Joanow Responds to Mayor's Allegations

On March 26, after the township council conference meeting, Mayor Raymond McCarthy spoke candidly to Patch about what he feels is behind the and within the council.

One council member in particular, Nicholas Joanow, has drawn the mayor’s attention for what he believes is political maneuvering.  McCarthy alleged that a meeting took place between Joanow and Democratic Party Chairman Pete Strumolo to discuss the future of Bloomfield politics. 

“He’s already told everybody he’s not going to give me the line,” stated McCarthy, referring to the chairman. “Strumolo met with Nick Joanow at Casa Turano.  He would give Nick the line to run against me as mayor.”

Joanow discussed his response to these allegations with Patch on March 26.

PATCH:  Are the mayor’s statements true, that you met with Strumolo recently?

Joanow:  I met with the chairman, yes.  I don’t want to create any disharmony within my district.  If he wants to speak with me, I’ll absolutely speak to him.

PATCH: Are you planning to run for mayor when your term as a councilman is up?

Joanow: I have two years and nine months left on my term.  Politics are so unpredictable.  I’ll be 69 in three years.  The amount of time and commitment [of an elected official] can be exhausting.  I don’t know.  Ask me in three years.

PATCH:  At recent meetings, the council has been going head-to-head against the mayor, particularly over one issue, the re-appointment of Parking Authority Treasurer Joe Catalano.  Last week the council blocked the mayor’s veto on this point and replaced him with Al Chalet (a relative of Councilman Elias Chalet.)  Why do you feel so strongly that Catalano shouldn’t be reinstated?

Joanow:  Mr. Catalano sat on the board for seven years.  The fact that one gentleman’s very expert doesn’t mean that he gets a lifelong appointment.  These are not appointments for life.  

PATCH:  Yet you have publicly stated that Catalano is doing a good job and is qualified for the job.  (Al Chalet was voted in by council majority to replace Catalano on March 19.)

Joanow:  We’re past the financial part, we’re in the construction phase.  If the mayor is true to his word, then they’re going to put a shovel in the ground, and who better than to have a civil engineer [Al Chalet] sitting on that board by then?

PATCH:  What do you say to the mayor’s contention that the council has been voting in accordance with Democratic party directives?      

Joanow:  I’m very uncomfortable with the indictment that this is politically motivated.  I have no political motivation.  I have no rationale.  I have nothing to gain by this.

Other council people may have different agendas.  I supported non-partisanship and the rest of the group went otherwise.  I’m not with ‘this group,’ I’m not with ‘that group,’ my head is in the issues.

 PATCH:  Would the Democratic Party, specifically Pete Strumolo, support you in an upcoming election?

Joanow:  The mayor knows .  I ran against Pete Strumolo’s candidate and I won.

The mayor is angry because the chairman is not giving him the line.  His resources are drying up.  Guess what?  He’s in the same boat I was in.  The mayor feels the party is not giving him support.  What can I say?  I traveled that road.

He’s losing that grip around the table.  [Though] it’s not about him personally, this is the first year, I believe, that he’s been told he’s not getting the line.

I’ve been told by others I should run for mayor.  I haven’t given it any thought.  I’m not looking to make a career out of this.