Morris County Senators Outraged at Governor Corzine’s Attempt to Evade Oversight in Political Patronage Appointment

June 19, 2009

Contact: Andy Pratt / (609) 292-5199
Senator Anthony R. Bucco (R-25), Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26)

Senators Anthony Bucco of District 25 and Joe Pennacchio of District 26 released the following statement regarding the politically motivated nomination of Frank Herbert as Morris County superintendent of elections:

“The governor has made a cynical political appointment to a position that should never be filled. There is no duty of the elections superintendent in Morris County that is not already being performed by some other agency.

“Morris County does not need this position. Its elected leaders do not want this position. We want to save the taxpayers money during a recession by leaving it unfilled.”

The press is reporting that, because Herbert is a former state senator, Senators Bucco and Pennacchio will not be able to exercise senatorial courtesy and block the appointment. The senators are researching the historical rules of senatorial courtesy to see if this indeed the case.

Given that Morris County does not need an election commissioner, it’s clear that Governor Corzine is simply rewarding political supporters by keeping a patronage position open, the senators pointed out. Corzine has urged local government to find ways to consolidate and save tax dollars. It’s clear again that his rhetoric does not match his actions, the senators said.

“Any salary paid to the person appointed to this position is unjustified, because the position is unneeded,” Bucco said.

“This is the worst recession in modern history, and yet the governor won’t let Morris County save taxpayers’ money,” Pennacchio said.