There was never anything flashy about Tony Bucco.

I recall when Bucco ran for the state Assembly for the first time in 1995, he told voters that, “When I’m in Trenton, you’re in Trenton.”

It was corny to be sure, but there was also something genuine about it.

To Bucco, who died Monday after a lengthy political career, serving his constituents was what it was all about.

Anthony R. Bucco was not a spellbinding orator or an intellectual giant. He was an old-school politician who worked to help those living in his district.

Bucco was certainly a conservative Republican, but that only went so far. He had many friends on the other side of the aisle.

Conventional wisdom suggests Morris County Republicans have things pretty easy. And it’s true that some Republicans never really have a tough race.

That was not what Bucco’s career was all about.

Back in the early 1990’s, he lost his seat on the freeholder board. At the time, I asked him if his political career was over.

He said politely and honestly that he really didn’t know. A few years later, he was appointed and then elected to the state Assembly in the aforementioned 1995 race.

One of those he beat was a freeholder named Chris Christie.

At that time, the senator in the 25th District was Democrat Gordon MacInnes. The Boonton Republican took him on – and out – in 1997, but before he got there, he had to win a tough primary against Peter Mancuso, of Morris Township. So he had two tough races in five months.

Six years after that, Bucco was seriously challenged again by Blair MacInnes, the wife of the senator he beat to win his Senate seat in the first place.  He won in another pricey race.

I was at the Morristown Daily Record as a reporter and editorial page editor when all this was going on. Bucco often joked that the Daily Record never endorsed him. He was right about that, but judging from
his success, an endorsement from the Daily Record wasn’t really needed.

And to prove it didn’t matter, the senator actually gave me an award once – the Tony Bucco Award – at his annual golf outing fundraiser. It was a nice gesture, albeit a bit embarrassing.

Bucco underwent cancer treatment earlier this year. When it ended, he understandably looked a bit weak, but he still tried to resume his duties.

After all, if he was in Trenton, so were his constituents.