Scharfenberger Appointed To Christie Administration Post
Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger has been appointed Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy, formerly the Office of Smart Growth.
The Office of Smart Growth was formerly under the auspices of the Department of Community Affairs. It has been renamed and transfered to Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno’s portfolio in the Department of State as an element of the Business Action Center. The Business Action Center (BAC) is the Chrstie Administration’s effort to facilitate economic growth by attracting, retaining and growing businesses in New Jersey.
Scharfenberger, who is a volunteer in his capacity as a member of the Middletown Township Committee, manages a staff of 11 and earns $95,000 in his new position.
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So, Christie will lay off 1200 workers that probably make about $40K a year, and he will hire his cronies for $95K.
He fits right in with this whole Soprano thing, doesn’t he.
But, I guess its ok with you since you’re friends with Scharfy and he’s a good ol’ republican boy.
Rick, no one likes an angry liberal Democrat – especially this early in the morning. With Scharfenberger’s credentials, I’d say the state is getting a bargain.
This is exactly what everyone’s been saying about Scharfenberger. All about self promotion. To run and get elected and 2 days later be appointed another position shows the lack of honesty and character this man has.
Good riddance, I’m disgusted that I voted for him.
Who says that Scharfenberger was appointed 2 days later? I didn’t read Art’s story that way. Maybe he was appointed a few months ago.
It doesn’t matter when he was appointed. This was probably in the works for a year.
It matters that he did not disclose it to the voters. That is deception.
If anything, I bet his access to the Governor is now greater and will be an even better benefit for Middletown.
Pension padding at its best. What a hypocrite.
How is this pension padding when he’s only taking one salary. Don’t see the democrats making an issue of Larry Fink in Holmdel who has been taking a State salary and municipal salary for years. In fact, when the GOP sought an ordinance to eliminate the practice, the dems went ballastic.
Are you kidding me? He passed on a salary last year. All he needs is another 10 years and he’s got his pension at the highest level.
I don’t care what happens in other towns. Its wrong and the Gov has been preaching against this. They’re both a bunch of hypocrites. And I’m a Republican.
Anyone could tell from the mayor’s weekly love letters to Christie in The Independent that his eyes were on the prize- and it wasn’t the mayor’s office. Other than the proclivity of Monmouth county voters to pull the lever for Republicans, I can’t fathom why this man was re-elected.
Yes, we’ve been suckered in Middletown.
Thanks to all the Little crazies out there, we lost Sean Byrnes. Now we’ve got a sleazy, seasoned politician and an incompetent, self promoting, deceptive liar.
People need to take an IQ test before voting.
“… a volunteer in his capacity as a member of the Middletown Township Committee”. Art, Art , Art, you are well aware the Township Committee position is a paid position ($4,000 a year), with Health Benefits (until Short eliminated the benefit in 2006) and Pension benefits. Sharfy could have opted out of the State pension plan when he first became a Committeeman but did not. He is still enrolled in the pension plan and this $95, 000 a year position will set him up nicely.
OK, let me ask the question that I guess everybody wants to ask:
What is the “Office for Planning Advocacy”, why does our state need it, what do each of the 11 employees do, and why does it need a Director paid at almost $100k?
(after all these questions are answered, it doesn’t really matter who was appointed, but it sounds logical that a Republican was chosen)
ahherald. com/index.php/201011059690/Local-News/middletown-mayor-took-state-job-before-election
Ok, now all you Tea Party hypocrites. You re elect a Mayor who’s unethical, deceptive, and dishonest behavior is exactly what you’re supposedly so against. A man who doesn’t play by your rules. Never disclosed during an election in any articles that he already had an appointed position. All you did was vote a party line instead of looking at the individuals running.
Your ignorance and stupidity is astounding. What’s even more scary, is there are so many of you out there.
Gerry now has two new masters — Gov. Christie and Trenton. He also has two new conflicts of interest when it comes to trying to serve Middletown, which is something that he has not done well for years. The semblence of local control of Middletown has left the Township. Somehow Art’s 2008 letter, “Stupid Is As Stupid Does”, criticizing Gerry’s lease/sale of cell tower revenue for a one shot $850,000 municipal budget fix that will end up costing the Middletown taxpayer $460,000 for a net gain of $430,000 (sale minus five years of revenue) came to mind when I think of Gerry making decisions that are supposed to benefit the people of New Jersey.
A correction of my numbers: $890,000 sale minus $460,000 for a net gain of $430,000.
The story in the AH Herald states that the position was taken in August. The mayor states he didn’t want to disclose this to bias the election in his favor! He unbelievably states in the article that it was an open secret with many in the township congratulating him. Are you kidding? So, this information was on a “need to know basis”? It’s clear this election was based upon fraudulent representations- if the people of Middletown don’t start asking questions we are as dumb as the Mayor takes us for.
To paraphrase…Sleazy is what Sleazy does…all you idiots in Middletown…you deserve what you get.
For weeks now I have tried to point out the sleazy chicanery of Art Gallagher. I believe I pointed out that you are judged by the company you keep. Anna Little learned it the hard way.
Seeing as how the Monmouth County Democratic Party is headed by a leading Republican supporter, can anyone here really say they are surprised to find out this “secret” after the election?
Inasmuch as the daily newspaper no longer does investigative reporting (don’t expect the press to be your advocate any longer. They wait for a phone call from some disgruntled individual or someone with a personal axe to grind to do their job for them) expect more of these kinds of revelations.
As long as there are people like Gallagher and the Manchurian Chairman Scudiery helping to shape the “perception of politics/politicians.” there will continue to be these kinds of deception.
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