MOUNTAIN LAKES — Morris County Sheriff Candidate John Sierchio held a kick-off reception on Monday, April 4. The event attended by over 300 supporters was held at Zeris Inn, Mountain Lakes.
Attending and supporting Sierchio was Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio, Council President Lou Valori, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., current Sheriff Edward Rochford and a few dozen other local dignitaries.
Paul Carifi, Jr., said “It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of a great kick-off event. There were many people showing their support for John.”
“With 24 years of experience as Sheriff, I know exactly what it takes to protect the safety of Morris County residents and the wallets of taxpayers,” said Sheriff Edward Rochford. “I also know this: there is no one better qualified than John Sierchio to fight for the families, seniors, and taxpayers of Morris County as our next Sheriff, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse his candidacy.”
“Through our law enforcement backgrounds, John Sierchio and I met a number of years ago and have maintained a friendship ever since. Naturally, I’m going to be supportive of a friend, stated Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Louis Valori.
Sierchio has 27 years experience in law enforcement, serving in the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the Essex County Police Department, and in the Bloomfield Police Department. Sierchio also served as Chairman of the state’s Police and Fireman’s Retirement System, where the Star-Ledger called him a “crusader” for saving millions of taxpayer dollars by exposing fraudulent pension claims.
Sierchio pledged to only accept the minimum Sheriff’s salary.
“In my first three years as Sheriff, my plan will save Morris County taxpayers $141,000, while Mr. Gannon’s plan will save $0,” said Sierchio, whose candidacy has been endorsed by retiring Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford. “As the fiscal conservative in this campaign, I’m calling upon Mr. Gannon to join me in putting tax dollars back into the hands of our county’s residents by pledging to accept only the minimum Sheriff’s salary.”
Republican candidate Jim Gannon retired in 2008 as a Member of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) from his 25-years of service as a Boonton and Boonton Township Police Officer, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, with an annual pension of $78,160, will file paperwork with the State of New Jersey to freeze that pension and collect only his salary as Morris County Sheriff if successful in the June primary and then elected to a full-term in November.
John Sierchio has a plan that will result in actual savings for taxpayers. Sierchio called upon fellow candidate James Gannon to sign on to his plan and join him in pledging to accept only the minimum Sheriff’s salary required by law.
Fred Beaver, who served as Director of State Pensions and Benefits for eight years, agreed with Sierchio’s assertion that only his plan would save taxpayer dollars: “Fred Beaver, a past director of the state Division of Pension and Benefits, agreed with Sierchio that a candidate’s freezing of a pension would result in no savings to taxpayers because his pension already has been funded, with contributions no longer being given by the governmental employer.”
John is married with four children and lives in Boonton Township, where he has served as a Member of the Board of Education since 2008. He served five years as Chairman of the state’s Police and Fireman’s Retirement System and twelve years total on its Board of Trustees. Sierchio was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to serve as a Member of the Governor’s Transition Team in 2009, where John served as a member of the Law and Public Safety Subcommittee. John is a member of many organizations, including the New Jersey State PBA, the Italian American Police Society, and a Life Member of the National Rife Association.
