Democratic Freeholder challengers Amy Mallet and Glenn Mason must have stolen Murray Sabrin's playbook. Note to Amy and Glenn: being ridiculous might get you attention, but it won't win you any votes.
Mallet and Mason issued a press release this week taking credit for the fact that Freeholder Director Lillian Burry fired assistant county counsel James Cleary over his ill gotten pension and health benefits from the Western Monmouth Utility Authority. Next they will probably try to take credit for county's flat budget.
At yesterday's Freeholder meeting, the board unanimously extended the contract of County Administrator Robert Czech, over Mallet's objections from the audience. Mallet must know better than Democratic Freeholders Barbara McMorrow and John D'Amico.
Sorry Amy and Glenn. It is not going to work to take credit for the good job your opponents are doing. Tell us how you will do better. Point to a better place to live in New Jersey than Monmouth County. A place that is under Democratic control. Maybe then we will give you a shot. Good luck with that.
Monmouth Democrats have been making much of the fact that there are 40,000 new voters registered as Democrats in Monmouth County and that they now have a 10,000 voter edge in registrations. Those people registered to vote for Hillary, not Amy and Glenn. Many of those people moved here from New York or Hudson County, i.e., they moved away from Democratic rule. John Curley will be reminding them of that all summer.
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Let's not forget that the Republicans would be saying the same exact thing if the numbers tipped in their favor. The fact remains that N.J. - the entire state - is primarily (no pun intended) a Democratic state. Monmouth County has been somewhat of an exception, but even that has begun to change. John Curley would do well to also remind everyone that we live in a blue state, purple county.
On the contrary, if Monmouth County had been under Democratic control for the last twenty years, it would be like Hudson or Camden, and we wouldn't be living here.
You are correct, NJ has been primarily Democratic since 2001. Look at the mess we are in now.
Mallet ran a bad campaign for assembly last year, and will do the same for freeholder this year.
I did say purple. And I do think if the numbers went up even more, Republicans would absolutely point them out.
The N.J. mess? I'd say there are messes on all levels.
The N.J. mess? I'd say there are messes on all levels.
Thus my challenge to Amy and Glenn. Tell us how they will do better. Point to a better place to live in NJ than Monmouth County. One that is under Democratic control.
I say let's hit up the Pine Barrens, but that's the Piney in me ;-)
I say let's hit up the Pine Barrens, but that's the Piney in me ;-)
That would be Republican Ocean and Burlington Counties. :-)
Melissa L. Gaffney said...
The fact remains that N.J. - the entire state - is primarily (no pun intended) a Democratic state.
Not exactly. Still two Jerseys, Melissa. A rough rule of thumb is that if a county has beaches or mountains, it's red. If it has the New Jersey Turnpike or Route 1, it's blue.
At least since the 90's, Democratic capo's like George Norcross III have been attempting to take over the red counties, particularly from Monmouth on south.
"John Curley would do well to also remind everyone that we live in a blue state, purple county."
And that's his job because???
I think what I meant to say is that, on a state level, the Garden State traditionally votes D. Otherwise, point taken.
Republican Ocean County is fantastic, by the way. Imagine Monmouth County, just with more trees and less people.
Giving Czech a 2 year extension after only 6 months on the job smacks of cronyism. Whether McMorrow or D'Amico voted for him, or not, doesn't matter. It still smacks of rewarding a loyal republican with taxpayer funds. That type of extension rarely happens in the private sector.
I must admit though,that my skeptisism over Tobia in the beginning has begun to wane somewhat and I think he's doing a better job than I thought he would. And that was definitely a cronyism job. Sometimes, though, it works out.
I think what I meant to say is that, on a state level, the Garden State traditionally votes D. Otherwise, point taken.
Republican Ocean County is fantastic, by the way. Imagine Monmouth County, just with more trees and less people.
Welcome to the Republcian Party.
ambrosiajr said...
Giving Czech a 2 year extension after only 6 months on the job smacks of cronyism.
No Rick, cronyism would have been giving him a five year contract when they hired him.
ambrosiajr said...
"Sometimes, though, it works out."
See, Rick? The county's not that bad. We'll have you a Republican before you know it!
LOL...I guess I should take that as a compliment Abe...somewhat, maybe.
