The Phillipsburg Republican Committee proudly announces Matthew Scerbo, Sr. as part of Team Piazza. Mr. Scerbo, a lifelong resident of Phillipsburg, former Phillipsburg School Board Member, former President of the Firthtown Falcons Youth Organization, and current Commissioner of the Phillipsburg Housing Authority will be running for the Office of Councilman.

He has vowed to join Randy Piazza, Jr. in ending the “Good ole Boys” network and political patronage that has plagued Phillipsburg for far too long. In addition to restoring small businesses downtown, eliminating the wasteful spending and poor planning which lead to unnecessary tax increases on the residents, Mr. Scerbo also endeavors to work with his colleagues to bring back redevelopment to our Union Square area.

Matthew Scerbo Sr. is an IBEW Union Electrician and Employee of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and has been together with his wife, Bianca, for 18 years and together they share two boys, Matthew Scerbo, Jr. and Thomas Scerbo.

Please see the announcement made by Mr. Scerbo this morning:

Friends and Community Members,

I would like to take this moment to announce my 2023 candidacy for the position of Councilman on the Phillipsburg Town Council and as an excited member of Team Piazza.

After being away from public service for the last year, I had time to reflect on what is most important to me in life and what my true purpose is.

Spending time with my family and building a stronger faith in God have been the highlights in my life from 2022 and it allowed me the opportunity to take the time necessary to speak with many of our neighbors and community members regarding their concerns for our town.

I’ve watched Randy Piazza, Jr. fight for our residents constantly while facing the resistance of those who promised progress and when he announced his intent to seek the position of Mayor in the Town of Phillipsburg, I knew, for the sake of Phillipsburg’s survival, I had to join him.

It has been tough to sit back and watch such self-gratifying and self-serving behaviors being carried out from our town’s government leadership during the past year.

This “Good Ole Boys Mentality” does nothing but slow the progress of our town. It puts the burden on the taxpayer’s shoulders. It has produced unfair practices through town ordinances. More importantly, it has caused division in our community, and has made many small businesses pack up and go elsewhere.

This was not the “Better Phillipsburg” that was promised a year ago.

In the last year progress has become non-existent while fees and taxes are on the rise. The promised Union Square re-development was purposefully stalled and discarded in exchange for a deeply flawed and negatively impactful paid parking ordinance. And the only people who prospered were those who continuously participated in the “Good Ole Boys” network.

As a Phillipsburg Stateliner Athlete and youth sports coach, I’ve spent most of my life competing and working hard every day to achieve victory and that hasn’t stopped.

It can’t stop.

So I must take action. I can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch as common Phillipsburg residents lose the game.

It’s time to level the playing field and achieve victory together.

I was born and raised in this town by my father who was a Union Electrician and my mother who was a LPN Nurse. Together, they instilled Blue Collar values in me from a young age and the importance of hard work , dedication, and giving back to others.

This Blue Collar mentality has always been a trademark of our beloved Town of Phillipsburg and that, thankfully, has not changed.

The passion I have for this town I wear on my sleeve. I’m criticized for it daily, but I will never allow my critics to silence what is good and right for the people of this town.

I have proven, time and time again, when called upon, I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves and go in the trenches to assist, with a hands-on approach, and effectively solve problems for our youth and residents.
My political record speaks for itself.

As a School Board Member we reduced the tax levy from 7.6% to 0. As a former member of the Phillipsburg Recreation Advisory Committee we worked diligently with former Phillipsburg Recreation Director, DJ Kophazy, to enhance and repair our playing fields, bring in new community events, and created the Town’s very first “cost-free” youth athletic organization.

And as a current Commissioner of the Phillipsburg Housing Authority, I have continuously fought alongside the voting minority to right the wrongs of the past and create a better environment for our residents.

I will never waiver on speaking out against small town corruption, conflicts of interest, nepotism, unfair practices , and the “Good Ole Boys Mentality “ that has plagued our community for far too long.

So I ask all of you, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. All of you Stateliners, to join me on Team Piazza in our endeavor and embrace our Blue Collar Mentality coupled with our instilled Stateliner toughness to level the playing field here in our community so everyone, not just a select few, can enjoy a better quality of life here in Phillipsburg.

Phillipsburg needs a fighting chance for our residents. They deserve it. And we promise to deliver it.

We promise to promote transparency and better accessibility to information and services while prioritizing a holistic approach to community development, affordable housing, new job creation, and strategies that support small business success.

We are hopeful to have your support and look forward to speaking with each and every one of you regarding your concerns.

We got this. TOGETHER. We got this.

Signed,
Matthew Scerbo, Sr.