Vernotico Hopes to Emulate Glatt if Elected Mayor

Editors's Note: This story is the first in a series of profiles on candidates for the 2011 election. Check back tomorrow to meet Gregory Drummond, candidate for council at-large.

For some it's taxes. For others, it's the schools. But for Councilman Michael Vernotico, it all started with the widening of a street.

As a resident on Glen Avenue in Short Hills, Vernotico first got involved in public service when the Township of Millburn wanted to widen a road residents said was already wrought with speeding.

What began as a foray into the neighborhood's civic committee eventually led to a committee seat and eventually a term as Mayor before Vernotico and his wife moved to Summit.

"They're really identical towns," he said "The issues are all the same."

Now, after two terms as a Republican Councilman in Ward II and a previous campaign for mayor, Vernotico is launching a bid for the mayorship as an Independent.

"It's not like I'm entering this without a resume," he said.

Vernotico intitally sought the Republican nomination for a third term as Ward II councilman but was defeated by Pat Hurley.

And Vernotico admits he isn't his own first choice for mayor. He wanted Democratic Mayor Jordan Glatt to run for a third term.

"Jordan's going to be a hard act to follow," he said. "He's the best mayor this community has ever seen."

Vernotico said Glatt is a model of temperment and both share a genuine love for the community.

This election, Vernotico said one of the big issues for him is fiscal responsibilty, something he says is very different than being fiscaly conservative.

Instead of thinking of things in black and white–what do we need to cut to lower taxes–Vernotico says the city needs to think instead of more efficient ways to do what it already does.

"Those are where you effect changes," he said.

As Mayor, Vernotico said he would seriously consider the between the Millburn and Summit fire departments, something that has been deemed a possibility by an independent consultant hired to perform a shared services study for both towns.

One misconception about who Michael Vernotico is, he says, is that he an angry man.

"I am very emotional," he said. "I am very passionate. And people mistake that passion for anger."