REPUBLICAN COUNTIES:
Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Sussex, Warren
DEMOCRATIC COUNTIES:
Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Salem, Union
You be the judge...
There is a strong possibility that come fall the demographics of Monmouth County will change a great deal. There is not one freeholder today that is guaranteed to serve beyond 2010 unless Lillian Burry wins re-election and John Curry wins election.Clifton and D' Amico serve until 2011 and Mc Morrow stands for re-election next year. The decision to extend contracts should have waited until the seating of the board in January of 2009 at least. All of these people are elected to represent the people of Monmouth Couny and they fail to take that into consideration in executing these decisions that reke of politics.The electorate in Monmouth County is not IGNORANT and these politicians may well pay a price for thinking we are.Can only fault the Republican majority and if the Democrats pull off a win in November.....remember... you reap what you sew...remember and weep!
Bob Czech was a lousy administrator in Middletown: He is the poster child for big government. Maybe he is on his 'best behavior' in Freehold right now. But it won't last.
He is all for non-transparent government. He is for Big Government without accountability and for all the personal luxuries he can worm out of the system (e.g. fully-loaded Tahoe SUV in Middletown that he brought home).
Middletown's financial planning is little more than smoke and mirrors, as it was under Mr. Czech. And, I see no reason why it will be different in Freehold.
one of the little people said...
The decision to extend contracts should have waited until the seating of the board in January of 2009 at least.
You make a good point OLP, but it was not the point Mallet was quoted as making on the APP.
JIM_PURCELL said...
Bob Czech was a lousy administrator in Middletown: He is the poster child for big government.
Is he a Democrat?! Lousey compared to who?
I've been doing business in Middletown for 10 years and I lived there for 4 years. For my money, Middletown is a very well run municipality. I've lived in 8 towns in 3 counties in NJ. Middletown is tops in my experience. Could there be improvement? Of course.
That's a cheap shot Art. Just look to the national stage if you want to see big government...brought about by your own party. Monmouth County is bloated with friends of friends of republicans. Just take a look at the county counsel's office. In Colts Neck, we haf FOL's who run the all committees...that's Friends of Lillian. Its a running joke that some of us don't find so funny.
ambrosiajr said...
That's a cheap shot Art.
In case you haven't noticed, I'm not shy about critizing big spending Republicans, just like "my friend" John McCain.
So what that Colts Neck is run by "Friends of Lillian?" Neighbors and volunteers can't be friends? What would you do better? Show me a Democratically run town that is better than Colts Neck.
Really? Maybe you can look into why our taxes went up this year...like every year, when we have no services. We pay for our won garbage pick up, we all have wells and septic systems. Why have they gone up? Want to try and find out for us since the the township committee seems very vague about it. "Increased Costs" is what we get. Yet, they can spend upwards of $20K on a holiday party for the FOL's, and think nothing of it.
Is it a nice place to live..you betcha...would I want to move, not on your life. Could it be better, I think anything could be better.
I'm glad to see that Amy Mallett decided to show up to a Freeholder Meeting.
When the Freeholders met in her hometown of Fair Haven in April she was no where to be found. John Curley, on the ohter hand, mad ethe journey from Red Bank and I have no doubt has been attending others.
ambrosiajr said...
Really? Maybe you can look into why our taxes went up this year...like every year, when we have no services. We pay for our won garbage pick up, we all have wells and septic systems. Why have they gone up? Want to try and find out for us since the the township committee seems very vague about it. "Increased Costs" is what we get. Yet, they can spend upwards of $20K on a holiday party for the FOL's, and think nothing of it.
Is it a nice place to live..you betcha...would I want to move, not on your life. Could it be better, I think anything could be better.
So what you would do better is create a water and sewer utility, create a garbage department and cancel the holiday party?
Was that the theme of your campaign last year? I guess your neighbors didn't agree.
How come no one answers the question, "Show me a place where Democrats are going it better?
I felt I did fairly well for a dem in a heavily republican town. There are app.2400 registered republicans and 574 registered democrats. Roughly a 4-1 advantage for the reps. I lost by less than 2-1. Maybe I was saying the right things, but the numbers just don't add up for a win. And hey, you know how closed minded those republicans can be.
Its nice to see how you can put words in my mouth. I never said create anything, I just pointed out that we don't have those utilities in our town and still, our taxes go up every year.
