Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sometimes the Asbury Park Press Just Does Not Think Things Through

Middletown Deputy Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, and Gubernatorial Candidate Chris Christie at today's round table at the Middletown Elks Club

In an editorial today, the Asbury Park Press said that although they did not endorse her for sheriff in 2007, that they are "not entirely displeased" with Chris Chrisite picking Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno as his running mate.

Obviously, Monmouth County voters didn't care that the APP didn't endorse Kim in 2007-we elected her- why would the APP think we care about that endorsement now? Especially since they are "not entirely displeased" with her, because of her accomplishments in office and that maybe what they didn't like about her in 2007 was an "aberration."

The editorial board ended their piece by calling for Kim to step down as sheriff while she campaigns for lieutenant governor. Some MMM readers have also called for Guadagno to step down.

That is a boneheaded idea. Kim is no bonehead. I have no doubt the APP's opinion will make about as much a difference to her now as it did in 2007. None.

Why is it a boneheaded idea? I'm glad you asked.

If Kim were to resign, thereby creating a vacancy in the office of Monmouth County Sheriff, it would be up to Governor Corzine to appoint a new sheriff, with the advise and consent of the Senate.

Corizne is notorious for moving very slowly in making appointments. He's having a heck of a time choosing his own running mate. Even if the governor were able to make up his mind quickly with the help of Deputy Freeholder Director John D'Amico and chose former Freeholder candidate and Emergency Management Coordinator Glenn Mason for example, the Senate is in recess for the rest of the summer. By the time the Senate reconvenes, holds hearings where Glenn could answer questions about the nature of his appointment to Emergency Management Cooridinator just a few months after he lost the election for Freeholder, it would probably take until October to confirm him. That would be too late for the office of sheriff to be on the November ballot to fill the unexpired term. That assumes the Senate will even reconvene in September.

So, if Kim Guadagno were to resign now to campaign for lieutenant governor full time, Monmouth County will be without a sheriff at best until the fall. What good does that do the residents of Monmouth County?

Those who think Kim's job won't get done while she's campaigning don't know Kim.

Any non-incumbent candidate for public office, be it town council or governor, juggles two jobs,the non-paying job of candidate and the job that puts food on the table, unless they have the fortunate circumstance of not having to work for a living while campaigning. Knowing Kim Guadagno, she is managing her life so that all of her responsiblities, to her family, to the citizens of Monmouth County, and to the citizens of New Jersey, get fulfilled. Her family and staff will pitch in for sure. She'll be up early and late, on the phone and the computer, making sure the job gets done.

Let's see if the APP calls for Corzine's running mate, be it Senator Barbara Buono, Senator Loretta Weinberg or apprentice Randal Pinkett, to quit her or his job. I bet they don't. Will the APP call for Governor Corzine to quit his job while he campaigns? Of course not. Lots of Democrats are hoping he will quit the campaign and mail in the last few months of the job, but no one will call for him to quit the job, except maybe Dick Codey.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about the APP ask or sean byrnes to resign from middletown twp committee while running for freeholder, running a law practice and taking care of five kids...

lawman said...

Kim should stay as sheriff untill she gets sworn in as Lt Gov.

Anonymous said...

The taxpayers of Monmouth County deserve a full-time sheriff. If Kim Guadagno isn't going to do the job that she was elected to do, then she shouldn't collect a public paycheck. There aren't enough hours in the day to be both an effective, full-time sheriff and an effective, full-time candidate for statewide office.

Incidentally, it matters not one bit what others may do. The fact that others might be corrupt doesn't excuse Sheriff Guadagno's corruption. If Kim Guadagno had any character whatsoever, she would stop feeding at the public trough while she campaigns for higher office.

Anonymous said...

It was absurd when Obama held a no show Senate seat while running for President for 2 years. Running for Freeholder is a joke, running for Statewide office is a full time job. Kim should resign. If she doesn't we will be as always stuck deciding whether to hold our noses and voting for the least bad politicial hack, or just staying home. It is a shame we can not have one great candidate. We are stuck with a bunch of people who never ran a real business and that is why none of them can figure out how to fix this mess. Prosecuting criminals is great, but it does not give one the tools to run a State. Same thing goes for being a Wall Street dude producing nothing making a living just moving around other peoples money. UUUUGH Listening to Obama last night and looking at this State it is time to move!