State President Pat Colligan (left) and Executive Vice President Marc Kovar
explain to Lake Como Mayor Brian Wilton why the PBA is protesting out-
side his fundraiser event.
ting in his campaign literature that he was fiscally responsible
because he disbanded the police department.
“That opened up old wounds and we have to let him know that
he’s not going to win an election with that.”
When Wilton arrived for his fundraiser, he seemed to portray
a he-did-nothing-wrong perspective, perhaps because the issue
went to a referendum that Lake Como residents voted down. But
Tardio reminded that there was never a deal in place even with
the referendum. So when Wilton stopped to shake hands with Lo-
cal 50 members, “there was some tension, especially toward me,”
Tardio observed.
Local 50 members wielded the signs displaying Wilton’s name,
an equal sign and a union-busting sign. Local President Tony Pi-
celli worked quickly to make the signs in his basement, and don’t
be surprised to see them on front lawns of members throughout
the seven towns.
Disrupting Wilton’s campaign and ultimately preventing his
election to the Monmouth County freeholder board is now the
mission for Local 50. PBA executive Vice-President Marc Kovar
joined the protest and advised members to, “follow Wilton every
time there is an event and let voters know what he did.” Tardio
added that Local 50 has already expressed support for Republican
candidates running against Wilton.
But there’s no doubt that the protest jump-started the cam-
paign against Wilton. Members of several other Locals, including
Passaic Local 14 State Delegate Mo Farallo, Asbury Park Local 6
State Delegate Gene Dello, Ocean Township Local 57 State Del-
egate Luke Sciallo and Howell Township Local 22 State Delegate
Ryan Hurley, attended the protest to show support.
“No matter what, we have to speak up for our members,” Hur-
ley reinforced. “We’ve got to send a message to all politicians that
behavior against us or inaction won’t be tolerated. We can only
a ssume if he wins the election that it will be a broad brush for the
entire county to take the same action.”
Local 50 waited for Wilton to come back out. There was talk
that he might have snuck out the back door, even though a couple
of members were stationed there. So after about two hours, Col-
ligan walked the protest line, shaking each member’s hand and
personally thanking all for attending. Tardio dismissed members,
yelling, “50, great job.”
They plan to finish the job by the November election. d
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