Independent Senate Challenger Has a Plan

VILLAS – Thomas W. “Tom” Greto is running uphill as an independent candidate to represent the First Legislative District in the state Senate.
The 67-year-old Army veteran, husband and father of two children, 10 and 12, has been a Lower Township resident for 13 years.
Running without support of a party does not alter Greto’s focus to be one of 40 members of the Garden State Senate. Armed with his
Five Point Plan, Greto hopes voters will realize, as he does, change must come, and past representatives have not made that happen.
Greto hand-carried his petition to Trenton on April 15,
“I drove to Trenton, 186 miles round trip. The reason I went was to say something about taxes,” said Greto in an interview. His slogan on the ballot “Independence for All.”
He quickly cited his plan to ax taxes.
Make the state income tax 1 percent flat fee for all.
Trim the sales tax to 3 percent from 7 percent.
Reduce the corporate tax to 15 percent from 25 percent “to create jobs and create revenue.”
Consolidate every possible governmental office to cut redundancy and waste.
Cut every state senator’s and assembly members’ pay by 20 percent and eliminate all car leasing by legislators done on the taxpayers’ back.
“Let them all take a haircut,” said Greto, who freely would include himself with a slimmer paycheck for the good of the state’s taxpayers.
Greto is certain of victory, anxious to begin working on that Five Point Plan the day after inauguration.
In the event of a win, would Greto be prepared for the frustration that might face a freshman independent from the First District?
Yes, he said, but he would not be dissuaded from seeing the plan enacted.
An independent since Aug. 23, 2012, Greto watched and supported Lower Township Mayor Michael Beck and his teammates Norris Clark and James Neville as they faced well-organized and funded Republican candidates.
“If elected, I will help Lower Township any way I can,” Greto vowed. “I will meet with the mayor, Clark and Neville any time to help Lower Township. It’s the third most impoverished community in the county.”
“I think it is time for a state senator from Lower Township,” he said.
While it might not be in his domain, Greto observed that Lower Township has no representation on the freeholder board.
“If elected, I will try very hard to get a deserving candidate elected as freeholder,” Greto added.
He cited the June 5 Herald story, written by Fred Coldren, of the late Charles W. Sandman’s primary victory over the incumbent governor for the GOP nomination, but his loss to Brenan Byrne for the seat.
Greto noted Sandman’s opposition to the income tax, and noted his own plan to trim that tax to 1 percent.
Greto believes if the sales tax is trimmed, all business would benefit, since merchants have told him they watch sales shrink as buyers look in their showrooms, then head for an Urban Enterprise Zone, where sales tax is half (3.5 percent) instead of the 7 percent the must charge.
“If we reduce the corporate tax for business people that will be a big jump for employment,” he said. “They will know they are saving money on taxes and can starting hiring again. They can go to the bank and get loans,” he continued.
“We are on the precipice of a depression,” said Greto. He blames lack of leadership “From the head down, we don’t have that leadership needed. We have no leadership,” Greto said.
He cited unemployment rates between 7.5 and 8 percent, but added, “It’s really around 13 percent unemployed. We are in trouble. I think it starts from the president on down. AS we know, we are a blue state. I don’t remember when they (Assembly) implemented anything to reduce taxes. If anyone can tell me, but I never heard Sen. Jeff VanDrew (D-1st who is seeking reelection) or anyone talking about reducing taxes.”
“We can’t keep it up. If my plans re implemented, especially the Five Point Plan, it will give impetus. I believe with the plan I have it will definitely spur employment. We will create revenue by implementing my plan. To me, this makes sense.
Greto eats, sleeps and is focused on getting to Trenton. He envisions the election as a voter referendum.
“Nothing has been done in 13 years since I have been here,” said Greto.
He sees no problem with the workload expected of a state senator. While he said he might not be able to get to every event in the district, which spans Cape May, Cumberland and part of Atlantic counties, he vowed to keep working foe ever citizen.
Greto knows he will be targeted, talked about, he knows he will have a target on his back, but he said he can take it. “I am thick skinned as a tortoise’s shell,” he said.
That toughness will be used, in part, to overcome the political arrows that are sure to fly his way over a failed real estate venture in Pennsylvania for which Greto served two years in jail.
“It was a misdemeanor 2, which anyone who knows in law should be probation at worst,” he said. That was what his attorney; Charles A. Perudo Jr. told Judge Eden Harter, an “out of town judge” since “all 17 judges in Delaware County recused themselves from the case because they all knew me,” said Greto.
A month before the election in the Keystone State, “They tried to knock me off the ballot. I needed 1,000 signatures, I took in 1,300-1,400 to court in Harrisburg, and Judge McGinley through it all out of court,” said Greto. “He said all the signatures were good. One month before the election the D.A. (District Attorney) charged me with 76 felony counts of theft by deception and 13 misdemeanors. The trial was May 20, 1996. After the first day was over, he knocked out all 76 felony counts. The next day, he gave me the misdemeanor 2 for deceptive business practices, which should have been probation.” He said.
“On Oct. 22, 1996, he gave me one to two years on a misdemeanor 2. He stepped out of the guidelines for a first offense. It should never be a jail sentence, it was always probation,” said Greto.
“This is important,” said Greto, “I did it out of greed. My best friend for 35 years, he was their main witness. Everything he said was thrown out of court, I have the court document here, it states not guilty on all counts. All I want is justice,” said Greto.
That past is not standing in Greto’s path. Greto has “turned a new leaf.”
“I thank Jesus Christ as my savior. For the last 13 years, I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and two children at home. I am active in St. John Neumann Parish, Villas and I have taught CCD classes for two years, and I have been ushering for four years,” Greto said.
He attends daily Mass, places his faith and fate in the Lord’s hands, victory or not.
His hobbies, in order, include reading, politics, sports and cooking.
“Every chance I get, I talk to veterans,” said Greto. That’s because of his Army service from Dec. 27, 1965 to Dec. 13, 1967 when he attained the rank of specialist fourth class as a military police detective.
He then worked for an airline as a gate and ticket agent. From there, he went into real estate at age 26. He was also an independent contractor and in real estate.
“The average person is losing hope. We need a trigger to show the people that somebody really cares,” said Greto.