PBA backs Pennacchio, Webber, Bergen

The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association typically doesn’t take sides in primary elections but is making an exception in the 26th district, where they are backing State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) and  Assemblymen Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) and Brian Bergen (R-Denville) for re-election.

in a district that was redrawn in the last round of redistricting, Pennacchio is locked into a potentially close primary fight with Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo (R-Montville), and Bergen faces a tough race against former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany.

New Jersey PBA President Patrick Colligan said the state’s largest law enforcement union “felt compelled” to endorse the three incumbents for assembling a “pro-police” record in the legislature.

According to Colligan, “Pennacchio never misses a chance to fight back against the ‘defund the police’ legislators.”  He called Webber “one of Trenton’s most focused policymakers in defense of law enforcement in debate after debate.” Bergen, Colligan says, “has been so out in front fighting for the men and women of law enforcement” that he was named PBA Legislator of the Year in 2022.

“I am ready and willing to answer their call for backup,” Bergen said.  “We can do better to help our men and women in blue as they selflessly safeguard our communities.”