Meet Wayne Council-At-Large Candidate Frank Pietropaolo

WAYNE, NJ — With Election Day approaching, Patch is putting together a series of candidate profiles so readers can learn more about who’s on their ballot.

Frank Pietropaolo is the Vice-Chair of Wayne’s Board of Adjustments and is seeking a seat on the township's council-at-large.

Wayne Patch asked candidates to share some information about themselves, and asked identical questions to all candidates.

See Pietropaolo's responses below:

• Full name: Frank Pietropaolo
• Age: 48
• Town of residence: Wayne
• Position sought: Council At Large
• Party affiliation: Republican
• Family: Married with two children
• Education: Associate’s degree in business
• Occupation: Director of Construction Services at J. Fletcher Creamer
• Previous or current elected/appointed office (if applicable): Current Vice-Chair of Wayne’s Board of Adjustments

Why are you running for this position?

I am running for Council at Large to bring forth my hands-on experience in infrastructure and the associated budgeting that goes along with it. With this background, I’m committed to working alongside the Mayor and Council to ensure Wayne remains one of the most sought-after towns to live and raise a family in: not just today, but for generations to come

What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in the community, and what do you intend to do about it if elected?

As I’ve been walking door to door and talking with families and neighbors across town, I keep hearing about the same thing; people are worried about speeding in their neighborhoods and kids on e-bikes riding without much regard for safety. Wayne’s a family town. Parents want to know their kids can walk or ride their bikes safely. Our police department has done a great job with this issue. They have issued over 14,000 tickets last year and have increased their presence in known problem areas. If I’m elected, I’ll work with our police department to continue to focus on problem areas and put forth solutions to lessen the problem. I also think we need to start talking to kids directly about safety. Partnering with our schools, The Boys & Girls club, The PAL, and scouting groups can go a long way toward helping them understand how to stay safe and respect the road.

What qualifications and qualities do you possess that make you best suited for the position?

With 26 years in the construction industry, I deeply understand the importance of strong infrastructure planning and development. Working on a wide variety of emergency and non-emergency projects has provided me with valuable techniques to deliver fast, effective solutions. As state-mandated housing developments are already underway, I want to use my expertise to help Wayne manage this growth responsibility and lessen the strain on existing systems. This includes taking a hard look at our drinking water and wastewater facilities to ensure they can handle the increased demand. We cannot afford to overlook these critical services and the conditions of our existing infrastructure. What happened in Paterson and surrounding towns just months ago, must not happen here! Proactive planning today will help protect our residents and preserve the quality of life that makes Wayne such a desirable place to live. Aside from my professional experience, I have also been involved with coaching youth sports (Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, and Softball) for many years. This has shown me how important it is for children to have resources and spaces to enjoy outside of a classroom. Sports teach our children many valuable lessons.

Overdevelopment has been a growing concern throughout NJ. How do you intend to address it in your community?

When I talk to residents, overdevelopment always comes up. People are frustrated, and I get it. Much of what we’re seeing comes from the state-mandated affordable housing rules in the third and fourth rounds. Those mandates gave too much power to developers and took control away from towns like ours. Wayne has done a solid job standing up to unreasonable demands. We’ve followed the law but also fought to protect our neighborhoods. That’s the approach I believe in. Smart development that fits our town, protects open space, and doesn’t overload our roads, schools or our infrastructure systems. We need Trenton to fix the system, but here at home, I’ll keep backing a plan that keeps Wayne the kind of community people want to raise their families in.

If you are running against an incumbent, where do you believe they’re lacking in serving the community? If you are an incumbent, what areas, if any, do you think you could improve upon in terms of public service?

I do not want to speak about others; however, I feel that I can aid in projects that no other members of the council have experience with. Paving roads, assisting the DPW in buying proper equipment, reviewing current contracts, and making recommendations so that they are better negotiated when the time comes. These modifications will help save Wayne Township’s taxpayer dollars and improve services which will allow the town to allocate these savings to other areas in greater need. I would also like to pursue acquiring more money from the Passaic County Open Space Fund. This funding would allow Wayne to construct more parks, playing fields and walking paths for our community to enjoy.

In a few words, what is your favorite thing about your community?

I love Wayne because everything you need is right at your fingertips. We have outstanding emergency services, excellent schools, and top-notch facilities where our children can learn and play sports, including but not limited to the Pal and Boys and Girls club. The newly acquired community center, with activities and programs for all ages, has been a fantastic addition. Last but certainly not least, it’s the amazing residents who form the heart of our community. Living in Wayne is truly a pleasure and has been for the past 23 years. I’m proud to have raised a family in such a fine community and I want to ensure that every resident, current and future, can feel the same sense of security and enjoyment that my family and I have experienced.

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Election Day is Nov. 4

If you are running in Wayne’s council-at-large race and did not receive a candidate profile request email, please reach out to jack.slocum@patch.com.