In Nutley, Scarpelli hopes to execute hand-off to Scarpelli

Nutley Commissioner Peter Scarpelli and his son, Joseph Scarpelli, a candidate for the Nutley Board of Commissioners. 

NUTLEY - At a party in his son’s campaign headquarters Thursday night, retiring Commissioner Peter Scarpelli sent the man he hopes will succeed him, Dr. Joseph Scarpelli, into the final five-day fray of the Nutley commissioners’ race.

"I can’t say more about this young guy," said the elder Scarpelli, 70, a former mayor, who serves as his son’s campaign manager. "I’ve known him all my life. He’s probably the best candidate we’ve put forward in the Scarpelli family."

The younger Scarpelli, 49, a former freeholder, hopes to secure one of five commissioners’ seats where incumbents Joanne Cocchiola, Mauro Tucci, Carmen Orechio and Tom Evans are vying along with Sal Olivo, Frank Turano, Al Petracco, and himself.

Nutley is about family, friends and service, said the son, when it was his turn to address the crowd feasting on barbecue in his red, white and blue festooned headquarters on Franklin Avenue.

"Service is what being a commissioner’s about," said the younger Scarpelli. "You want to talk about public service? How about the 24 years my dad gave?"

After their speeches, the men embraced as their crowd of supporters applauded.