Vigilante Announces Pay Cut Pledge; Blasts Grossi

Morris County clerk candidate and Parsippany resident James Vigilante says that if he wins election, he will "lead by example" by taking a salary reduction of 10 percent. And he challenged his opponents to do the same.

Vigilante made the announcement before last Wednesday's meeting of the Randolph Republican Club.

"We are asking our workers to do more with less and contribute more to their benefits while they are making less," he said." As Morris County clerk, my salary cut of 10 percent will set the tone."

The candidate is running against Freeholder Ann Grossi (also of Parsippany), Jefferson Township Council member Michael Sanchelli, Denville accountant Zbigniew Nowacki and Chester attorney Laurie Bogaard in the June 4 primary. One Democrat is running for county clerk: Terry O’Connor Redwine of Butler.

A businessman and 18-year U.S. Air Force reservist who served in Afghanistan, Vigilante said his military background, war zone operational experience and small business experience qualify him for the job of county clerk.

“These are still difficult economic times, and one must lead by example,” he said. "I have managed people and solved problems. ... My key goal will be an efficiently run and highly motivated organization. Government must find ways to deliver the same services at a lower cost."

Vigilante, in the news recently after charging Ann Grossi with making insensitive remarks regarding his military service, blasted the fellow Parsippanian again.

Grossi's website until recently contained the statement: "Ann Grossi recently kicked off her campaign event at the VFW post 3401 in Morris Plains, where Joan Bramhall endorsed Ann and stated that Ann would be the best person for the position of county clerk."

“After seeing this quote I asked current County Clerk Joan Bramhall if she had endorsed Ann Grossi and she stated that she had not," said Vigilante. "Shortly after that conversation, the quote was removed from Grossi’s website. We have a clear pattern of deception from the Grossi campaign."

Patch viewed the website with the statement prior to its removal; a screen shot is at right.

Bramhall, when contacted by Patch, verified that she did not endorse Grossi and said she has no plans to endorse any candidate for the job she is vacating.

Freeholder Grossi, when reached, did not deny the statement had appeared on her website and did not say why the original statement was removed. She instead suggested that Patch watch the video of her Feb. 21 campaign kickoff; the excerpt is at right.

In the recording, Grossi presented Bramhall with flowers and invited the outgoing clerk to say a few words.

"I'm sure that Ann will do a great job as the county clerk in Morris County," she said before a room of Grossi supporters.

Vigilante, speaking in Randolph, blasted his opponent.

“Could it be that after having spent most of her career in state government and working for the Newark school system, Ms. Grossi is desperate for a big pension payout and lifetime health benefits as her key priority in being elected county clerk?" he said. "In contrast, my priority will be the taxpayers of Morris County, starting with a voluntary 10 percent pay cut.”

Grossi said she was there on that evening in Randolph, as were other clerk candidates, and recalled that she heard him talk only about the voluntary pay reduction—"and no one called me to say otherwise."

She took serious issue with Vigilante's characterization of her work.

"I was associate executive director of the Newark Teachers Union working on labor issues," she said. "There is no pension in regard to that. In 2006, the pension rules were changed, eliminating those newly elected from participating in the pension plan. The allegations that I am doing this because I am trying to enhance my pension is categorically false. You can't have something you aren't entitled to have.

"Whoever is running the county clerk's office should be aware of what the rules are. And I am."

She also took aim at Vigilante's campaign slogan.

"'Leading by example' is great when you're in a position to make a difference to people's salaries, and that's a freeholder's job," said Grossi, who earned her law degree while working for the state and later became a Parsippany councilwoman and then a freeholder. "Through our labor negotiation unit, we negotiate labor contracts. They are set by the freeholders."

Grossi noted that Vigilante is following in her footsteps when it comes to his pay cut promise.

"I've already led by example," she said. "I took a 20 percent pay cut as a freeholder and refused health coverage to save the county money."

She added that her legal background gives her experience in labor and employment issues "on both sides of the coin."

Grossi also recalled working for the state Bureau of Securities on a case in the late 1990s that put financier Robert E. Brennan of First Jersey Securites behind bars for more than a decade due to a massive penny-stock scam.

"I was involved in bringing Bob Brennan to justice in that major fraud case," she said. "I'm proud of the work I've done for the people of New Jersey, for the taxpayers of New Jersey."

Grossi told Patch that despite Vigilante's criticisms, she will spend the election season focusing on issues. She said will address "issues and qualifications" 6 p.m. Tuesday at the grand opening of her campaign headquarters in Parsippany, 1711 Route 46 east.