Verona Town Council Election 2019: Meet The Candidates

VERONA, NJ — On Tuesday, May 14, a field of five candidates will play a game of musical chairs for two open seats on the Verona Town Council. Those running include Alex Roman, John Quattrocchi, Michael Nochimson, John FioRito and Christine McGrath.

On May 1, a public forum was held for the candidates, which can be watched in full at the bottom of this article.

Polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the election. Find your local polling place here.

ALEX ROMAN

Alex Roman currently serves as a Verona Town Council member. His term expires on June 30.

Learn more about his platform here.

From his website: “We’ve built a strong foundation for our ongoing success, but we will continue to be challenged by cost pressures, attempts at dense development, and the need to maintain our aging public infrastructure. I am ready to keep working for you to maintain and improve our beautiful town. With your vote for my re-election, your voice will continue to be heard and your hard-earned tax dollars will be respected and conserved.”

Endorsement from Verona resident Jessica Pearson, as told to MyVeronanj.com: “With a calm and polite demeanor, he exercises an astute comprehension of the issues and tasks at hand… His attendance at Town Council, Planning Board, and Board of Adjustment meetings for the past ten years has lent to some of that competence. It has given him an exceptional understanding of Verona’s development issues, the processes by which they are remedied, and an intimate knowledge of so many of Verona’s other challenges. And due to his business background, his proficiency in budgeting, collective bargaining, benefits administration, and best practices are championed as well.”

JOHN QUATTROCCHI

John Quattrocchi, a finance executive, served as a member of the Verona Board of Education for 15 years.

Learn more about his platform here.

From his website: “As a member of the Town Council, my goal is to continue working on a broader scale, by being part of the team. Overdevelopment, traffic, taxes and safety are a concern for all residents. My goal will be to align the interests of the various parties so that we may all work together to continue making Verona a great place to live.”

Endorsement from Verona School Superintendent Rui Dionisio: “I was extremely fortunate to work with John Quattrocchi for five years in my capacity as superintendent of the Verona Public Schools. In my nearly 20 years in education, I have never worked with a Board of Education member who was so dedicated to leading a district and advocating for the best interests of students and staff. John not only possesses intellectual prowess and insight, but leads with caring, thoughtful leadership and guidance for all of those around him.”

MICHAEL NOCHIMSON

Deputy Mayor Michael Nochimson currently serves as a Verona Town Council member. His term expires on June 30.

Learn more about his platform here.

From his website: “Over the last eight years, I’ve worked to make Verona better for all of our families, through sound advice, good judgement and a vision for our future. I am dedicated to improving our community and with your support, I am confident we will continue to make Verona a great place to live, work, raise a family and ultimately enjoy.”

Endorsement from Verona Mayor Kevin Ryan: “Michael and I were in a minority position until after the election in 2015. Since then we have been able to hire a new manager and work with him and the new council members that followed to produce more responsible budgets by controlling spending, cutting overtime costs, reducing staffing levels without layoffs and negotiating fair labor contracts. All of this was accomplished without any loss of services and what I consider to be very modest municipal tax increases.”

JOHN FIO RITO

John Fio Rito is a Verona resident, local business owner and military veteran.

Learn more about his platform here.

From his website: “The challenges we face as neighbors is rarely partisan. In its most simple form, the role of municipal government is to provide basic services and organization to the community it serves. To do that well, it needs to be run efficiently. Over the last nearly 30 years, John has successfully run organizations, both small and large, to operate at their peak performance through the intelligent application of resources and budgeting to complete mission essential tasks.”

Endorsement from Brett D'Alessandro, founder of Backpacks For Life: “John recently opened a storage facility here in Verona and we will be utilizing one of the units there to have supplies, toiletries and essentials for local Verona resident veterans who may need assistance. They will have access to the unit any time they need it, simply by giving the Backpacks For Life team a call. It was only after having one conversation with John that this project came to fruition… While I don't normally endorse anyone in any election, I know that John Fio Rito is already an integral part of this community and if elected for Town Council, will continue to serve and give back to our amazing town.”

CHRISTINE MCGRATH

Christine McGrath has served as president of the Junior Woman’s Club of Verona, Friends of the Verona Public Library and is Essex County chapter leader for gun violence prevention for Moms Demand Action.

Learn more about her platform here.

From her website: “On a day-to-day basis, Verona's local government is very well-run. Town employees, police, and volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members are all extremely committed to the well-being of our community. However, I have become very concerned over the last year over the depth of the complex challenges that Verona is facing. Does our community have a long-term strategic vision on how we will address some of our toughest problems?”

Endorsement from Verona resident Lorri Caffrey: “Having had the pleasure of serving with Christine in the Junior Woman's Club of Verona I know firsthand just how dedicated she is to our community and its residents. During her tenure as president she was an enthusiastic advocate for my program to help families in need in our town with back to school supplies, a successful program that is still making an impact today.”

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