Morris Freeholder’s son caught filming rival event, cops say

JEFFERSON – The son of a Morris County Freeholder admitted he was secretly filming a campaign kick off event held by a rival to his father after employees of a bank called police to report someone was taking video in their parking lot.

At about 8:22 a.m. Tuesday, Officer Brian Seeley responded to the Chase Bank on Bowling Green Parkway after police got a report about a white man in a grey Jeep taking pictures in the bank parking lot, according to a police report of the incident obtained through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request.

Seeley found the Jeep and spoke to the driver, Christopher Mastrangelo, 27, of Montville.

The officer asked Mastrangelo if he was taking pictures while sitting in the parking lot of the bank to which Mastrangelo said "No," according to the report.

Seeley, noticing a video camera on the passenger seat, suggested to Mastrangelo that he should start telling the truth, the report said.

Mastrangelo then told Seeley he was the son of Morris County Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo, who is up for reelection this year, and one of his opponents was holding an event that morning at the Jefferson Diner next to the bank, the report said.

The event was a campaign kickoff for Republican freeholder candidates Lou Valori, Roman Hirniak and Peter King, who call themselves the Morris County United team.

Christopher Mastrangelo said he was asked by his father to videotape the supporters that were attending the event, the report said.

Seeley then told Christopher Mastrangelo he had to leave the area because he was on private property and was making the Chase Bank employees nervous, the report said.

Christopher Mastrangelo said he was sorry and left the area, the report said.

No charges were filed.

In a response to the matter, Valori, Hirniak, and King called on “Team Mastrangelo,” which also includes fellow Republican incumbents Douglas Cabana and Kathy DeFillippo, to stop their “Soviet-era intimidation tactics.”

“The filming of supporters of Valori, Hirniak and King is something I would expect if they were in Russia campaigning against Vladimir Putin,” Morris County United campaign manager Steve Kush said. “There is no place for this kind of intimidation tactic in Morris County. Furthermore, if after obtaining the police incident report we learn the rumor that the person filming was indeed Mr. Mastrangelo’s son, one has to wonder what kind of man would drag his own son into the gutter with him.”

Kush said Team Mastrangelo should issue an apology to the Jefferson Police Department for wasting their time and resources.

“While they’re at it they can apologize to the supporters of Lou Valori, Roman Hirniak and Peter King they filmed,” Kush said. “The differences between Team Mastrangelo and Morris County United are quickly becoming clear. It will be up to the voters if they want the strong arm tactics of Team Mastrangelo or the team approach of Lou Valori, Roman Hirniak and Peter King.”

The Daily Record asked Thomas Mastrangelo before Wednesday’s meeting of the freeholder board whether he knew his son was filming the campaign launch of his opponents.

He said he did not.

“No clue,” Thomas Mastrangelo said. “It’s unfortunate that our opposition has tried to create a controversy instead of putting their proposals for governing Morris County forward.  The Cabana, DeFillippo, Mastrangelo team is proud of our conservative record and with Morris County rated as one of the best-run counties in America at managing tax dollars, under our leadership.”

“Unfortunately it took our opponents only a few hours after announcing their campaign to resort to some ridiculous name-calling.   We’re moving ahead with a positive campaign on the issues that matter,” Thomas Mastrangelo said.

Cabana, also reached Wednesday evening, said of the challengers’ release: “The press release is not worthy of comment. If this is how they’re going to run the campaign I feel sorry for the residents of Morris County.”

Peggy Wright contributed to this story. Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com