Towaco Assembly Candidate Platforming for Term Limits

Tony Pio Costa says he is not a politician. But that isn’t stopping the Fairfield businessman from running for New Jersey State Assembly in District 26.

The Towaco resident is in the June 5 primary.

Assemblywoman DeCroce filled her husband, Assemblyman Alex DeCroce’s, unfinished term earlier this year following . At the time of his death, DeCroce had served in the New Jersey Legislature for almost 23 years.

“Just passing the seat down to his wife was inappropriate,” Pio Costa said when asked why he chose to enter the race at this time.

As a strong supporter of term limits, Pio Costa said he believes “everyone should serve if they can,” and that the framers of the Constitution wanted people to “go and serve for a limited period of time and then they would return to their business, or their farm, or whatever the case may be.” 

“I like to see different people involved,” Pio Costa said. “I think you get better representation that way.”

In 2007, Pio Costa also made a bid for one of the two District 26 Assembly seats. A financial contributor to Assemblyman Alex DeCroce campaigns, Pio Costa was confident that DeCroce would retain his seat in that election. Larry Casha, Jay Webber and Pio Costa were vying for the other seat. 

Pio Costa ran for that Assembly seat on the Libertarian ticket. However, he ultimately withdrew from the race. Webber won the election. 

“You have to wait for somebody to die to get a seat in Morris County, which is ridiculous," Pio Costa said.

Pio Costa wants New Jersey to lead the way in term limits, both as a state and in the national arena. He noted that term limits would allow more politicians to move up and serve in different levels of government.

In addition to advancing a term limits agenda, if elected, Pio Costa plans to introduce legislation designed to reduce the size of government and cut taxes in order to encourage businesses to stay, or launch, in New Jersey.

“Property taxes are very burdensome in New Jersey, and taxes in general,” he said.

In order to reduce income taxes, Pio Costa supports increasing the state’s sales tax.

“That would help bring businesses back to New Jersey,” he said. “And that’s a very important thing to do.” 

Pio Costa also wants to limit government regulations on local businesses. As the head of Pio Costa Enterprises, the company his father and namesake, Anthony Pio Costa II, founded, Pio Costa feels that government regulations place unsustainable limits on businesses. To prepare for the next generation in business, Pio Costa has handed the company's day-to-day operations over to his son, Carmen.

“I believe that the government is way too wasteful and way too invasive,” Pio Costa said. He noted that he has seen admissions regulations increase the cost of construction equipment by tens of thousands of dollars.

The 63-year-old entrepreneur and head of the Pio Costa Foundation took over his father’s construction and development business in 1974. The Pio Costa Foundation helped build the Pio Costa Library in Fairfield and the Pio Costa Auditorium. It also provides money to food banks and shelters, as well as educational scholarships for underprivileged youth. 

“It’s very difficult for anyone to do, and achieve, what my father was able to do,” he said. “I’m a 'free market' guy. I believe that market conditions is what drives. I think it’s ridiculous that the government intrudes.” 

Pio Costa admits that he knows little about his opponent’s platform, having heard her speak only once. He also acknowledged that he is spending very little on the promotion of his campaign.

“I have name recognition,” he noted.

But, he hopes that by running, politicians “will be surprised.”