Meet your candidates
NEWTON — Voters will have four candidates to choose from when they head to the polls June 2 in the Sussex County Freeholder race.
Gary Larson, Carl Lazzaro, Dennis Mudrick and Jonathan Rose will contend for two positions.
The elected candidates will serve three year terms on the board.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For your polling place visit www.njelections.org.
Gary Larson
Age: 59
Political History: Frankford Township mayor and deputy mayor, Frankford Parks Commission, Frankford Land Use Board, Frankford Board of Education, Sussex County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Sussex County Water Quality Advisory Committee, SCARC trustee.
Occupation: Retired Special Education Teacher, Sparta Township Public Schools and former Director of the New Jersey Camp for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Family: Married for 28 years to wife Claude; son Andrew and his wife, Brittany; daughter Beth Ann
Education: BA, Jersey City State College, MA, East Stroudsburg University
What are your top three issues?
The Solar settlement and administrative transition are issues that will be decided by the current Freeholder Board. Below are issues I see as crucial moving forward
Broadening fiscal responsibility - By finding ways to save money in small ways, to maintain services, without increasing county taxes. As a fiscal conservative, I understand the need to explore new avenues to save tax dollars. During 16 years of involvement in Frankford government, I have recognized the need that, in certain circumstances, leadership involves spending money in a way to save taxpayer dollars. This has been accomplished in Frankford through our road improvement and recycling programs and repairs to our DPW garage, allowing Frankford’s municipal tax increase to be one of the lowest in the county during my six years in office.
Economic development - Is crucial to the County’s financial stability and the loss of over $4 billion in county ratables during the past few years has been devastating to services. As Deputy Mayor I was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the elimination of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving Sussex Commons at Ross' Corner. As this project progresses it will bring both construction and permanent retail positions to county residents as well as a strong ratable to both Frankford and Sussex County. It is critical that the County continues to work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development to attract new business opportunities in our area. The successful team approach I used as Mayor in Frankford will find a balance with economic development, fundamental to the stability of our county tax base.
County infrastructure - has been pushed beyond its limits during the past several years. As repairs continue today, it is imperative that we recognize the work ahead and maintain a forward thinking capital plan for our roads and bridges.
Carl F. Lazzaro
Age: 72
Political History - Fredon Township Planning Board, Fredon Township Committee, Fredon Township Deputy Mayor, Fredon Township Mayor, Exec Director and Founder of Drug Treatment Program, Administrator of Adolescent Drug Treatment Program, Newton Board of Education, Exec Board of Directors NJSIAA, Board of Directors NJ School Boards Association, President and Vice president of Sussex County League of Municipalities.
Occupation – Owner Lazzaro Agency (Insurance), Ordained Minister Reformed Church in America – semi retired.
Education - Graduated Columbia High School, Graduated BA, from Rutgers University, Graduated M Div., New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Completed 39 Credits Post Graduate Center of Mental Health, and NY Theological Seminary
Family - Married 33 years, four grown children, three grand children
What are your top three issues?
1) There is a crisis in communication on the current Freeholder Board. The elected officials are elected to be in charge of the County government and set the philosophy of government and the direction government shall take. The professionals hired by the elected officials carry out the day to day activities of government but ultimately the decision making process rests with the elected officials. The Board needs to work together; there must be give and take to reach consensus decision and that is not happening at this time and when I am elected; I will provide leadership.
2) I believe in the entrepreneurial spirit and have owned my own businesses for many years – I am accountable to myself and my clients – the same with government leadership- elected officials are accountable to the people whom we are honored to serve. Too often elected officials forget the service aspect of government. We must be accountable and transparent to the folks; they can and will respect their leaders and support the vital role that they play in making government compatible with daily life. This is reflected in frugal use of tax dollars, spending policies, management of government intrusion into our daily lives, and how we view ourselves as citizens in the greater community.
3) Great leaders have great support staff and we need to maintain that value – with the retirement of government professionals it is imperative that we carefully select replacements. First we need positive leadership-not leadership over a TV screen from miles away. The Board of Chosen Freeholders should come together and carefully determine the individuals selected for the positions of daily operations. All professionals shall be accountable to the board and no individual shall manipulate the system to stifle communication to other board members. Total communication and transparency of the Board is essential. With a strong united Board we can and will reduce the footprint of government for the people of our County and most certainly serve them more efficiently.
