Meet Robert Peluso: Parsippany Council Candidate

Parsippany Patch has reached out to local candidates to find out more about them. Check out Parsippany Patch's Election Hub for information on all candidates. Here is information from Robert Peluso.

• Peluso has lived in Parsippany for 40 years.
  
• Party Line: Republican
• Age: 43
• Family: Married to Wife Ildiko and proud father of Son Robert. I am the Son of Robert and Barbara Peluso of Parsippany. 
• What is your education background? MBA Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University, BS Business Administration from Montclair State University, Morris County Leadership Morris, Graduate Parsippany School District
• Why do you think you are qualified for this position? I believe public service is where you can make a positive impact for our residents who are frequently forgotten. I have the steadfast dedication, desire and ability to stand up for our residents to build a stronger community and would be honored to serve as Councilman.  I was raised in Parsippany, my parents and friends live in Parsippany, and I attended our Parsippany School system before pursuing my MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. I serve as a finance and budget manager working with residents in the community for the last 27 years and as a volunteer community leader helping our residents, businesses and non-profit organizations grow over the last 16 years.  I married my wife Ildiko in St. Peter The Apostle Church, started my family and plan for my son Robert to grow up in the community which I love. As a parent, homeowner and taxpayer, I am better prepared to face the challenges our residents face daily. I have a proud record of helping our residents and businesses -- small and large -- through my service as an advisory board member for many community organizations.
• Why are you running for this elected office?My love for Parsippany serves as the basis for why I am running as Councilman.  As a lifelong resident and dedicated volunteer in our community, I care about Parsippany's future, and I care about the opportunities our families have to enjoy a good quality-of-life. The practice of politicians rubber stamping hasty decisions and/or municipal proposals without proper due diligence and community outreach MUST STOP. My parents taught me the values of integrity, hard work, and keeping promises and that is exactly what I will bring to the job if elected Councilman. I was urged by many residents, friends and family to run for Council because they are disheartened with the state of the township, and the lack of productive performance and accountability on the part of political leaders who ignore real problems keeping residents up at night in worry:  Tax increases, wasteful spending, flooding, and government representatives who don't act in good faith and are unresponsive. I relate to and understand residents' concerns and problems, and I will fight to bring back sincere professional leadership, integrity, forward thinking, and genuine service to our community with a sharp focus on local initiatives which will benefit our township. 
• What are the three issues that most concern you?  I promise to focus on Controlling property taxes and municipal spending, enhancing Quality-of-Life and Safety for today and future generations, and working together as One community to promote sound economic growth in Parsippany.
• Explain your proposed approach to managing these issues. This year’s election is about Parsippany’s Future and who is the best candidate to tackle the challenges and provide for a better township more responsive and accountable to its residents. 

• I have a plan to control property taxes and municipal spending, to enhance our quality-of-life and safety, while promoting sound economic growth as one community working together for Parsippany’s Future.
• Just like every family must live within their means, our township must be fiscally conservative and make do with the resources it has and reform spending through quarterly audits to eliminate wasteful spending and pass the savings on to our taxpayers through lower property taxes and costs of services.
• I will facilitate partnerships with neighboring communities and our Board of Education for shared legal counsel, property maintenance and services, and vehicle maintenance. Shared service agreements will reign in on municipal spending and save tax dollars.
• There is an alarming amount of empty and abandoned retail and commercial spaces that we must focus on by revitalizing existing business properties through implementing an economic development committee and utilize Morris County Economic Development Corp., which in turn will create and stabilize ratables to offset residential taxes while creating sustainable local jobs. I will effectively work to market Parsippany as a place to do business through proactive, smart, and strategic recruitment initiatives to attract thriving new businesses that will stay in Parsippany.
• Our Master and Open Space Plans will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to reflect our local economy, changing infrastructure, land preservation, and traffic patterns to ease congestion and maintain residential character of our fine neighborhoods.
• Traffic congestion, unsafe driving conditions, and aesthetics have become worse. I will work with our township engineers, police department, and our partners at the county, state, and federal levels to increase speed enforcement and implement strategies to reduce traffic while putting more police officers in our neighborhoods. In addition, I will work to implement a township beautification effort aimed at enhancing aesthetics throughout Parsippany. We must reduce the strain on our taxpayers, municipal services, and school system through enforcing stricter occupancy ordinances and address overcrowding conditions in residential locations.
• Through efficiently utilizing our visitor center, historical sites, park services, and golf courses, Parsippany can generate additional revenue to stabilize property taxes while improving our quality of life.
• My parents live in Parsippany and I am concerned about them and all of our seniors. We need to ensure that our seniors do not have to leave our Township due to increases in taxes after retirement and sufficient services are available. In addition, we need to keep our residents better informed about free services from all government agencies.
• Although natural disasters such as the recent hurricanes and flooding that severely impacted our neighborhood -- including my own home -- can not be avoided, we can limit the degree of devastation on our community through proper planning and flood control management plans that have not been addressed since Hurricane Irene. Immediate action needs to be taken to control reservoirs and access waterways and tributaries along with direct liaisons from utility companies.

Have you held elected office before?  I held office in multiple non profit organizations, not in government.

What organizations do you belong to?

• President Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce
• Founder and President Parsippany Area Visitor Center
• Board of Director Morris County Economic Development Corp
• Advisory Board Lakeland YMCA, Employment Horizons, Homeless Solutions, Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, Morris County Vocational School.
• Member of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany
• Past Member Municipal Alliance Committee
• Past Member Treasurer Rotary Club District 7470
• Certified Community Emergency Response Team
• Parsippany Republican Club
• Parishioner St. Peter The Apostle Church 

Campaign Website: http://parsippanysfuture.com/

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Editor's Note: Patch will be posting these candidate questionnaires in the order that they are received back. For candidates who have not heard from Patch, please contact Kim@patch.com.