Ex-Morris Freeholder John Krickus will run again

Former Morris County Freeholder John Krickus, who was defeated for a second term in the Republican primary election of 2015, said Friday he will again seek election to the board.

There are three, three-year seats available on the freeholder board and incumbents Kathy DeFillippo, Douglas Cabana and Thomas Mastrangelo are running as a team. Randolph Mayor Roman Hirniak, Parsippany Council President Louis Valori and land use attorney Peter King have formed their own team.

Krickus, who served as mayor and committeeman in Washington Township for 12 years and was a freeholder for one term before being defeated in the 2015 primary, along with then-Freeholder David Scapicchio, said in a release that he favors zero percent tax increases and competitive bidding and opposes labor union mandates.

   SEE ALSO: Morris County freeholders file for new termshttp://http://dailyre.co/1XCAPA1

The filing deadline is Monday at 4 p.m. to run in the June 7 primary election.  So far, the Democratic primary for freeholder will not be contested, with three people -- Mitchell Horn of Montville, John Von Achen of Parsippany and Rozella G. Clyde of Chatham -- running for three seats.

Krickus noted that this year's freeholder board has introduced a county budget that would increase taxes by 3.4 percent, after four years of no tax levy increases. The budget is slated to be voted on April 27. DeFillippo said at a March meeting of the board that the increase was necessitated, in part, by a rise in health care costs for employees and a voter-approved mandate for criminal justice reform.

"I am running for the Republican nomination for Freeholder as the only consistent conservative candidate in the race," Krickus said in a release.

"I oppose the $7.5 million, 3.4% county tax increase and have a straightforward three-point platform of no county tax increases, full competitive bidding on county contracts and the streamlining of county government," Krickus said.

"Any candidate who tells you county taxes need to rise doesn’t understand the budget.  When I served as a member of the county budget committee, I was able to keep spending flat and not raise taxes for three consecutive years.  I even presented a plan for $28 million in budget savings that the three incumbents have ignored," he said.

In a release further outlining his campaign, Krickus said: "I favor full competitive bidding that does not exclude small businesses, and I will oppose the proposed apprenticeship resolution that favors big labor and big business and would cost millions of taxpayer dollars.  Last year, big labor poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Freeholder race to defeat me and were successful by a razor thin margin.  Both establishment teams running this year have started their campaigns by meeting with big labor," he said.

"Utilizing my business experience and proven record of keeping county spending flat, I will reduce the size of county government, in contrast with the incumbent team's $11 million increase in the 2016 budget. By streamlining county government we can insure funding of the doubling of county roads repaving, a policy I championed when I served as freeholder," Krickus said.

The incumbents -- DeFillippo, Cabana and Mastrangelo -- have been endorsed by Carpenters Union, Local 254.

"If we want our values and needs represented in government, it is vitally important that we come out in support of the candidates who help us advance our goals at all levels," Anthony Abrantes, political lead for the Carpenters Union, Local 254, said in a letter of support for the DeFillippo team.

The endorsement was preceded by a letter of thanks and pledge of partnership to the carpenters union from the incumbent freeholder team.

"Once again thank you for allowing us to meet with you. We have made it a point over the last 18 months to educate ourselves on labor issues, the benefits of the Responsible Bidders Language and apprenticeship programs."

The letter continued: "Over the last several weeks, we also have taken much time to meet one on one with many member locals of your council. Our discussions have allowed us to further understand your trade’s unique issues and similar concerns amongst their labor brothers, partnering with labor on re-development of our great Morris County, responsible bidders language and apprenticeship programs."

"As the longest serving members of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, each of us having been the Director of the Board, our goal is to partner with you to provide opportunities for labor’s hard working men and women of Morris County, partner to generate economic growth & development, investment in infrastructure, introduce and adopt responsible bidder language inclusive of apprenticeship programs, all while creating a path to prosperity for your hard working members and their families," the incumbent freeholders' letter said to the carpenters union.

   Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.