I guess your not for any type of oversight on a one party council, board, or committee? Even one dem on an all republican committee, or one republican on an all democratic committee can make a difference as to how things happen. Or at the very least, to get the word out there of what is happening on the committee.
And, at least I participated and didn't sit back and just bitch about things. I put my neck out there to try and change things...twice...so what if it got chopped off.
ambrosiajr said...
And, at least I participated and didn't sit back and just bitch about things. I put my neck out there to try and change things...twice...so what if it got chopped off.
I agree and applaud you for doing so.
Art....I was at the meeting in Freehold at 4 p.m. and Amy Mallet did not speak at that meeting....perhaps at the afternoon work shop meeting or she spoke with APP reporter,Bob Jordan. Point I take is there was no one I feel was authorized to make a decision that far into the future...that should have been left to whomever the people of Monmouth County elected to serve into the future. Not lame ducks like Barham and possibly Lillian Burry if not re-elected. It's politics at it's WORST !!!
A water and sewer utility for Colts Neck? What a novel idea!!!
Too bad Frank Abate is, uhh, busy right now.
Its nice to see how you can put words in my mouth. I never said create anything, I just pointed out that we don't have those utilities in our town and still, our taxes go up every year.
I didn't put words in your mouth. Notice my question mark. Thanks for the clarification.
I guess your not for any type of oversight on a one party council, board, or committee? Even one dem on an all republican committee, or one republican on an all democratic committee can make a difference as to how things happen. Or at the very least, to get the word out there of what is happening on the committee.
Actually, philosophically I favor divided government because of the checks and balances the divisions create. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts asbolutely,except sometimes.
one of the little people said...
Point I take is there was no one I feel was authorized to make a decision that far into the future...that should have been left to whomever the people of Monmouth County elected to serve into the future.
I agree with you OLP. However, state law allows for five year contracts and the county has to compete to keep good people in a flawed system.
This is one of the many issues that we could agree should be reformed in Trenton.
Art...those appointments,especially Czech were only made in December. What's the hurry with EXTENSIONS ?? He'll be here in Jan 2009 for sure and it would not reek so badly of political cronyism. Middletown could have been a fairer place in the recent past but for some of the now departed individuals in government there and a couple that may not survive the upcoming election.Czech was part of the departed I refer to and not always were the politics left out of decisions there. How can you expect this is not happening again at the county level unless you want us to believe you are naive.
Art:
Well run like...there still isn't a budget in place. Or perhaps well run like spending $1800 for TV sets that should cost less than $1000? Well run as in overpaying a town clerk to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars more (30 percent) because the clerk wanted to leave. There's always that $8.5 million cultural arts building -- that makes $1 per year and is fully operated by the township. There's a lot more but none of it falls into the 'fiscally prudent' category.
"Well run" -- no, I wouldn't characterize that as well run.
one of the little people said...
Art...those appointments,especially Czech were only made in December. What's the hurry with EXTENSIONS ?? He'll be here in Jan 2009 for sure and it would not reek so badly of political cronyism. Middletown could have been a fairer place in the recent past but for some of the now departed individuals in government there and a couple that may not survive the upcoming election.Czech was part of the departed I refer to and not always were the politics left out of decisions there. How can you expect this is not happening again at the county level unless you want us to believe you are naive.
OLP, I already agreed with you that extending Czech's contract in December 09 would have been a better move,given the limited information that we have. However, you can't say that his extention was political cronyism unless you say that D'Amico and McMorrow are in on it, since they voted for the extention.
Naive? I've been called worse.
JIM_PURCELL said...
Art:
Well run like...there still isn't a budget in place. Or perhaps well run like spending $1800 for TV sets that should cost less than $1000? Well run as in overpaying a town clerk to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars more (30 percent) because the clerk wanted to leave. There's always that $8.5 million cultural arts building -- that makes $1 per year and is fully operated by the township. There's a lot more but none of it falls into the 'fiscally prudent' category.
"Well run" -- no, I wouldn't characterize that as well run.
You're blaming that stuff on Czech? Come on Jim, you know better.
Why isn't there a budget? Because the Corzine's proposed budget gutted the state funding! It is responsible to wait to get the final state funding figures, which will likely be higher than what Corzine proposed, rather than pass a budget that would increase taxes more than necessary.
