Breaking News: Middletown Dems Upset They Didn’t Know About Gerry’s Job
The Neptune Nudniks are upset too
By Art Gallagher
An international crime syndicate raided Middletown’s bank accounts of $379,000. The Asbury Park Press did not judge that to be newsworthy, even after arrests were made and law enforcement officials were willing to talk about it.
A Freeholder who made ethics and transparency the theme of his tenure in office and the theme of his reelection campaign was exposed asking another Freeholder to make a political appointment in exchange for campaign contributions. The Asbury Park Press did not find that to be newsworthy.
New Jersey’s two U.S. Senators and two Congressman, one of whom represents the APP’s coverage area, pressured the FDA to approve an unsafe medical device in exchange for campaign contributions. The FDA reversed itself and issued a mea culpa two years later. The scandal make national news. The Neptune Nudniks reluctantly covered the story in obscure locations on their website and in their print editions days after the issue was national news.
Two losing candidates for Middletown Township Committee are upset that they didn’t know that one of their opponents was working for the State. The Asbury Park Press finds that newsworthy.
Basically what the Middletown Dems are saying is that had they known about Gerry Scharfenberger’s new job as the Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy that they would have made it a campaign issue. Gerry would have had to respond by making the case that his job is a positive for Middletown.
As it was, the Middletown campaign was about the township’s recent tax increase. An issue much more relevant to the majority of Middletown residents. The Democrats charged that the Republicans recklessly raised taxes and manage the township poorly. The Republicans explained the tax increase and defended their record. The voters chose the Republicans. A relevant campaign. The voters chose. Case closed. Now the Democrats protest because they would have made the campaign about something irrelevant to the voters if they had the information.
Why was Gerry’s job irrelevant to the campaign? Quick, off the top of your head with no research, name Gerry Scharfenberger’s predecessor at the Office of Smart Growth. That’s why.
What the Democrats’ protest and the APP reporter’s complaint included in the article demonstrates, in addition to their pettiness, is their ineptitude. The Democrats and the reporter should have known about Gerry’s new job without him telling them about it. In this information age, there is no justification for politicians not knowing all information on the public record about their opponents and there is no justification for reporters not knowing all public information about the subjects they cover. There is no justification but there are two explanations: ineptitude and laziness.
More from my site
The Asbury Park Press Is Unfair and Biased, Dishonest and Incompetent
Middletown Is Not Going Broke
The Asbury Park Press Finally Reports On Pallone’s Pay To Play Scam
Part 2: The Asbury Park Press is Unfair and Biased, Dishonest and Incompetent
The Nudniks Run Another Article On Scharfenberger’s Job
The Neptune Nudniks Cop Out In CD-3
APP Turns On Obama
Asbury Park Press Gets Its Facts Wrong Again- APP endorses Claire French for Clerk
The Asbury Park Press Needs A Fact Checker
Once again Art Gallagher you are spot on. So what if Gerry didn’t promote the fact that he was hired to run the department? I can tell you that he didn’t hide it.
The true point is exactly what you said. The Middletown Democrats wanted it as an issue but failed to do their homework. That’s totally a reflection on them.
So we now have to investigate our own Mayor to see if he’s truthful?
I’m no fan of Dems. but he should have handled it differently. It does look shady, coming out after the election.
The Mayor saying disclosing the job would give him and unfair advantage is plainly disingenuous. This is very disturbing.
To suggest the Dems didn’t do their homework is ridiculous. The Mayor had an obligation to disclose and with holding it from the public was very dishonest.
Oh, now Mary Mahoney says it’s unethical.
Baloney.
If she were so concerned about ethics, why did she run with an attorney (Sean Byrnes) who does have ethics charges still pending against him (as of the Friday before the election)?
Hypocrisy, thou name is democrat.
By the way, Gerry Scharfenberger is a fantastic choice – not only will he do a great job, but he has the honesty and integrity for the position. Oh, and did you know, Gerry isn’t even taking a salary as a township committeeman?
Why was Gerry’s job irrelevant to the campaign? Quick, off the top of your head with no research, name Gerry Scharfenberger’s predecessor at the Office of Smart Growth. That’s why
Brilliant logic Art – so if he took a position with the KKK, it wouldn’t be relevant if we didn’t know the name of the previous Klan leader? Let us not even mention that the name of the office was just changed.
Bottom line, he was asked about employment and he did not mention it. The fact that you pulled the item out of your bag of tricks and posted it a day or so after the election says it all-why bother if it’s old news and common knowledge? If the mayor has to recuse himself on relevant issues, the people of Middletown have a right to know that before they vote. Perhaps they would have chosen a less comprimised and conflicted candidate. But of course you know that. You guys dig yourself deeper with every bizarre justification.
@ Tom Stokes – Judging by the looks of you , you’ve grown pretty “fat” sucking at Peter Carton’s tit.
How much did Peter Carton pay you to press those ethics charges against Byrnes anyway? I suppose it was the Chairmanship of the Middletown Sewage Authority.
And what about those sexual harrasment charges that were brought against you a few years back, care to discuss that?
Like yourself, Gerry is a sleazy piece of garbage who has trouble speaking the truth at times. I love watching scharfy sqwirm when confronted with real facts after grossly misrepresenting half truths on the dias. He turns all red and looks way from those that confront him.
He should step down now before he becomes a total embarrasment to the Township.
