In one of the more dramatic moments in modern local politics, Board of Education President Paul Amico stood in the Board of Education offices Monday, minutes before the deadline for his filing for re-election, and tore up his nominating petitions, saying he would not run for another term.
The unexpected move that may have significant political implications and guarantees the election of Susan Pirro, a local jewelry storeowner and an active parent in high school programs, and incumbents William Millevoi and Elanore Reinl. No one else is running for the three seats on the board.
Amico filed his petitions about noon on Feb. 25 to remain in the race, then took back his forms five minutes before the Board of Education offices closed and moments after Pirro entered.
His move fuels growing speculation that Amico will run for the Town Council instead. Although he would not say whether he would make a run for a council seat, his name has been rumored to be in contention.
“I have some other people who have encouraged me to participate in other fields of community service,” he said in a cryptic statement during an interview on Feb. 26. “I will make my decision by late spring.”
On Sunday, Feb. 24, the day before Amico’s withdrawal, he had not indicated whether or not he would make a council bid or if he would seek to unseat 1st Ward Democratic incumbent Michael Grecco in a primary or general election.
Grecco, who won re-election two years ago against newcomer Dawn McAdam by slightly over 300 votes, was hurt by the recent districting of the 1st Ward. Areas north of the Maple Street ramp near Valley Court – which gave him about 200 votes in 2000 – are now part of the 2nd Ward. Amico, thanks to his activities in the schools while on the school board, has won much more significant name recognition in the ward.
Equally important is the fact that his uncle, former Mayor Paul Amico, would likely weigh in on his side, giving his bid an even more significant boost. His brother, Daniel Amico – a former town administrator in Secaucus – is considered politically savvy, and is credited with orchestrating the last minute withdrawal.
Numerous political pundits claim the move was part of a larger, orchestrated assault on the current town administration, and may signal a divorce between Mayor Dennis Elwell and the Democratic municipal leader, Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto.
Impreveduto and Elwell – one-time political opponents – joined forces in 1999 to unseat Mayor Anthony Just in a primary election.
Was a deal struck?
Tom Troyer, Frank MacCormack and other critics of Mayor Elwell say they believe Amico struck a deal with Impreveduto that would trade Amico’s seat on the board for support against Grecco in the council election. Impreveduto, as well as his brother, High School Principal Pat Impreveduto, are strongly rumored as possible replacements to replace the current Schools Superintendent Constantino Scerbo, slated to retire shortly.
Pirro, who is very active in student events at the high school, is reportedly a strong supporter of the Imprevedutos, and an almost certain positive vote for either brother. Amico would have been less certain to vote for either man. “I think that’s what this is all about,” Troyer said. “Amico gives up his seat and Impreveduto supports Amico in the election against Grecco.”
Grecco and Anthony Impreveduto have been at odds for several years after Grecco voted against appointing Impreveduto’s sister, Roxanne Paciga, to the Secaucus Housing Authority.
Grecco refused to speculate on Amico’s intentions, but said he had already started campaigning for the primary.
“Chris Marra [the other 1st Ward councilman] and I are doing a voter registration drive,” Grecco said.
Amico denied any deal with the Imprevedutos, despite a private meeting with Pat Impreveduto a week before the filing deadline.
“We met to discuss students’ use of chewing tobacco, the high school’s suspension policy and other things,” Amico said. “I did not make a deal with anybody. When it comes to the education of children, I don’t make deals.”
Amico said he was disappointed that more candidates had not filed for the school board election, although his last minute withdrawal has others shaking their heads.
“It was the way it was done,” said board member Tom Troyer.
“If he had withdrawn earlier in the day. But I was there. I saw him waiting around. He didn’t take back his petition until Pirro submitted hers. That smells of a deal to me.”
A political blunder?
Other political observers say it was a major blunder by Mayor Elwell. In the past, political parties have arranged to have dummy candidates waiting in the wings in case an unpopular opposition candidate files. In several elections, Democrats have flooded the field with such candidates to lower reduce the unacceptable challenger’s vote count. In some cases – since candidates have a week to withdraw their petitions – parties wheel and deal, agreeing to drop out if they get some other political favor or appointment.
“Dennis should have had someone there at the board office in case something like this happened,” one source said. “Then he could have negotiated something.”
Elwell said he did not know whether or not Amico was running for office, and certain didn’t know if Amico would run against Grecco in the primary, slated for June 4, or wait until the general election.
Feeding the political conspiracy theories that Impreveduto may be creating a new splinter party of disenfranchised Democrats is the fact that Madeline Bueckner, the wife of opposition 2nd Ward Councilman John Bueckner, signed Pirro’s nominating petition.
“It was purely my wife’s choice,” Bueckner said when interviewed. “Susan came into the office at the high school asked if anyone wanted to sign the petition and my wife did. She has a right as a citizen to sign any petition she wishes. It is not part of a political deal.”
Amico’s refusal to say whether he will run or not run is the single most powerful source of political fuel, but he reiterated in a second interview that he made no deals.
“Amicos are not for sale,” he said. “Our name has always meant trust in this community. Devious people have devious thoughts; I’m not a devious person. I never discussed running for council with Impreveduto. I don’t know if he would support me if I did.”
Amico, however, did note that all but two signatures on the school board petition he tore up were from voters in the 1st Ward, hinting that these people could also sign a similar petition if he ran for Town Council.
“But I can assure you that whatever I do, my brother and uncle will be behind me,” Amico said.