Our Policies
Good government is better government. It ensures money is spent wisely, and elected officials are more accountable, prioritizing their constituents over their own interests.
This results in improvements in the well-being of constituents. Better services are delivered, which result in improvements in transportation, the environment, the economy, housing, education, and healthcare.
There is a significant and widening gap between the potential of good government and the reality of how it is actually serving people today. The political system has eroded trust in our institutions.
We wish that instituting term limits is enough, but there’s much more to do to reform the government. We will work, and be outspoken advocates in bringing about campaign finance reform and public disclosure laws that have recently been rolled back. And we’ll work to enact conflict of interest legislation, specifically restricting how party Chairs can monetize their positions.
Meaningful Government Reform
Bergen County’s median property tax bill is more than three times the national average. Besides doing things Better, Faster or Cheaper, we can lower taxes through smart growth, and to do so we will focus on Entrepreneurship and Innovation. To us, entrepreneurship means support for small businesses and bringing technology start-ups to Bergen County.
Today, an estimated 97% of small businesses in the County have less than twenty employees. We will work with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the venture community, to establish three technology accelerators in Bergen County to increase the number of young and growing, innovative companies in Bergen County. We will establish a Small Business Resource Agency to help businesses start, grow, and recover. Finally, we will expand the pool of employees by expanding the Bergen County Career and Technical Education and work with the State to create a “NJ Workforce Pell” to get tech and trade opportunities for highschool students.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Better, Faster, Cheaper
The current system, with its protected incumbents, creates complacency, so tax dollars are spent ineffectively. As a result, services are delivered with lower quality, take too long to be implemented, or cost more than they should. This is why there are problems in Bergen County like congestion, flooding, poor transportation, and long commutes that never get solved. This inefficiency is a tax on you. Some have called it a corruption tax. And it's significant as the Bergen County budget is almost three-quarters of a billion dollars.
We are committed to bringing more rigor and transparency to how the money is spent, ensuring that Bergen County government provides better services, delivered faster, or less expensive. We will do this by undoing the broken system of prioritizing the interests of elected officials over those of their constituents. We will establish a public dashboard with key metrics for each area (e.g. health & human services, transportation, parks, public safety, and public works.) Under our leadership, the public will be able to see in real-time how their tax money is being spent.
When our elections and governing institutions do not perform well, the popularity of term limits goes up. Today, 82% of Americans support term limits. This is opposed primarily by the protected incumbent politicians and special interest groups. Research has shown that where term limits have been adopted, high fiscal health scores result. In addition, term limits make elections more competitive by tackling the advantage of incumbents.
We believe that open-seat races empower voters by presenting a broader array of choices. When individuals like physicians, nurses, and teachers step up to run, they bring invaluable real-world experience to critical issues like healthcare and education policy. Our mission is to support term limits that allow diverse voices to participate in governance, ensuring that our community is shaped by those who truly understand the challenges we face. Join us in making a difference today.
We feel so strongly about the need to constantly bring new ideas and fresh energy into our government that we will commit to serving only three terms as County Commissioners.
Term Limits
At the heart of the County Commissioner's role lies a simple but powerful purpose: improving the lives of our constituents. The current system of incumbents protected by the Party establishment has created complacency and mediocrity. As a result, tax dollars are spent ineffectively, there’s no accountability tied to results, and representatives lack the ambition to be bold.
Bergen County’s budget is almost three-quarters of a billion dollars. We will focus on ensuring that this money is spent effectively while aspiring to do big things on your behalf - our constituents. To make this happen, we have to reform our local government.
Chung, Witko, and Vitale proudly display the signatures they secured to become candidates as Commissioners for the 2025 Bergen County primary.
The difference we'll make
Policies
Meaningful Government Reform
Good government is better government. It ensures money is spent wisely, and elected officials are more accountable, prioritizing their constituents over their own interests.