Tom Stokes,
That ethics charge is bogus and you should know since you charged him with.
What Scharfenberger did was unethical, immoral, dishonest & deceitful to the residents of Middletown. But you wouldn’t know the difference because you’re in the gutter with the rest of the scum in this town.
I see the sore losers are out in force. As
your boy says “we won”,
Jeff,
Are you the same wind bag that has been showing up on Middletown Mike’s blog? No wonder you have a man crush on Byrnes if you are because he’s about as egotistical as you are.
The fact is that you would have loved to have made a campaign issue about the Mayor working for the state and the only reason you feel cheated is because you couldn’t. Once again, the PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!
Scharfenberger and Settembrino. MOVE ON!
Wait till the people find out how bad things really are in Middletown. Now no one is there to keep an eye on the store.
Won’t be able to complain, because you got exactly what you wanted. Congratulations!
You just admitted why Scharfenberger did not disclose his new job. Dr. of deception. Thank you.
Are you the same idiot who defends this guy?
I rest my case.
I’m disappointed in you Art. I thought you had more of an ethical nature than what you’re portraying here. What he did was wrong, plain and simple. It was unethical to keep this from the general public and almost sounds like it was some sort of cover up. I would have thought you wouldn’t defend something as sleazy as this…I guess I was wrong about you …again.
http://www.yourmiddletown.com/bio.asp
Art,
I did a search on Mr. Scharfenberger and there is no mention of this appointment.
Also above is the a Republican campaign site which could have been updated any time. In the Bio section again no mention of the new job. The Independent, Red Bank Green, App and Two River times all asked about occupations. There was a meet the candidates forum on Oct 28th and again no mention of this .
He clearly with held this info to all and his party faithful also chose to keep it quiet if indeed they knew.
Christie had an obligation to announce this as well.
I am thoroughly disgusted with this immoral corrupt behavior.
“Rick Ambrosia said at 10:30 pm on November 6th, 2010:
I’m disappointed in you Art. I thought you had more of an ethical nature than what you’re portraying here. What he did was wrong, plain and simple. It was unethical to keep this from the general public and almost sounds like it was some sort of cover up. I would have thought you wouldn’t defend something as sleazy as this…I guess I was wrong about you …again.”
You’re kidding Rick, right? I was the first to report this story. It is newsworthy, but I don’t believe it should have been a campaign issue. I think the campaign in Middletown as it was, about property taxes and the management of the township, was much more relevant that who Gerry works for. We wouldn’t be talking about this is Gerry changed jobs within his industry during the campaign.
It’s all about the lack of transparency in this town.
Art just said he was the “first to report this story”. Right after the election. If you call it a “story” that does not coincide with your
assertions that this was common knowledge in Middletown and just a pointless detail to the voters of Middletown. Why did you even bother reporting it at all? If it was to “stick it” to the Dems, you achieved more than that-you stuck it to the entire township.
Art,
I just don’t understand why you let yourself be used by the clowns that are the Middletown GOP. I would like to know what Peter Carton has promised you, that it would turn you into his lap dog.
All the Middletown Republicans do is lie to the residents so that they can keep their money train moving a long.
Don’t you think it is unethical for Peter Carton to make $millions off the town by acting as its bonding attorney?
Based on most of the comments here and comments left on many of your other posts that concern Middletown over the past year, it would seem that your on the wrong side of many of the issues that are important to Middletown residents.
It’s time to stand up for what’s right Art and not parrot what Peter Carton and the rest of Middletown GOP tell you to like finally making it public knowledge about Gerry’s new position.
BTW, how long did you sit on the “story”? After all it was common knowledge within the inner circle of Middletown GOPer’s, wasn’t it?
Scharfy’s squirming?? I just saw him, and he wasn’t squirming at all. I think it’s you Dems who are squirming because you can’t win an election in Middletown and you KNOW you won’t win another seat on the committee for at least a decade. For now, let me quote your idol, Obama: “WE WON”. So shut up because nobody cares about you for another 11 months, and then maybe you’ll get a third of the population to pretend they care.
ShutUp, The Mayor doesn’t squirm because he has no moral or ethical conscience. The only reason the Repubs pulled this out is due to the Little people who came out in droves voting for the very thing they claim they’re against. High taxes, mismanagement, poor planning and corruption. Yes the Republicans should feel so proud. As a long time resident who votes for the person not the party, they disgust me.
ShutUp The Republicans might have won but the township lost.
Art,
In 2008 Gerry used Monmouth University resources to promote the Republican candidates and to libel and defame the Democratic candidates. When he did this, he violated University policy and violated tax law — more of “Stupid Is As Stupid Does”. The University’s legal counsel repremanded him for violating strict University policy that jeopardized their non-profit tax status. I wonder what the IRS response was, or if they were even told by the University? In 2010 he fails to disclose information about employment (he has multiple public opportunities to do so) that could conflict with his elected position and could possibly be seen as performing as a career politician — something that they were accusing Byrnes of being and pursuing. Elections are about many issues: honesty, disclosure and ethics are just some of them. Gerry never misses a moment to promote himself during township committee meetings, any public event, or online — included yourself here. By not revealing his government employment because he was fearful of how it might be interpreted by the voting public he was true to form. Again, as you have pointed out before — “Stupid is as stupid does.” By defending the actions of your ‘second favorite Republican’ do you also become a member of the ‘Stupid Is As Stupid Does Club’?