Surrogate James LaCorte says woman cannot do his job

Union County Surrogate James LaCorte fired off an angry response to Facebook comments posted by Lisa McCormick, New Jersey's corruption-fighting progressive who earned 159,998 votes in a primary against a US Senator whose bribery case ended in a hung jury.

"You are totally unqualified for the position," said LaCorte, a 20-year incumbent whose father was the last Republican mayor of Elizabeth. "You don't even know what the Surrogate does."

"Apparently James LaCorte does not think women are qualified for important jobs," replied McCormick, the incumbent's sole challenger and the leader of more than 100 Democrats running on Column C in the June 4 Democratic primary election under the slogan Democrats United for Progress.

Along with an illustration showing some recipients of a $15 million pay hike for top salaried politicians and judges, McCormick asked, "Why do politician pay hikes & corporate welfare move faster than matters critical to working people?"

Her post explained: "Assembyman Jim Kennedy makes $75,625 at taxpayer expense from a part time job and pension, so he thought it was important to give Column A candidate #JamesLacorte a $24,000 #payhike to lift his salary to $189,000. But he did not think it was important to rush our #MinimumWage legislation so working people are still making $8.85 an hour a year and a half into the Murphy era. That @PSEG nuclear subsidy did not take very long. @SportsBetting did not take this long."

In response, LaCorte wrote: "I am not going to debate you . You are totally unqualified for the position. You don't even know what the Surrogate does."

"I have the endorsements of 15 former Union County Bar Association Presidents," said LaCorte. "They realize my background is far superior and that I am much more qualified to help Union County residents through the legal process when a loved one passes away."

Nobody from the Bar Association has reached out to inquire about McCormick's qualification, she said, but she and her campaign team have had candid discussions with attorneys that handle estate work.

Whether Lacorte takes her seriously or not, McCormick has considerable credentials a year after she scored almost 40 percent of the statewide primary vote in a race forr US Senate.

In addition to having backing from Armstead, numerous photographs show McCormick alongside Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Justice Democrats leaders Corbin Trent and Alexis Rojas; her plan to save Social Security was endorsed by Robert Reich, an economist who served under four presidents; and former Plainfield City Council member Rev. Tracey Brown, pastor at Ruth Fellowship Ministries, said she is planning to vote for Lisa.

Excited voters line up to meet Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New Jersey's progressive leader Lisa McCormick, and Justice Democrats founder Corbin Trent (right).

LaCorte also told McCormick, "And stop falsifying my salary I don't earn anything near what you say I do."

Legislation sponsored by Senator Nick Scutari, the county political boss, and signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy increased salaries for county surrogates to $189,000 in three $8,000 installments. The final pay hike takes effect in January.

McCormick was endorsed by Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, whose last salary adjustment is the subject of bitter personal attacks by LaCorte's running mates and state Senator Nick Scutari, who sponsored the pay hike legislation.

The mayor's salary in Linden -- which had been as high as $169,000 prior to Armstead's tenure -- is currently $100,000. Scutari, who is also the county political boss, is using his financial advantage to make a moderate wage for the executive in charge of a $100 million budget look like a heist but that salary seems modest in contrast to exorbitant pay hikes enacted last year.

Randy Pollack, a Hillside resident whose comments are shared on the site, said he has had an unpleasant experience with the Union County Surrogate's office while LaCorte has had the job.

"That is a pretty damn arrogant response," said Pollack. "Basically 'sit down shut up do as we say ask no questions we are of superior intellect we know what is right for you.Yup that is how it works."

"Folks I get around," said Pollack. "I recently did some work for a car dealer. One of his customers was an employee of the Morris County Surrogates Office. We were talking. He told me if you want your family to get a fair deal after you are gone to die in Morris County. Your buddies loot estates. You enable that to happen."

While LaCorte boasted that he has the support of of 15 former Union County Bar Association presidents, only McCormick has discussed the position's importance for protecting widows and orphans.

"When a person dies, part of the Surrogate's job is to make sure unscrupulous attorneys do not fleece the heirs, who are often blinded by grief over losing a loved one," said McCormick. "I

Pollack told La Corte, "you completely dropped the ball on my case. When my mother passed without a will your office handled the case.
Pollack said La Corte brought in a lawyer in and property liquidator, both of whom he accused of being people with "questionable character."

The entire exchange may be viewed at:

https://www.facebook.com/lisa.mccormick.nj.usa/posts/698827473867825