Joseph Chiusolo: Republican Candidate for District 4 Freeholder

Joseph Chiusolo, a Republican from Cedar Grove, is seeking the three-year District 4 seat on the nine-member Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Nov. 8. He is challenging , of West Caldwell, who has served as Acting District 4 Freeholder since August when Linda Lordi Cavanaugh stepped down after 13 years on the board.

Chiusolo, 50, is a small business owner with 14 years of municipal government service under his belt, including three terms as Mayor of Cedar Grove. During the campaign, he has frequently touted his experience as a small business owner, and has pledged to restore fiscal responsiblity to Essex County, and rein in spending he says is "out of control".

The District 4 Freeholder represents 11 municipalities, including Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange.

Patch asked the candidate to submit a statement detailing their platform, touching on their background, and whatever else they chose to say. What follows is that statement as submitted by Chiusolo.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to introduce myself and to tell you why I am a candidate for Essex County Freeholder and explain my vision to the taxpayers of the 4^th Freeholder District.

For the last 14 years I’ve had the privilege of serving the people of Cedar Grove as a council member and mayor. I have served during times of prosperity and have also successfully dealt with the results of the current economic downturn. My goal has always been to be a fiscal watchdog for the taxpayer’s money. Working with my fellow councilmen and township manager, Cedar Grove has been able to deliver the finest services with the least fiscal impact to our residents. I’m proud Cedar Grove has one of the lowest local tax rates in Essex County.

Essex County is the sixth highest taxed county in the country. As residents continue to lose their homes to foreclosure, suffer from loss of jobs and bear many other financial burdens, the foolish spending measures by our freeholders have become more burdensome. It’s time for financial reforms to be put in place to bring relief to the taxpayers of Essex County. 

The Fourth Freeholder District contributes more than $162 million in general and open space taxes to the County of Essex. That number will only grow as Essex County Freeholders continue to create additional debt and increase spending for items such as $4 million on a restaurant and millions of dollars on exotic animals at the zoo while the infrastructure of our roads are in poor condition. By comparison, municipal governments are providing the best services to the residents of their communities and looking to share services and other cost savings to reduce the local tax burden. As taxpayers and their families continue to prioritize their spending, it’s about time our Freeholders do the same.

As small business owner who employees 25 people, I understand what is takes to make payroll, pay health insurance and manage the finances of a business. Unfortunately our freeholders don’t live by the same basic business principles as corporations small and large today. My six-point plan to stop spending includes the introduction of an ordinance called:

The Fiscal Responsibility Act:

1) An amendment to the county bylaws requiring a four-fifths majority of the freeholder board to increase taxes on residents. The vote would be held separately from the vote on the budget, making each freeholder personally responsible for raising taxes.

2) A limit on the use of open space money used for routine maintenance of parks or building of special projects. The county collects more than $14 million a year in a separate so-called open space tax -- in addition to regular county taxes --  but almost none of the money goes toward the purchase of open space. The fund has been raided to pay for the construction of a restaurant, fence installation and landscaping.

3) Freeholders should publish requests for new spending, new hires and new bonding and disclose relatives on the Essex County payroll.

4) Freeholders will be forbidden to accept a freeholder’s salary -- and medical benefits from the county -- if they are currently employed as a full time government employee. The 2011 budget for the freeholder office is $1.97 million 

5) Implementing a spending freeze for the fiscal year 2012.

6) Freeze on any non-essential additional bonding for the year 2012.

On Nov. 8 you will have a choice to bring fiscal reform to the Essex County Freeholder board by electing me as your next freeholder. Please visit my website www.josephchiusolo.com to learn more about me as you cast your vote on Nov. 8.

Thank You,

Joe Chiusolo