Nutley 2020 Election: Race Heats Up, Evans Running Again

NUTLEY, NJ — At least one of Nutley’s township commissioners will be running again in 2020.

Earlier this week, Tom Evans announced he will be trying to reclaim his seat in May’s municipal election. Evans made his intentions official at Mamma Vittoria’s on Franklin Avenue, supported by a crowd of family and friends.

Evans, a lifelong Nutley resident, has served on the Board of Commissioners as director of revenue and finance for more than 16 years. He has more than four decades of professional financial, accounting and corporate leadership experience.

Evans, who recently retired as a partner and chief learning officer at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said he’s now able to dedicate himself full-time to his commissioner position. (Learn more about his platform)

Some of the statements from Evans’ campaign launch included:

• “We are effectively working through the most challenging period in our town’s history, by laying the groundwork for a more prosperous future – transitioning with Class A brands while preserving what makes Nutley special.”
• “My work as director of revenue and finance has been integral in securing nearly $25 million (and counting with negotiations underway for this year) of transitional state aid, worth $2,500 per household; as well as working to make sure Nutley is only paying its fair share of the county tax rate, efforts that resulted in a decrease in 2018 and 2019.”
• “We must spend less where we can. My personal 2019 department costs are $365K less in 2014.”

In addition to Evans, current Nutley commissioner board members include Mayor Joseph Scarpelli, Alphonse Petracco, Steven Rogers and Mauro Tucci.

Rogers previously announced he won’t be running for another term to focus on his new role on the 2020 campaign advisory board for President Donald Trump in New Jersey.

• See related article: Nutley's Rogers Will Pass On Re-Election To Fight For Trump 2020

NUTLEY 2020 ELECTION

The next municipal election will be held in Nutley on May 12, 2020.

There’s a crowded field of candidates shaping up. According to TAP Into Nutley, the list of people who have picked up candidate packets from the town clerk’s office includes Daniel Carnicella, Lorenzo Marchese, Joseph Scarpelli, Carmen Allessio, Alphonse Petracco, David Wilson, Ken Reilly, Frank Contella, Pearl Wang, Tom Evans, Chris Cullari, Sam Fleitell, John Kelly and Mauro Tucci.

Other erstwhile candidates have included local realtor Matthew De Fede, who stated he won’t be running for commissioner so he can focus on his business.

• See related article: Realtor Not Running For Local Office in Nutley

According to the town website, Nutley is one of 32 municipalities in New Jersey that uses a non-partisan form of government as defined under the Walsh Act.

Under the Walsh Act, the board is composed of three or five members, depending on the size of the municipality. Nutley's population warrants a five-member board. Each commissioner serves as a department head for one of the following departments: Department of Public Affairs; Department of Public Safety; Department of Public Works; Department of Parks and Public Property; or Department of Revenue and Finance, with each having complete control over the executive, administrative, judicial and legislative powers over their independent.

The commissioners function as the legislative authority of the municipality. They are elected at-large in non-partisan elections to serve concurrent four-year terms. The mayor is selected from among the commissioners.

The salary for Nutley town commissioners is currently $2,250 per year, with the mayor receiving $2,700.

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