4 vie for 3 seats on Vernon council

Four candidates are running for three seats on the Vernon Township Council in the Nov. 4 election.

The candidates are Patrick Rizzuto and Natalie Buccieri, council president and vice president, respectively; former Councilwoman Sandra Ooms; and Carl Contino, a member of the Vernon school board.

Jessica DeBenedetto did not seek re-election.

NATALIE BUCCIERI

Why are you running for re-election to the Township Council?

Serving the community has been an honor and I look forward to continuing to do so.

My experience coupled with my dedication to the Vernon taxpayer makes me an asset to the community.

An example of this is our cannabis ordinance. As a council member, I was instrumental in tightening up the zoning and licensing of cannabis businesses in our town. The previous council had voted to allow cannabis businesses but passed an ordinance that left ambiguity in zoning, did not have licensing fees and did not have mechanisms to collect taxes.

Under my leadership as council president, the council and I discussed and ultimately passed a much clearer ordinance that enacted licensing fees, tightened up zoning and set guidelines for businesses to pay taxes.

Being able to help our community in this manner is a very fulfilling aspect of being a council member. Working to keep taxes stable, making sure our town is business-friendly, and supporting our police and first-responders are a few of the reasons I am running for re-election.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if re-elected?

Addressing the Legends property is a top priority. The council has been working to move forward with taking action on a property that is significantly in arrears in property taxes. We have hired an appraisal company and once that is complete will discuss next steps.

Bringing more business to Main Street is also a priority. Now that we have DEP approval for our water plan, we are on our way to making that possible. I will continue to support legislation that will move that forward and that will make Vernon more attractive to business.

Expanding our sewer service area and working with the SCMUA is another priority. As development grows, our sewer service area needs to grow also. This will help the current ratepayers who are overburdened by their sewer bills.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

I am a longtime Vernon resident with deep ties to the community. I am a taxpayer, and making Vernon a welcoming place to live and in which to do business is important to me too.

For three years as a council member, I and my peers delivered no tax increase. My goal is to continue to deliver tax stability while maintaining quality services for our town.

I am not interested in, nor will I support, pet projects. We have beautiful parks, walking trails, pavilions, state parks and the Appalachian Trail all at our doorstep.

Vernon is a beautiful place to live. I support maintaining and enjoying the quality amenities we already have.

I am hard-working, honest and transparent.

Background and qualifications:

In addition to currently serving on the council, I served on the school board and the Vernon Economic Development Advisory Committee.

I am employed at Selective Insurance and the proud mom of four.

CARL CONTINO

Why are you running for election to the Township Council?

I’m running because Vernon needs new leaders who put the community first.

My goal is to protect taxpayers, strengthen long-term planning, and ensure our town remains affordable and community-oriented for future generations.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected?

First, I will push to cut waste and rein in spending. Our town needs sustainable, long-term financial planning to prevent large, sudden tax hikes.

Second, I’ll work to make Vernon business-friendly. Business owners in Vernon face too much red tape, especially when starting up. Our town needs commercial development to offset the tax burden homeowners face, but we haven’t done enough to attract development.

Third, I aim to change the culture of the town government by listening before speaking and working collaboratively with everyone. Too often, our elected leaders sidestep tough decisions and care more about appearances than producing results. As a member of the council, I will always put the community first.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

I bring proven experience and fresh energy.

On the Board of Education, I supported the hiring of top leaders from outside the district because we needed new perspectives and change.

We worked to expand free, full-day pre-K at no cost to taxpayers, reduced class sizes, and streamlined administration.

Personally, I started the Community Relations Committee and the annual State of the District Address to make local government more transparent.

I’ve shown I can deliver results while staying accountable to the public.

Background and qualifications:

Born and raised here, I’m a proud teacher of history and financial literacy in Paterson Public Schools.

I’m the youngest-yet candidate for council, and I have proudly served three years on our Board of Education.

At 26, I offer a fresh perspective but also a record of bringing transparency and making government work better for the people it serves.

My goal is always to do the right thing the right way.

SANDRA OOMS

Why are you running for election to the Township Council?

I am a 37-year resident of Vernon planning to retire here and as concerned as everyone that Vernon remains affordable.

During my prior tenure as a council member, I took pride in knowing that the experience and commitment I brought to the table contributed to transparency, fiscal responsibility and our quality of life here.

I look forward to continue my efforts to address our many challenges that must be met.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected?

I will strive to keep taxes stable and Vernon affordable. New forms of revenue streams must be achieved, coupled with reduced spending. The re-instatement of the Financial Advisory Committee, composed of community members to provide budgetary oversight and cost benefit analysis, will provide financial recommendations to the council for the best decisions.

Public work sessions must be held for important issues, allowing for input, debate and transparency.

Respect for the taxpayer and community members will be my priority to foster opportunities to shape our community.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

My previous experience as a Vernon council member (2016-20) and the understanding of municipal government and finance prepare me to be effective on day one.

My passion for community service and my professional background, which requires critical thinking and evidenced-based decisions, ethics, and accountability give me the attributes needed to make sound decisions in the best interests of the community and taxpayers.

Background and qualifications:

I am a registered nurse with a graduate degree. I currently manage a federal grant program, supervise a team of nurses and provide direct care to the residents of Sussex County.

Prior to my current position, I taught courses that focused on leadership, effective decision-making skills, critical thinking for better outcomes and ethics at a local college.

I have been the recipient of the Frances Black Humanitarian Award in Healthcare and a Kessler’s President Award for Leadership and Service.

PATRICK RIZZUTO

Why are you running for re-election to the Township Council?

I am running for re-election for Town Council because there are a significant number of issues I have been working on that still remain to be resolved.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected?

1) Completion of the sewer service areas. Funds for the expansion have been received. Final approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will allow for further commercial development. The build-out of these areas will lower existing sewer rates and bring in taxes.

2) Working to bring the issue of Legends to closure. Legends is a complicated challenge that I have been working diligently on. There are solutions that must be thoroughly vetted. I will continue to pursue opportunities presented by developers.

3) Continue to support the expansion of the Town Center. Vernon is a beautiful town that could benefit from more conveniences and businesses. With the completion of an apartment complex as well as other projects in the planning stages, I look forward to fostering more commercial ratables to offset residential taxes.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

My service on the Town Council for 10 years and my previous 15 years of service on the Board of Education bring experience and institutional knowledge to the difficult decisions we need to make.

I was actively involved in the construction of our two newest schools.

Background and qualifications:

My strong business background requires me to be financially responsible. Taxes are a major concern. I worked with the chief financial officer to avoid raising the municipal portion of the taxes three of the past four years.

I have lived in Vernon for 57 years with my late wife, Barbara, and three children and am an active parishioner at St. Francis De Sales Church.

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a master’s degree in business administration from Seton Hall University.

I owned a successful international shoe-import business before retiring.