Gonnelli Says Ouster was Political
Jun 20th, 2009 | By Greg Hazley | Category: Dennis Elwell, Mike Gonnelli, New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, On tap, Politics, SecaucusSecaucus councilman Mike Gonnelli knew it was only a matter of time until his decade-long tenture on the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission would come to an end. It is, after all, a political position, he said, and politics dictated that his Independent bid for mayor would cost him the slot.
Gonnelli’s 12-year run on the Board of Commissioners ostensibly expired on Thursday when Governor Jon Corzine nominated Secaucus resident Mauro DeGennaro for the seat.
“I’ve been a holdover for a year now and I know the mayor wanted me off for a while,” said Gonnelli. “So I guess he got his way.”
Mayor Dennis Elwell said he lobbied the governor for the seat to go to a Secaucus resident beacuse of the commission’s jurisdiction over nearly 90 percent of the town. Secaucus contributes about $3.2M to the commission annually, the largest levy of any town.
“I think it would be wrong for the town to lose that position and, quite frankly, Mr. Gonnelli was not getting the reappointment,” he told this website. “I’m very happy the governor considered Secaucus in the appointment.”
Elwell said he believes a factor in the governor’s decision was that an attorney general’s ruling a decade ago precludes Gonnelli from serving on the town council and the commission, but Gonnelli dismissed that by saying he knew the ruling well and claimed it only covered mayors from serving in both roles.
Gonnelli was Secaucus’ first representative on the commission, serving since 1997. For years, the town had no inside voice on the governing body, desite its wide control over town planning.
The commission’s charter requires a Democrat and a Republican from the Meadowlands District to serve on the board.
Gonnelli said he has been a holdover for about a year and expected to lose the position because it is a Democratic slot and he is running for the mayor’s office as an Independent.
“It’s a political appointment,” he said.
Asked if his political alignment with DeGennaro in the past might benefit Secaucus (Elwell backed DeGennaro in his school board campaigns), the mayor said: “I would hope, but there’s a tendency out there that these commissioners do not like to vote against staff [recommendations].”
Elwell said DeGennaro had expressed interest in the position.
Gonnelli said he enjoyed his tenure on the commission and believes he represented the town and the district well. But he warned that the commission is chartered to guard the interests of the entire Meadowlands district, not just Secaucus.
“You’re not put there for one specific town,” said Gonnelli. “There are 14 communities and you’ve got to vote with your conscience. Hopefully this gentleman does that same thing.”
Corzine’s appointment of DeGennaro is pending confirmation by the state senate.
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wow Gonnelli thinks is political? He’s a genius! Let’s see a democratic Gov is going to appoint an Independent…. Come on stop with the tears already.grow up you want everything your way just like a little baby. stop already the tears are fake.
[...] Fri., June 19 – Secaucus councilman Mike Gonnelli knew it was only a matter of time until his decade-long tenture on the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission would come to an end. It is, after all, a political position, he said, and politics dictated that his Independent bid for mayor would cost him the slot. Share and Enjoy: [...]