WHARTON — The normally placid waters in which Morris County Republicans swim have become a bit choppy this primary season. There are still five weeks before voters go to the polls, but already there have been charges and counter-charges in one of the county’s highest-profile races. William Chegwidden, 48, Wharton mayor and freeholder director, announced last week that he...
William Chegwidden is sworn in as Morris County Freeholder in this 2010 file photo.WHARTON — The normally placid waters in which Morris County Republicans swim have become a bit choppy this primary season. There are still five weeks before voters go to the polls, but already there have been charges and counter-charges in one of the county’s highest-profile races.
William Chegwidden, 48, Wharton mayor and freeholder director, announced last week that he is challenging long-time legislator Anthony Bucco, 73, for the State Senate in the 25th district.
Bucco’s campaign wasted no time, excoriating Chegwidden, who also teaches at Morris Knolls High School, for triple-dipping into the state pension program.
"New Jersey has a sad and expensive history of politicians with two taxpayer-funded jobs, but Bill Chegwidden has taken it to quite possibly a new record level by not only holding three jobs, but campaigning for a fourth," Bill Hildebrand, spokesman for Bucco for Senate, said in a press release. "This is the kind of stuff that has taxpayers throwing up their hands in frustration, and what Senator Bucco is trying to put a stop to in New Jersey."
Chegwidden fired back on Thursday, reminding Bucco that if elected to the Senate, he would have to resign as mayor and freeholder. He added that that kind of rhetoric was beneath the senator.
"My job is teaching," Chegwidden said. "It’s not an elected position. It’s unbecoming of the senator to deceive people like that."
But Chegwidden, who has served as mayor since 2002 and freeholder since 2007, went further, saying it was hypocritical for Bucco to chastise when the senator’s son, Assemblyman Anthony Bucco Jr., also serves as Roxbury’s attorney. The senator pointed out that his son is only in one pension system.
Beyond the bickering over double-dipping, the two Republicans both billed themselves as small-government politicians, proud of their records.
Bucco, in an interview on Thursday, highlighted his work with Gov. Chris Christie in helping to reduce the state’s budget.
"We’re looking forward to an even better year," Bucco said. "We’re looking to get the tool kit passed."
Chegwidden has helped lead the effort to share court services among Wharton and four other municipalities. As a freeholder, he was instrumental in shaping the solar energy program, which has helped municipalities and school districts save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Chegwidden will have an uphill battle. Bucco has served in the Senate since 1998 and was in the Assembly for four years before that. The senator has received endorsements from Sheriff Ed Rochford, County Clerk Joan Bramhall, County Surrogate John Pecoraro and John Sette, Morris County Republican chair.
"He is a no-nonsense legislator," Sette said. "As far as constituent services, I don’t think there is anyone in the state of New Jersey that does a better job responding to constituents’ concerns."
Chegwidden, for his part, said he understands that unseating an incumbent will not be easy, but, "if I didn’t think I had a good chance, I wouldn’t be putting my name up."