Ocean County Commissioners Election 2021: Philip Nufrio

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — The 2021 election campaign culminates when voters go to the polls Nov. 2. Among their decisions will be choosing members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

There are two seats up for election and seven candidates seeking for those positions, which are three-year terms.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers from Philip Nufrio.

Age: 69

Town of residence: Seaside Park

Position sought: Ocean County Commissioner

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Wife, son

Education: MPA, Pulbic Administation, Syracuse University; PhD, Public Administration, Rutgers

Occupation: Educator, Consultant to federal, local government and nonprofit sector

Previous elective office, if any:

none

Do you or anyone in your family work for the state, county or local governments?

My wife, who is a NY resident, is a consultant/program evaluator to NYC's Pre-K program

Why are you seeking office?

I am running to be the tax watchdog for Ocean County’s seniors and veterans to end years of bad management behaviors by a county board controlled by one political party. Specifically, I want to see the end of the long-standing practice of "pay to play" and eliminate political donors who do work for Ocean County. Contracts should be awarded on merit, not politics.

Recently the County Commissioners and senior election staff accepted over $300,000 campaign donations from Dominion Election Machines' agent and, in return, awarded a $10 million contract to Dominion Election systems.

There is a pattern of wasteful spending of our tax dollars that I will end with zero-based budgeting system (see below). One recent example is: the current Commissioner Board awarded two pay raises in 4 months (2020-21) to nonessential senior county staff and political cronies with COVID relief money. I have many other examples. Go to my website for details: www.votedrphilnufrio.com

What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing the community, and what do you want to do about it?

Besides seeing that contacts be awarded on merit (not politics), as an expert in government budgeting, I propose the control of wasteful spending by adopting a zero-based budgeting system that will place county government spending on a significant diet. This will require that all budget line items must justify their existence.

I will see that Ocean County's roads, deteriorated by Ocean County's overdevelopment, be built back. I will be the property owner's advocate to the state and see that Ocean County receives its fair share of the $6.83 billion in federal NJ infrastructure money to build back our roads and mitigate traffic and poor road conditions.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve?

The difference between me and my opponents is that I will not accept political donations from contractors doing work for the county. Unlike my opponents I will scrutinize all budget line items and ensure that all county departments justify their existence and all new spending.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As the taxpayers' independent watchdog on the Commissioners Board, I will see that our seniors will receive real tax relief from the county and the state. The homestead rebate provides no real tax relief for our seniors. This tax relief must come from the increasing county tax revenue base which increased by $3.3 billion to $110 billion in 2020.

I will advocate for the many veterans in Ocean County in desperate need of social services. I want to see political donations go to worthy causes like veterans who need social services, as opposed to the pockets of politicians.

I am a Hurricane Sandy survivor and have been a community leader/activist in helping victims. I have brought Republican and Democratic national leaders together to find solutions to combat global warming and implement needed change to FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective in office?

I have over 47 years of government experience, not as an elected official but as a change agent working inside and outside government. This includes nine years as an efficiency expert and change agent in the federal government, including the President's Executive Office and numerous local government and nonprofit agencies. I am a professor and national leader in public administration. As a Hurricane Sandy survivor, I have been a community leader/activist in helping victims. This included bringing Republican and Democratic national leaders together to find solutions to combat global warming and implement needed change to FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. I will bring these same skills and bring integrity and smart/efficient government to Ocean County.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have nothing to add.