and I remain committed to honoring the trust the people of Essex have placed in me.
What is the prime issue facing Essex County?
Ms. English: Too many issues … high property taxes due to out of control spending, especially on non-essential things. Pay to play should be banned and donations capped at $25. I believe this is the primary cause of our high taxes and outrageous bond debt. If Joe D did not have to pay back all of his donors with contracts and/or jobs, we would probably not be in the financial mess we are in. I believe that prior to spending any money, there should be discussions and the issue researched for the best and least expensive options. I believe that residents should have a say in how their money is spent and their input should be welcome and respected. I believe that the needs and wants of the residents should be paramount. Our elected officials need to remember that WE THE PEOPLE pay their salaries and elected them and they should be accountable to us, not to each other. Please visit our websitewww.wethepeopleofessex.com for back up and additional information. Thank you and please vote on election day ... your voice will be heard.
Mr. Glenn: Property taxes. I believe that the prime issue facing Essex County is that people cannot bear the weight of increasing property taxes for what amounts to few essential services. We need to cut the fat and make sure our commitment is to the people who enjoy living in Essex. We need new ideas and better leadership. Both correctional detention centers are used as hotel-like facilities housing arrests without enough involvement or plans for rehabilitation. We pay two drug treatment centers to detain law breakers while providing multiple cells in reserve for federal and immigrant detainees. The county parks are deteriorating. Our social services are diminishing. The vocational education system is being strangled with risky ideas of consolidation, causing over-spending for expensive lawyers. Construction jobs are not hiring local residents and there is a lack of enforcing county ordinances. We lack the efficiency that will help improve the lifestyle of our residents. www.herbglennforcountyexec.com
Mr. DiVincenzo: Controlling the budget is our priority. My Directors and Fiscal Officers have kept the cost of government down while maintaining services. We limited annual property tax increases to 3.17 percent over 8 years, the second lowest average percentage of New Jersey's 21 counties, and restructured debt to reduce the impact on the annual budget without extending the payments. We reduced our workforce, eliminated unnecessary expenses, and successfully lobbied the State for our fair share of Green Acres grants for our parks and aid for our vocational schools. These actions earned us six bond rating increases since 2003, our highest rating in a generation.
We are focusing on the future, lobbying for more changes. The State recently mandated that union employees pay a portion of their health care and prescription coverage, which we had proposed three years ago. We are continuing negotiations with our unions to reduce holidays and accept zero percent salary increases for 2009 and 2010, lobbying to have the Sheriff's Office schedule shifts 24/7 to reduce overtime, for the State to reform the arbitration process so emphasis is placed on local governments' budget constraints, and to have the Attorney General's Office assume responsibility of all County Prosecutor's offices.
MISSION STATEMENT: The League of Women Voters®, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The Montclair Area League, which encompasses the communities of Bloomfield, The Caldwells, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Essex Fells, Glen Ridge, Little Falls, Montclair, Verona and West Orange, needs members (men and women) to act as observers at meetings of their local school boards and municipalities and to report back issues that can be explored in candidates' forums and questionnaires or that may become the basis for League studies. To become a member or learn more, visit the LWV-Montclair Area website atwww.montclairarea.nj.lwvnet.org.
