There are two Democratic members of the council who's businesses are borough vendors. Those council members are opposing, to the point of threatening litigation, an ordinance proposed by Republican Mayor Paul Buccellato that would outlaw members of the governing body from being borough vendors.
This is such a no brainer that it is embarrassing that an ordinance is even necessary. If you do business with the government and can't afford to give it up, don't run for office. Government service should be just that, service. Officials at every level of government should go out of their way to avoid conflicts and the appearance of conflicts.
In the 2006 Middletown Township Committee race, Democrats won a seat on the committee for the first time in decades by making such potential conflicts an issue.
From Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo's blog:
Friday, October 06, 2006
SODON SHOULD CHOOSE EITHER BEING A CONTRACTOR OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Sodon Electric, the Middletown company primarily owned by Township Republican Candidate Tim Sodon, made $92,077.26 from the town last year, according to Joe Caliendo, Chairman of the Middletown Democrats.
“So now what?” Caliendo asked. “Mr. Sodon owns an electrical company doing business with Middletown and he is going to become yet another vendor who wants to be elected in this town?”
Caliendo said, “This practice is not right and is not ethical no matter how many times this Township Committee or this Republican leadership says it is. Ethically and morally this practice flies in the face of any common sense where it regards someone putting himself up for elected position.”
Caliendo has a great deal of influence in Matawan. He should use it to pressure Councilman Joseph "Bud" Mullaney and Councilman Kevin Mendes live up to the "ethical and moral" standards he espouses. Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vic Scudiery should do the same.
Here's my standard which I invite others to follow:
As a politically active small business owner, I go out of my way to avoid doing business with any government entity. I don't want to be in a position where economic pressure can be applied to influence my politics or vis a versa. Don't think it hasn't been attempted. I've seen other company owners get very wealthy doing business with the government. I've also seen companies get too dependent on government business and then go broke when it disappeared. I've seen people I've done business with go to jail after getting too cozy with government officials, elected and appointed, who leaned on them for money. As far as I am concerned, if you can't afford not too do business with the government, you should stay out of politics.
Update from a reader:
It gets better Art. See below from the dearly departed Inside Clamdigger blog from 3/5/2008:
Mullaney will sponsor ‘good government’ measure in Matawan
After a Matawan Council session last night, Councilman Joseph “Bud” Mullaney said he was going to be looking into an ordinance that would exclude officials from public service who were employed by the state, county or local government. He is also seeking anyone with a state, county or local contract for employment to be excluded from service on the council.
According to Mullaney, the owner of Mullaney Tire & Auto, in Matawan, he said it is his intention to personally cease all municipal work and government sales for his company. “The sole focus of anyone serving on the Matawan Borough Council should be the public they serve, without any possible conflict of interest,” he said. “I believe that enough that I will be doing my part to reform things, even when it does impact my wallet.”
Mullaney said that a similar measure has been enacted in Holmdel, and he sees no reason why this should not occur in Matawan Borough. “It is time to clean up government for good,” he said.
Mullaney said he will be seeking to introduce a plan within the next few sessions.
Apparently Mr.Mullaney had a change of heart somewhere along the line.
Apparently he did. This Bud's not for you.
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Imagine a dirtbag like Caliendo lecturing anyone on ethics? Give me a break.
It gets better Art. See below from the dearly departed Inside Clamdigger blog from 3/5/2008:
Mullaney will sponsor ‘good government’ measure in Matawan
After a Matawan Council session last night, Councilman Joseph “Bud” Mullaney said he was going to be looking into an ordinance that would exclude officials from public service who were employed by the state, county or local government. He is also seeking anyone with a state, county or local contract for employment to be excluded from service on the council.
According to Mullaney, the owner of Mullaney Tire & Auto, in Matawan, he said it is his intention to personally cease all municipal work and government sales for his company. “The sole focus of anyone serving on the Matawan Borough Council should be the public they serve, without any possible conflict of interest,” he said. “I believe that enough that I will be doing my part to reform things, even when it does impact my wallet.”
Mullaney said that a similar measure has been enacted in Holmdel, and he sees no reason why this should not occur in Matawan Borough. “It is time to clean up government for good,” he said.
Mullaney said he will be seeking to introduce a plan within the next few sessions.
Apparently Mr.Mullaney had a change of heart somewhere along the line.
Maybe someone should tell Jim Schatzle here in Colts Neck about this since he sells equipment to the township too. I've always said that there was a conflict of interest being on the township committee and doing business with the township. I had that same problem with Declan O'Scanlon, but to his credit, and to the best of my knowledge, he has ceased doing business in the towns he represents. Give credit where it's due.
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