Tinton Falls Mayor Gerald Turning says he doesn’t know Democratic Freeholder Candidates Names

By Art Gallagher

In my article earlier today about Senator Cory Booker coming to Wall Township to raise campaign cash for the Monmouth Democratic Freeholder candidates, I noted that Candidate Larry Luttrell appeared to be emulating Booker’s “campaign based on love” style.  Booker often posts inspirational feel good message on his social media pages. Last month, Record columnist Herb Jackson reported on a Booker fundraising email that said,“No matter how ugly the attacks get, I am committed to building a campaign based on love.”

Luttrell posted his own Bookerism on facebook last week.

Well, it seems that in addition to emaulating Booker’s love, Luttrell is also emulating Congressman Frank Pallone’s duplicity. If you’re a regular MMM reader, you need no explanation of Pallone’s duplicity.  If you are one of our thousands of newer readers, check out this link to get an idea of how truth challenged and manipulative Pallone is.

In his announcement promoting the Booker fundraiser, Luttrell said “Every Democratic Mayor in Monmouth County is on board with this” and

This event is brought to you by:

The Democratic Mayors of Monmouth County:
Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, Asbury Park Mayor Myra Campbell, Neptune Mayor Dr. Michael Brantley, Roosevelt Mayor Beth Bethel, Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Eatontown Mayor Gerry Tarantolo, Freehold Borough Mayor Nolan Higgins, Hazlet Mayor Jim DiNardo, Manasquan Mayor George Dempsey, Shrewsbury Mayor Ed Nolan, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, Tinton Falls Marry Gerry Turning ,(emphasis added), Red Bank Mayor Pat Menna, and Lake Como Mayor Mike Ryan

 

That was news to Mayor Gerry Turning.  “They called me up and asked if I wanted to attend an event at a private home in Wall and meet Senator Booker,” Turning told me during a phone interview, “it was a meet the mayors kind of thing.  I don’t know anything about hosting it.  I’ll meet anyone, Democrat or Republican. Next Tuesday I’m going to Trenton to stand behind Governor Christie when he signs the property tax cap bill.”

Asked if he was supporting the Democratic Freeholder candidates or giving them money, Turning said, “I’ve never met them,” and “I’ve never given money to any politician.”  Asked if the knew the names of the Democratic candidates, Turning said, “Not off the top of my head.”

Turning said he considers Freeholder Director Lillian Burry , one of the GOP candidates in November, a friend.  “I’ve known Freeholder Burry for many years.  We serve on FMERA (Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority) together.  I’ve met Mr. Rich (Deputy Freeholder Director Gary Rich, Burry’s running mate) too.  I like him.”

Turning told me in November  that he registered as a Democrat 40 years ago to support Jerry Brown’s run for President and never changed his registration.

“I’m the most conservative Democrat you’ll ever meet,” Mayor-elect Turning said when we got him on the phone. “I registered as a Democrat over 40 years ago when I was 18 and Jerry Brown was running for President.  I don’t consider myself a partisan.  I vote for the best candidates.”  Turning said he voted for Mitt Romney for President last year, Chris Christie for Governor on Tuesday and Steve Lonegan for U.S. Senate last month.

I don’t understand why Luttrell would feel he needs to mislead his potential donors and the mayor of one of Monmouth County’s largest towns. I’d ask him, but he hasn’t returned my call.  Maybe he doesn’t think Booker is a big enough draw for the donors…that they need the mayors’ encouragement.

I wonder what the Dems told the other mayors to get them to commit to the event.  Maybe I’ll make some more phone calls.

Posted: June 20th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2014 Elections, Monmouth Democrats | Tags: Cory Booker, Frank Pallone, Frank Pallone deceiving the media, Frank Pallone's duplicitous playbook, Gerry Turning, Larry Luttrell, Monmouth Democrats | 4 Comments »

• Tweet

---