Passaic County Republican 2018 Slate Ready To

Take On Big Spending Democrats

(April 2, 2018)  The Passaic County Regular Republican Organization, Inc.’s candidates for county offices have filed their nominating petitions to run in the June 5 Primary Election to represent the party in November’s General Election.

 Leading the ticket is former Passaic County Prosecutor and acting Sheriff Ronald Fava, Esq. of Clifton, who is running for County Clerk.  The position was vacated last year by Kristin M. Corrado, Esq., who was elected to the State Senate, taking over for retiring Sen. Kevin J. O’Toole.

Fava served as Passaic County Prosecutor under two former governors and was appointed acting county sheriff  in 2001. He also served for 8 years as the presiding municipal court judge for the City of Paterson. Ron is a graduate of Seton Hall Law School and is currently in private legal practice in Wayne, while serving as legal counsel to the PCRRO.

Joining Fava are county freeholder candidates Frank Pietropaolo of Wayne, Lori Mambelli of Totowa and Gary Passenti of Clifton. The PCRRO team is running to reduce county spending and lower the tax burden on county residents.

Pietropaolo, manager for one the largest construction companies in New Jersey, is accustomed to working with multi-million dollar budgets. Frank has been a mentor and coach in the Wayne, youth leagues, coaching girls softball, flag football and boys basketball teams. He and his wife Nancy have two school-age children; the family resides in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne Township.

“For 17 of the past 18 years the freeholders have raised taxes and made Passaic County one of the highest taxed counties in the nation. The county tax burden is taking a terrible toll on working families. I know my runningmates and I can do a better job. We will deliver services that people need at a cost that the taxpayers can afford,” said Pietropaolo.

“The county freeholders, like Gov. Murphy, think they can go on raising taxes without negative consequences, but they are wrong. High taxes in New Jersey are taking a toll on businesses, jobs and are the reason people are choosing to leave this state,” he added.

Mambelli is a retired captain from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office. She says she is running to bring needed change to the expensive leadership in the county.

“The freeholders spend taxpayers money anyway they please without the approval or knowledge of the residents who they represent. We need change,” said Mambelli. “With my experience in county government, I know I can bring a new way of thinking to the freeholder board, offering new ideas and options to improving our communities and  getting more people involved in county spending decisions,”

Mambelli’s duties in the sheriff’s department  included commander of the Communications Division; Commander of the Bureau of Criminal Identification, Executive Captain of the Courthouse and grant manager. She retired from the department in 2014 and now works as a writer, public speaker and a volunteer – currently serving as vice president of Paterson Rotary Club #70.

Passenti is a sergeant in the Clifton Police Department, where he has served for the past 20 years. In 2010, he was elected to the Clifton Board of Education and has served as board president since 2012. He and his wife Denise have two daughters, one in college and one attending Clifton High School.

Passenti also said he is concerned about county spending, particularly in Clifton, which pays the second highest amount in county taxes.