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Article Index"Mr. Ciattarelli's freeholder votes included approving contracts for political contributors, some who gave to his campaign," Birge said.
"I know when Jack Ciattarelli first got on the freeholder board, he pushed very hard to eliminate the county park commission," Singleterry said. "But nothing ever came of that."
Long a clubhouse for GOP partisans, the commission received scathing reviews two years ago from an outside law firm, which found violations of state bidding law such as the steering of work to a firm owned by a county official.
A five-member freeholder board amounts to "leadership by committee," Ciattarelli said. But even he when he does not prevail in public discussions with his colleagues, he influences their thinking, he said.
Ciattarelli pointed to an overhaul of commission membership and a shuffling of some management positions. While some parks employees enjoy unusual contract perks, policy changes have curtailed many benefits, such as the use of county cars.
In tough times, Singleterry said, the county should pursue steps to increase revenues, such as the sale or lease of the commission's $25 million "country club," Neshanic Valley Golf Course. Lax oversight led to cost overruns and greens fees that are too expensive for many residents, he said.
If elected, "I'll look at the park commission," but its major problems seem resolved, Scaglione said.
He prefers to focus elsewhere, such as expanding the county recycling center, and bringing more towns into the county dispatch system and health department. While the expansion requires spending, the other steps could ultimately save tax dollars, he said.
At least privately, even some municipal officials who have feared losing local control are now open to consolidating services, Scaglione said.
The Democrats said they also support consolidations, if managed to ensure savings. They contend the freeholders have not adequately controlled costs or reformed contract procedures.
"Towns like Montgomery and North Plainfield have passed ordinances against pay-to-play contracts with political contributors," Singleterry said. "But when we ask the freeholders, they say, 'Oh, we're waiting for the state.' "
Somerset County has the seventh highest property taxes in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C., organization with conservative views but a reputation for solid analysis.
Scaglione is running in place of Freeholder Rick Fontana, who decided not to seek re-election. An executive at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Fontana had good business reasons to step away from politics in the midst of the Great Recession. But he also has been closely associated with the county's financial planning and the park commission.
Asked what he would do differently from Fontana, Scaglione called him "one of the statesmen of the freeholder board," and can only hope to emulate his performance.
The Republican freeholders were able to fractionally trim county taxes this year, and say there could be more cuts ahead.
The Democrats favor 15 percent spending cuts, which could reduce the county tax levy to slightly more than the 2003 level.
"I don't think that's realistic, especially since they're also calling to restore spending for Raritan Valley Community College and the vo-tech schools," Scaglione said.
He defended the education cuts, saying that in difficult times, "everybody should share the pain."
"The middle of a recession, with enrollments rising and more people seeking job training, is not the time to cut the college and vo-tech," Singleterry said. "An educated, well-trained workforce is critical to our economy."
Cuts should target "fluff," such as county contributions to the Somerset Business Partnership, while seeking to preserve vital programs, Singleterry said.
"Any elected official who isn't committed to putting everything on the table doesn't deserve to hold office right now," Ciattarelli said.
With his prodding, he said, the freeholders have pared the county workforce, reduced holidays, eliminated lifetime health benefits for new hires and ended all employees' ability to accumulate sick leave.
That would be more convincing "if the freeholders weren't already providing more benefits than the state and most municipalities," Birge said. "The freeholders are only catching up to what the rest of us were doing."
The Republicans claim they will be able to continue cuts for three years if the economic doldrums persist, but "that shows there's fat in the budget," Birge said. "The freeholders are not helping themselves by paying the county administrator more than governors, and giving very high salaries to other managers. They could make more cuts now."
Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
