Former BOE Member Bucco Seeking Freeholder Seat

Carmen Bucco, a former member of the Belleville Board of Education and small-business owner, is seeking to become the Republican candidate for District 5 freeholder in the June primary. The general election is in November.
 
“I believe we can have one of the greatest county governments this county has ever seen.  But a lot of work has to be done to bring back its luster.
Our senior citizens, children, citizens and business owners deserve more than just paying high taxes.  So many people are losing their jobs, and homes.  The people are hungry for leadership and not just followers,” Bucco, who turns 40 next month, said in a statement.

District 5 encompasses Nutley, Belleville, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield and Montclair. It is one of five districts represented on the 9-member Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, which includes four at-large members. The Board of Freeholders is the legislative branch of Essex County government, and works with the county executive, Joseph DiVincenzo.

Bucco, who was raised in foster care homes in Nutley and attended the public schools there, moved to Belleville after high school. The owner of Bucco Couture in Nutley, he has worked in the men’s apparel industry for nearly two decades and acquired a Realtor’s license in 2010. He lives in Belleville with his wife, Sandra.

Bucco is competing against Steve Rogers, a Nutley police officer, for the Republican nomination. Brendan Gill of Montclair is the only Democrat seeking the District 5 freeholder seat.

Rogers is the designated candidate of the Essex County Republican organization and his name will appear on the GOP ballot line in the primaries. Despite that, Bucco said, he remains undaunted. He has already begun going door-to-door seeking support and plans to continue to do so.

“That is not going to stop me from fighting for the people, the small business person, the seniors and the children of this county,” he said.

Bucco’s previous experience in elected office was on the Belleville Board of Education, on which he served from 2007 until stepping down in 2009. Bucco stepped down, he said, because the faltering economy forced him to devote more hours to work.

“I had to do what every other American has had to do and make sure there was food on the table,” Bucco said. “If I can’t devote 110 percent of my time to something I’d rather not do it. Here [the freeholder post]  I can devote my time. I don’t believe in failure.”  

As a small businessman and former BOE member Bucco believes he is ideally suited to promote communications between elected representatives and address concerns within the district.

“We really need to reduce government, and be very very fiscally responsible. The people deserve it, we need to collaborate and stop blaming and start holding people accountable,” Bucco stated.  

Bucco, who also believes the county’s spending needs to be reined in, vowed to close “loopholes” that he believes have led to higher spending and to increase transparency in county government operations.  


Another focus of Bucco’s campaign is the county’s famed park system, which Bucco said he would work to maintain and make even better.  
       
“I will work with our municipalities to ensure that our beautiful county parks have programs to engage our young people and to provide our senior citizens with an enjoyable experience. I will also work to coordinate with local governments to expand our law enforcement efforts in the parks so our families and friends can enjoy our park system in peace and safety,” Bucco said.

Bucco also promised that he would never vote to raise taxes and that he would maintain his independence as a freeholder candidate. “I will not be a yes-man,” Bucco said.

To keep taxes in check he would promote shared services and “open a dialogue” with municipal officials  to create shared services and joint programs between county and local governments.  
                

“Essex County is a wonderfully diverse and vibrant county with a great deal to offer its residents. I believe that our county government should strive to meet the needs of its residents while seeking ways to relieve the ever growing burden of property taxes.  As our county budget rises and services get more expensive we need a county government in place that will find solutions, not add to the crisis. I use the word 'crisis' because that is what we face if our county government does not engage with local government to seek common solutions,” he said.

Carmen Bucco’s web site is www.CarmenBucco.com. His email is Cbucco@carmenbucco.com.