TRENTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee cleared former State Police Major Al DelVento’s nomination to the parole board for a vote in the full Senate, but not without pointing out that DelVento — a driver for Gov. Chris Christie during last year’s gubernatorial campaign — would earn more than $200,000 between his pension and new salary. Democrats contrasted Christie’s...
Sen. Paul Sarlo speaks during the New Jersey Gaming Summit in Atlantic City. He was one of many Democrats who questioned dual office position that would occur if retired N.J. State Police Major DelVento gets the new position.TRENTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee cleared former State Police Major Al DelVento’s nomination to the parole board for a vote in the full Senate, but not without pointing out that DelVento — a driver for Gov. Chris Christie during last year’s gubernatorial campaign — would earn more than $200,000 between his pension and new salary.
Democrats contrasted Christie’s nomination of DelVento, with his push to end dual office holding and multiple public salaries, putting DelVento in the position of having to answer for the governor.
“I believe you’re qualified for the position and I’m going to support you. but do you believe that the governor should vilify people who … are making over $150,000 in two public positions?” state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), who is also the mayor of Wood-Ridge, asked DelVento. “I’m an elected senator and an elected mayor, and I’ve been vilified for being a dual officeholder. My combined salary is $57,000. I’m asking someone who has over $200,000 and who I believe is a good pick for this, do you believe we should continue to vilify other folks who serve the public in other capacities?”
Sarlo said DelVento’s job on the Christie campaign was “kind of irrelevant.”
DelVento, 56, retired as a major from the state police last year after 30 years of service. He said his pension is $90,000 a year. The six-year term on the parole board pays $116,305 a year. DelVento said he will not need health benefits from the new position, since they carried on as part of his State Police retirement package.
Before DelVento could answer Sarlo’s question, state Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) – a close Christie ally – jumped in.
“He didn’t invent the pension system. He didn’t invent the parole board and the salary that goes with it,” said Kyrillos. “You want to talk about pension abuses? Let’s pass the governor’s reforms. But let’s not ask this nominee who’s coming here to try to do a good job that this Legislature — this predecessor Legislature — created.”
In the end, the senators agreed DelVento was qualified and voted unanimously to move his nomination on for a vote in the full Senate.