This results in improvements in the well-being of constituents. Better services are delivered, which result in improvements in transportation, the environment, the economy, housing, education, and healthcare.
There is a significant and widening gap between the potential of good government and the reality of how it is actually serving people today. The political system has eroded trust in our institutions.
We wish that instituting term limits is enough, but there’s much more to do to reform the government. We will work, and be outspoken advocates in bringing about campaign finance reform and public disclosure laws that have recently been rolled back. And we’ll work to enact conflict of interest legislation, specifically restricting how party Chairs can monetize their positions.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Bergen County’s median property tax bill is more than three times the national average. Besides doing things Better, Faster or Cheaper, we can lower taxes through smart growth, and to do so we will focus on Entrepreneurship and Innovation. To us, entrepreneurship means support for small businesses and bringing technology start-ups to Bergen County.
Today, an estimated 97% of small businesses in the County have less than twenty employees. We will work with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the venture community, to establish three technology accelerators in Bergen County to increase the number of young and growing, innovative companies in Bergen County. We will establish a Small Business Resource Agency to help businesses start, grow, and recover. Finally, we will expand the pool of employees by expanding the Bergen County Career and Technical Education and work with the State to create a “NJ Workforce Pell” to get tech and trade opportunities for highschool students.
Term Limits
When our elections and governing institutions do not perform well, the popularity of term limits goes up. Today, 82% of Americans support term limits. This is opposed primarily by the protected incumbent politicians and special interest groups. Research has shown that where term limits have been adopted, high fiscal health scores result. In addition, term limits make elections more competitive by tackling the advantage of incumbents.
We believe that open-seat races empower voters by presenting a broader array of choices. When individuals like physicians, nurses, and teachers step up to run, they bring invaluable real-world experience to critical issues like healthcare and education policy. Our mission is to support term limits that allow diverse voices to participate in governance, ensuring that our community is shaped by those who truly understand the challenges we face. Join us in making a difference today.
We feel so strongly about the need to constantly bring new ideas and fresh energy into our government that we will commit to serving only three terms as County Commissioners.
Better, Faster, Cheaper
The current system, with its protected incumbents, creates complacency, so tax dollars are spent ineffectively. As a result, services are delivered with lower quality, take too long to be implemented, or cost more than they should. This is why there are problems in Bergen County like congestion, flooding, poor transportation, and long commutes that never get solved. This inefficiency is a tax on you. Some have called it a corruption tax. And it's significant as the Bergen County budget is almost three-quarters of a billion dollars.
We are committed to bringing more rigor and transparency to how the money is spent, ensuring that Bergen County government provides better services, delivered faster, or less expensive. We will do this by undoing the broken system of prioritizing the interests of elected officials over those of their constituents. We will establish a public dashboard with key metrics for each area (e.g. health & human services, transportation, parks, public safety, and public works.) Under our leadership, the public will be able to see in real-time how their tax money is being spent.
Gives advice and consent to the actions of the county executive. The board provides a check on the executive's powers and acts as a formulator of policy. Its powers include the ability to:
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Adopt the county's administrative code
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Pass ordinances and resolutions
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Review, modify, and adopt operating and capital budgets
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Contract with municipalities
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Study and evaluate the county's annual budget before approving it
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Oversee the provision of funds for the nine-county departments including Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
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Supervise the funds for:
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Bergen Community College
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Bergen County Special Services School District
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Bergen County Technical Schools
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Bergen County Jail and Police Department
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County parks, roads, and bridges
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Duties of Bergen County Commissioners
What's a Commissioner
Commissioners act as legislators in New Jersey, on the county level. Along with the other 20 counties in New Jersey, Bergen County commissioners serve a critical function in our county's governance and legislative process.
They work collaboratively with fellow board members to review policies, advocate for constituents, and provide stability and direction to the county's executive actions.
One of the most important functions of Commissioners is to provide checks and balance on executive powers and help to create policy for the good of the people residing in the county.