Township election suddenly a contest
Friday, October 16, 2009
LAWRENCE RAGONESE
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
Morris County Freeholder Jack Schrier is getting an unexpected challenge for his
seat on the Mendham Township committee.
Former Mayor Sam Tolley has started a last- minute write-in campaign targeting
Schrier, whom, he said, is unresponsive to the needs of local residents. Tolley
said he has joined the race just three weeks before Election Day because Schrier
and the committee majority "have scant interest in listening to the public.''
Tolley's entry means three candidates are running for two seats.
Schrier, in his 18th year on the local governing board, retorted Tolley is just
upset because his side lost in a recent vote regarding the creation of an access
road to the township firehouse on West Main Street.
"He is not on the ballot. If he really wanted to run he should have gone
through the normal process to get on the ballot,'' said Schrier. "He's just
a sniper in the trees.''
Tolley, 60, and Schrier, 77, are both Republicans. Tolley served as a committeeman
and mayor in the 1980s, stepping down at the end of 1991, the year Schrier won
his first term on the township committee. Tolley has remained active in township
affairs as a member of the planning board and chairman of the township's master
plan committee.
Schrier, meanwhile, has subsequently been elected a county freeholder and serves
on the state's Highlands Council -- posts that Tolley said are more important
to Schrier than his local elected job.
"He is not focused on Mendham Township but on his political career,'' Tolley
said yesterday.
"Schrier and the (township) committee have scant interest in listening to
the public, don't foster lively debate and discussion. They have all of the answers
themselves, " Tolley said.
Schrier and Committeeman Frank Cioppettini, the appointed mayor, were running
in an uncontested general election for two, three-year terms before Tolley announced
his write-in candidacy on Tuesday night at the township committee meeting. Tolley
said he is targeting Schrier, not Cioppettini, and seeks a more open and responsive
local government.
Schrier noted Cioppettini cast the lone vote against creating the firehouse access
road, a measure that passed the committee by a 4-1 tally, a result he said angered
Tolley, who opposed the measure.
"We listen to the public, take their contributions seriously,'' said Schrier,
disputing Tolley's contention. "But there are some people in one particular
part of town that have a parochial view of what the township should be doing,''
he said, referring to Brookside. "Now, he (Tolley) is running because he
didn't get his way on an issue.''
Tolley has set up a campaign website and plans to actively seek out voters over
the next few weeks to drum up support, he said. Included will be "how to"
instructions to be provided to voters to ensure they know how to write in a candidate's
name.
Lawrence Ragonese may be reached at (973) 539-7910, ext.3404, or lragonese@starledger.com.
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