Nick Girone

Challenger Robert Romano 

VINELAND - At their debate in the Ramada Inn here today, Mayor Perry Barse defended his administration’s master plan process in the face of an attack by opponent Robert Romano, who cited a judge’s ruling that the process was not transparent.

"The planning board had 16 open public meetings, held in Vineland City Council meetings, with opportunities for emails and phone-ins," said Barse. "We started the process a year ahead of time. The Vineland City Council chambers were full of residents, and many more watching at home. That’s my opinion."

Vineland Mayor Perry Barse 

VINELAND - The only debate in the mayor’s contest is underway in this south Jersey city of 58,000, which pits Mayor Perry Barse against police lieutenant Robert Romano and former school board president Nick Girone.

Two-term incumbent Barse just finished his opening statement in an event sponsored by the Greater Vineland Area Chamber of Commerce at the local Ramada.

VINELAND - Fighting in the Republican mayoral primary, RobertVineland mayoral candidate Robert Romano Romano today rolled out the endorsement of the Vineland Superior Officers Association, which lauded the police lieutenant as an "experienced and natural leader."

"Bob Romano has always been a man of integrity," said association president Sgt. Lenny Wolf. "He is called upon every day to make tough decisions... We are proud to support him for our next mayor."

In accepting the support of an organization that represents 30 current Vineland police lieutenants and sergeants, Romano said, "This endorsement is a huge honor for me. The Superior Officers Association represents some of the best leaders in law enforcement, and I am pleased to have their backing as I work to restore honesty and integrity in City Hall."

Vineland mayoral candidate Robert RomanoVINELAND - A Superior Court judge’s decision today to invalidate Vineland’s master plan because the city violated the open public meetings law propelled mayoral challenger Robert Romano into attack mode against Mayor Perry Barse.

"The ruling today is evidence that Mayor Barse and his administration violated the public trust by cutting the community out of important discussions about the future of their city," Romano said in a statement. "The decision by Mayor Barse to leave the public in the dark about such significant decisions is disgraceful. Mayor Barse spent thousands and thousands of taxpayer dollars on a plan that now has to be redone because of the administration’s blatant disregard for the law."

Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 266's endorsemeVineland Mayor Perry Barsent today of Vineland Police Lieutenant Robert Romano for the office of Vineland mayor left Romano’s opponents shrugging their shoulders.

"Big surprise," said Nick Girone, a former school board president and retired business administrator who earlier this week talked to PBA reps in advance of their announcement, knowing he had no shot against Romano, a police veteran.

Mayor Perry Barse, meanwhile, says endorsements are fine but Romano still has not agreed to debate him at an April 21 event at the high school, sponsored by the Daily Journal and hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Vineland mayoral candidate Robert Romano"We have plenty of things we’re going to be discussing in this campaign, but so far the main issue is his reluctance, no - his refusal - to debate," said the incumbent Republican. "So we’ll let that take its course."

Romano, son of a former mayor, dug in on his decision not to face Barse, whom he believes is manipulative and would conspire to create an unfair advantage.

"I took the stance, I’m not debating him," said the Republican challenger. "What you should have asked him is why he didn’t come to see U.S. Attorney Chris Christie when he was here in town two weeks ago."