"Well run" is a relative term. I repeat myself: SHOW ME A DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED TOWN THAT IS DOING A BETTER JOB THAN MIDDLETOWN. SHOW ME A DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED COUNTY THAT IS DOING A BETTER JOB THAN MONMOUTH.
Still no takers?
Monmouth County is far from the Promised Land.
It isn't a matter of comparing Monmouth to urban areas. The fact is that it has been said Monmouth is Hudson with lawns when it comes to politics. It is no different today.
When this Board of Chosen Freeholders did not raise taxes that became a war cry for the GOP. I admit this is good. But it is THEIR JOBS and what they SHOULD have been doing for years.
Monmouth is corrupt to the bone. Any advances made are a consequence of voters being fed up. If blind Republicanism has been so great for Monmouth, then why have Monmouth voters rejected that idea during two consecutive elections?
Because the GOP was getting it done? Probably not.
Who's talking blind Republicanism?
Now that we've make great strides in reforming our party locally, we have to keep paying for sins of the past?
Jim, I think you are the one with the blinders on my friend. You can't see past your despise for the Middletown GOP. They don't like you, or me for that matter, much either. So what?
OK,let's not compare Monmouth to the urban Democratic disasters. (that we are funding through our excessive taxes) TELL ME ONE SUBURBAN OR RURAL COUNTY THAT IS DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED THAT IS BETTER THAN MONMOUTH Just one.
Why won't any one answer the question? Instead I get these angry rants, blanket allegations of coruption with no facts to back it up and tangets that have nothing to do with the point of this post, i.e. that Mallet and Mason are off to an inausipocous start.
No more comments will be posted in this thread until someone answers the question, "Where are Democrats doing it better than Republicans are doing it here?"
in bed. (sorry, I had to.)
You often now censure this site - you don't have the guts to post comments critical of you. Its a shame people can't see this. Yes, its your site but you profess to be open to all sides. The TRUTH is YOU helped create some of the mess the Party now deals with. Your bash and burn style of politics is awful and you have given Democrats hope by airing all the Republican warts out in a way that gives the opposition all the help they need. But here again, this post will never see the light of day because you don't have the guts to post it. I guess your guilty feelings of being a closet (maybe subconscious) operative for the Democrats has finally gotten to you. It just may be to late.
Wow..that was harsh. Even I know you're even handed...to a point. But hey, if you can't be partisan at times and support your party with "warts" and all, then you shouldn't be in the game. Being a partisan is the American way. And, you should be able to criticize your own party, because. well, um...this is America after all.
Back to Mallet and Mason, I think its smart strategy on their part to put out anything they can to show that there is an alternative to what's out there now. Is it any different than the smoke and mirrors of the "no new taxes" for this year, knowing that its a one time, election year gift by Madame Burry?
As has been posted here, Czech's extension should have waited until at least December. I am surprised that McMorrow or D'Amico didn't vote no on this, if for no other reason than to give him some time to prove himself a little more.
And no, I don't have an answer to your question about the dem v. rep administrations. Frankly, I don't care about other counties..I live here and I want a dem majority. Again, if for no other reason than its time to get rid of the way things have been done for over 20 years, with pay to play and massive republican appointments to cushy jobs. Not to mention getting rid of Malcolm Carton and his outrageous fees and behavior, finally.
anonymous 12:10:
I'm not interested in having this blog become about this blog and what I write. You should start your own blog to do that.
For those who care, anonymous has been submitting posts for a couple of weeks that are critical of me for harming the MCGOP by airing its dirty laundry and giving Democrats talking points. He predicts that I will turn on Joe Oxley and run him out of office like he says I did to Fred Neimann and Adam Puharic.
Its nice to be thought of as so powerful. Any power I have comes from my readers. It is earned by writing credibly.
I am a Republican but not a kool aide drinker or trough swiller. My living doesn't depend on who's ass I kiss. I doubt Mr. anonymous can say the same.
I will continue to criticize bad policy and politics, as I see it, and praise good policy and politics, as I see it, regardless of the party designation of the players.
If you don't like it, don't read it. If you don't like the influence this blog has, start you own. If you want a blog about this blog, start your own...maybe I'll debate you there, but probably not.
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