Pennacchio: 'Serving the People Is My Avocation'

Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville) is finishing the fourth year of his first term in the New Jersey Senate in the 26th District. Before that, he spent six years as an assemblyman and served on the Morris County Board of Freeholders. And by profession, he is a dentist.

"Serving the people is my avocation. It's something I really enjoy," Pennacchio said. "I love being a dentist, but serving in elected office gives me the opportunity to help people en masse."

Serving in the state senate has had its frustrations for Pennacchio. 

"It's tough to accomplish things when the entire process is controlled by the other side of the aisle," he said. "That's been the most frustrating thing. As a Republican, I found myself in the minority. It's a little better, now that we have a Republican governor. Now, we are able to be more of a part of the process."

The senator says New Jersey suffered under what he sees as one-party rule in Trenton.

"They [Democrats] were a detriment to the people. But things are changing," he said. "Eventually you wind up over-reaching."

And overreach the Democrats did, according to Pennacchio. He blames his opposing party for imposing 115 new tax hikes and for driving businesses and residents from the state.

"They've made New Jersey an unfriendly place for business and an unfriendly place to live," he said. "We have to turn it around. There is plenty of unfinished work to do, and working in concert with the governor, I know we'll get it done."

One of the issues nearest to the senator's heart right now is cutting the state budget.

"New Jersey spent $10 billion less in the last two budgets. We haven't spent that money and the sky hasn't fallen. We're spending less, but there is more we can do," he said. 

Pennacchio believes an important target for budget-slashing legislators must be   the health care and pension payouts going to state workers. He also points to the recent state Supreme Court decision that forced Gov. Christie to give $500 million in state funding to Abbott schools.

"That was an overreach of the court, Abbott districts don't need money. Why is Hoboken an Abbott district? There are millionaires living in Hoboken, so why do they need more money? This is basically a [money] grab being propped up by the Supreme Court," Pennacchio said. 

Pointing to the situation in Newark public schools, the senator's voice rises. 

"These kids aren't graduating. The Democrats' solution was to throw more money at the problem with no accountability. Four hundred teachers and administrators are earning more than $100,000 a year," he said. "It's shameful. The system is failing the kids, failing the taxpayer. In Newark, they get $200 million for a new facility—it looks like the United Nations. And yet those kids are failing."

He said his prize project is his proposed Transparency in Government Act, which he believes will be the highlight of his career.

"This will bring all levels of state into the 21st century. We'll put every expenditure on a website. If a check is cut, citizens will see it and know exactly how their money is being spent," he said. "It's fairly simple to do, but we're still getting resistance."

Asked about what he has accomplished in his first senate term that gives him the most pride, Pennacchio pointed to his successful efforts to stop the sale of protected lands at the old Greystone Hospital and to his work to save 400 acres of open space throughout Morris County.

"I envision a Central Park in the middle of Morris County. Perhaps they'll name a zoo after me," he laughed. "I guess I'll know in about 120 years."