Supports Pinchak in Carteret

Beginning more than 26 years ago, I became the co-worker and friend of Steve Pinchak, when we all worked together as employees of the N.J. Department of Corrections at East Jersey State Prison. During our service at East Jersey, Steve rose through the ranks from a custody officer to the top job as prison administrator and became my boss. It was my experience as the prison’s business manager (a position I held for 20 years) that Steve ran the prison with competence, intelligence, honesty and fairness. These leadership characteristics were experienced daily by the 2,400 high-security male inmates jailed at the various components of East Jersey and by the 700-plus prisons staff he supervised. Because of Steve’s management abilities and common sense he was able to maintain a safe and secure prison environment in a very tough jail.

Steve always maintained and demanded the highest standard of fiscal integrity in ensuring that the prison annual budget of more than $56 million was only spent as absolutely needed. Throughout Steve’s tenure as prison administrator, all stringent Treasury fiscal rules were met when it came to buying the endless necessities that allowed the prison to operate.

I recently became aware that Steve was seeking the office of councilman in Carteret, a town that he and his wife have lived in for many years as they raised their family. I cannot think of a better candidate for this office than Steve. Knowing that Steve has always sought the best people to work with, I am also certain that Kevin Urban, Steve’s running mate in the upcoming election, also deserves to be elected to the Carteret council.

In the years since Steve retired from the Department of Corrections it has been an honor for me to continue to call him a friend. Carteret would be equally honored in having both Steve and Kevin as new councilmen.

Edward Guz

HOWELL

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20111022/NJOPINION0201/310220007/Supports-Pinchak-Carteret