Since 1992, when he was first elected as a councilman, Michael Grecco had a remarkable asset that went beyond traditional politics. He could rely on the campaigning skills of his best friend, then-Councilman Robert Campanella. Over the years, Grecco and Campanella came to be known as “The Blues Brothers” and were rarely apart during campaign season, a time during which they could be seen dressed in suit and tie, going from door to door together attempting to secure votes. They made up what was then seen as a strong faction in the Democratic party, part of a team that stood behind then-mayor Anthony Just.
Since then, all that has changed.
During the 1999 June primary, the Democrats put up long-time Board of Education member Chris Marra to challenge Campanella for the Democratic council seat. Campanella lost. That year, the power of the Democratic party shifted into the firm control of Democratic Municipal Chairman Anthony Impreveduto, with Democrat Dennis Elwell as the new mayor. Many political observers wondered if Grecco could survive the change of leadership. He has done so, and now the Democratic machine is gearing up to help him retain his First Ward seat.
But some political observers are asking: “Will that be enough?”
Campanella said he felt betrayed by the Democratic challenge last year, but he also said he will not turn against his friend, Grecco – despite the fact that he now has some sympathies with the opposing party, the Independents. “He’s my friend,” Campanella said. “I won’t campaign against him.”
Yet Campanella will not be going door to door with Grecco this year either, leaving the incumbent councilman’s fate in the hands of the Democratic machine.
Independent challenger Dawn McAdam said she is confident enough to believe the machine will not be enough – and McAdam has been crisscrossing the 1st Ward in a door-to-door campaign that rivals the Blue Brothers’ campaigns of the past. Taking a cue from former 2nd Ward Democratic Candidate Patricia Van Es from earlier in the 1990s, McAdam has also stunned Democrats with her ability to issue weekly flyers.
“We determine what issue we want to address, we write the flyer, have it printed, and deliver it to every household over the weekend,” McAdam said.
While Grecco has also been making the rounds throughout the ward (claiming he has received a good response), McAdam said many of the voters she has spoken to talked about change in the 1st Ward.
For those observing this year’s council race, the election hinges on whether or not the Democratic machine can overcome McAdam’s grass-roots organizing efforts and make up for the loss of Campanella’s past influence.
Grecco has history of public service
At age 60, Grecco still works as a Master Plumber and can often be seen stopping into Town Hall in his overalls between jobs, checking on some issue a constituent has raised.
This is one of the many advantages of being self-employed, he said, claiming that politics is only a small part of what Secaucus is about. Grecco said he loves Secaucus.
On the walls around Grecco’s office are some markers of his public life. One 1970 plaque from his membership in the Secaucus Lions’ Club, another indicates his presidency of the Jay Cees, while a third says that he is a Master Plumber. One plaque from the Board of Education thanks him for 14 years of service, and, of course, there is the 1992 county certificate of election, which marks his move onto the Town Council. Grecco also served three years on the Secaucus Municipal Authority, although there is no marker for this activity.
Grecco is reluctant to have his picture taken while wearing his work clothing. Yet in an important way, his attire seems to define his approach to government, a workingman’s roll-up-the-sleeves kind of mentality that aches to get something accomplished. He says he likes the hustle and bustle of an active government. He says he likes to get into issues and help get them resolved. Over the last few years, his work with the council’s Flood Committee has helped keep numerous homes in Secaucus dry for the first time in decades.
Grecco also has been part of public safety issues including changes to the center of town where traffic in the Plaza created problems for many people seeking to cross Paterson Plank Road. As a member of the Keystone Contamination Cleanup Committee, Grecco takes credit for helping address one of the most serious concerns in the 1st Ward. Grecco also takes credit for helping to broker the deal with NJ Transit that is helping to rebuild Meadowlands Parkway.
Although he did not take up his challenger’s pledge to run a clean campaign, Grecco said he has always run campaigns that way.
“As long as people campaign cleanly without lies, I’ll take the high road,” he says. “But if my opponent lies about me, then all bets are off.”
As in the past, Grecco emphasized Secaucus’ attractiveness, its ample services and low tax rate, as well as the high level of volunteerism. Indeed, he has been deeply involved in the community nearly from the day he moved into Secaucus in 1970. Grecco says he helped get a fence installed along the Route 3 center divider to keep people from running across the highway, thus preventing any more people from getting killed.
Grecco was also responsible for the installation of the traffic light on County Avenue near two of the senior citizen buildings. He also takes credit for introducing the preservation and use of wetlands near the high school for environmental education. Grecco said several issues still need to be addressed:
• A traffic light for the intersection of Fifth Street and Centre Avenue, an area he said has been very dangerous.
• The installation of speed limit signs in various parts of the town.
McAdam was motivated to run for office
When asked why she sought to unseat Grecco, McAdam said it was time for a change.
“Secaucus is in need of change, new blood, new ideas, enthusiasm for governing and, above all, a policy of honesty in conducting town affairs,” she said.
She has run her campaign on the idea that she would serve as “the eyes and ears” of the 1st Ward and the residents’ “voice in the council chambers.”
“I will vote only as my conscience dictates, always with the best interests of those I represent as my guide,” McAdam said. “Voter interest, not self-interest, must be served. If I am elected in November, I’ll then be a public servant, and I am sworn to serve those who would elect me.”
Born in Jersey City, McAdam has lived in Secaucus since 1985. She has been employed as a hotel receptionist and a manager at a car dealership in Totowa. For the last 13 years, she has worked as a business manager for a Jersey City car dealership. Although McAdam declared her intention to run for the council last April, the idea had stirred in her mind for quite some time. As a resident in the Keystone contamination area, she has been a persistent spokesperson, urging the Town Council towards release of information. But she said it was the release of the former town clerk that really inspired her to seek office. “When the council voted to get rid of Geraldine Morgan, I was upset,” she said. “I thought she did a good job and shouldn’t have had to worry about political affiliations.”
McAdam has been campaigning on a series of projects she would undertake if elected to the town council:
• Possible natural noise barriers (such as trees) for residential areas near Route 3 and the NJ Turnpike.
• Look into installation of convex mirrors at certain intersections along Front Street and Center Avenue in order to provide people better vision of oncoming traffic. Grecco said this may not be allowed by the state.
• Eliminate political favoritism when dealing with town employees.
• Increase time on lights in the Plaza to allow pedestrians to cross.
• Install voting machines in all senior citizen buildings.
• Televise council meetings and council caucus meetings.
• Appoint people affected by flooding and Keystone contamination to the Flood and Keystone Contamination Cleanup committees.
Signs of the times
For two consecutive weeks, Democrats reported that lawn signs supporting Democratic council candidates have been removed. During the weekend of Oct. 8, Democrats reported as many as 20 signs missing throughout the 1st and 2nd Wards. Another 25 signs were reported missing a week later.
“We have filed a police report on the first incident and it looks like we’ll be filing another report on the second incident,” said Mayor Dennis Elwell. “It is not that the cost is a factor. Each sign costs about $4. It is the idea that someone is going onto private property and removing them.”
Elwell said each sign was placed with permission of the homeowner.
According to witnesses on the second weekend, a black truck was seen driving through the streets about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 with its driver jumping out to steal the signs.
Dawn McAdam, who is running against the Democrats in the First Ward, said she knew nothing about the ripoff. “I don’t even disturb the pamphlets when I come to knock on people’s doors when I’m campaigning,” she said.