Dennis J. Mudrick
Age: 52
Political History: Sussex County Freeholder, Freeholder Deputy Director, Freeholder Liaison to Department of Finance and Library Services and to the County Sheriff, as well as to the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council; Freeholder Liaison to the Department of Environmental and Public Health Services, County Surrogate, 208 Water Quality Management Committee and County Tax Board.
Occupation: Principal of Cedar Mountain Primary School.
Education: B.A. History/Education, 1986, Montclair State College; Rutgers University Eagleton Institute of Politics, Summer 1989; M.A. Education Administration and Supervision, 1994, Montclair State University; completed 15 credits towards M.A.R. Degree with Concentration in Biblical Studies from Liberty University since the Summer of 2010.
Family: Married to Pam for 14 years with three sons.
What are your top three issues?
1. Taxes - Sussex County families are forced to live within their means and so must our county government. Continuing to stabilize taxes as our current Board of Chosen Freeholders has done the past three years, while continuing to control spending and maintaining delivery of services, is essential as we move forward. The fiscally conservative and responsible philosophy and approach of our current board and immediate past boards need to be maintained.
2. County Infrastructure Planning/Improving our Roads and Bridges - We have been able to improve our capital plan to ensure the maintenance of our county assets over the past three years. In 2014 alone, the Division of Engineering managed $24 million of state and federal infrastructure Grants, including $5.6 million of new NJTPA High Risk Rural Road Program and NJDOT Local Bridge Projects, including advancing work on replacing two bridges severely damaged Hurricane Irene in 2011. I continue to support our Engineering Division, who looks for Valued Engineering ways to deliver a “bigger bang” for every tax dollar invested in our public road and bridge infrastructure system.
3. Focus on Economic Development - Economic development that promotes the standard of living and economic health of Sussex County is necessary. As county elected officials, we need to support local municipalities who choose to develop franchises, marketing places for shoppers, as well as hotels and restaurants that have the potential to flourish. In doing so, we also need to be mindful in supporting those municipalities in our county who seek to maintain open space, farmland preservation and rural charm and character.
Jonathan M. Rose
Age: 36
Political History: Currently Sussex Borough Mayor, past Sussex Borough Councilman, past member, Sussex/Wantage Regional School District Technology Committee, past member, Sussex Borough Board of Health, past member, Sussex Borough Planning/Zoning Board.
Occupation: President and Managing member of Farious Net Solutions, LLC, a computer consulting firm specializing in small to medium sized business networks.
Education: High Point Regional High School, graduated 1997; Rutgers University, graduated 2001, degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics and Physic; Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy, planning certificate.
Family: Single, no children.
What are your top three issues?
1) Solar Bailout - I am opposed to the solar settlement. We should not shelter the lawyers and bankers who got us into this mess, thereby wasting another $7 million of taxpayer money. Instead, we should go after the insurance policies of those “professionals” who sold the County a bill of goods. Furthermore, a full accounting of both the funds spent and how the County came to be in the situation it is in should be undertaken by a disinterested third party, preferably from outside the state and the political jurisdictions that are partners in the solar project.
2) Open Government - Representative government dies behind closed doors. It is critical that the voting public be able to hear about, research and understand the issues at play at all levels of government. The Freeholder Board can and should implement a few simple and inexpensive changes to help foster open government such as: 1) Hold meetings after 7 p.m. except in an emergency, 2) Include all supporting documentation on agendas, 3) Post agendas no later than three days prior to the meeting. As Mayor of Sussex Borough, I have enacted a series of reforms, including some of these proposals, and I hope to bring this toolkit to the County.
3) Appointments of Key County Officials - One of the key roles of the members of the Freeholder Board is to surround themselves with talented people. With five top officials leaving within the next few months there will be a loss of leadership and institutional knowledge within the County government. These roles should be thoroughly vetted and not simply handed to cronies and insiders. Interim appointments should be made to fill these positions while a professional search is conducted to find the most capable people. As your Freeholder, I will be thoughtful in the consideration of all appointments.