Murphy fires Scharfenberger for skipping his press conference
Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger takes the Oath of Office on Feb 3.
Republican Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger was fired from his job in the Murphy administration this afternoon. PoliticsDW broke the story.
“I paid the price for not attending the press conference,” Scharfenberger said when reached by MMM. The freeholder was referring to Governor Murphy’s event in Marlboro last week to promote his scheme to convert property taxes into charitable donations as workaround to the new federal tax law which caps the deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000. Murphy claimed bi-partisan support for the scheme, but only five Democrat mayors from Monmouth County showed up to support the governor.
“I had hoped to see you Friday but things didn’t work out, Best of luck and see you around town,” Scharfenberger said the governor texted to him in response to his own text thanking Murphy for keeping him on for month into the Democrat administration.
Murphy and Scharfenberger both live in Middletown where the freeholder served on the Township Committee for 13 years before becoming a freeholder last week.
Scharfenberger was a Christie Administration holdover. He was Executive Director of the state’s Business Action Center and and Director of the State Office for Planning Advocacy. The jobs paid $99,359. He said that Murphy asked him to stay on for the first six months to one year of the new administration but didn’t tell him that attendance at press conferences were part of the job.
Scharfenberger said that Jay Boone, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State, delivered the termination message, effective immediately, late this afternoon.
Murphy was very angry about Monmouth GOP Chairman Shaun Golden’s statement condemning the scheme and that no Monmouth County Republican who had been invited to the press conference showed up, according to a source who asked not to be named.
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This is the sign of a desperate egomaniac. The guy doesn’t go to a press conference and gets fired? Murphy is in office a month and is already losing it.
Good article thanks!
What a shock! A partisan appointee is let go of his slot at the feeding trough!
So now Dr. Gerry is only a double-dipper and not a triple dipper? Great. The fun just never ends.
hard pressed to find a more qualified, intelligent person to hire than Dr Gerry. Am not at all surprised The Murph let him go, it’s what Dems do, period. Am sure there were more loyalists to give the jobs to. Am also sure Dr Gerry will land on his feet and be fine- he was before The Murph, will be fine, (likely better, )after. Pretty soon we will learn working in that admin will bring nothing but liberal devastation to Blue Jersey👎
The problem with the Internet is that it gives idiots a forum to broadcast their stupidity. Here’s a reality check for you Tim H. Dr. Gerry has never been a triple dipper or even a double dipper. He was a volunteer Mayor which he resigned before he became a free holder. He was donating his salary from freeholdor to charity. This isn’t Hudson County where people hold multiple offices salaries and pensions. We have, for the most part, upstanding honorable people serving us in Monmouth County. You may want to check your facts before making a fool of yourself.
Mayor Scharfenberger has been an outstanding Committeemen of the best run big town in NJ. Middletown is safe, has great schools, is business friendly, plenty of open space (need more though haha), affordable housing for young and old and taxes that are reasonable compared to other.
Freeholder Scharfenberger is now at helm of the best County in NJ. Great magnet schools, best County park system in NJ (if not the USA), outstanding fiscal ratings and solid leadership with vision.
Monmouth County has a large geographic footprint and many diverse communities and lifestyles. Freeholder Scharfenberger (like our other excellent Freeholders) will be spending lots of time in his car getting to know Monmouth and her residents.
One of the special attributes of our County is how the governing officials and our residents pulled together in times of crises like the closing of Fort Monmouth, Sandy and 911. Now we face other challenges such as opiates, almost confiscatory property tax issues in certain towns and jobs and for our kids who are moving out of the state at alarming rates. We also have tremendous opportunities to grow and thrive while retaining our quality of life and character. Freeholder Scharfenberger has proven over and over he is up to the task and we are fortunate to have him. Members of this forum in particular should all be helping out Monmouth where we can with ideas and actions.
Our new Monmouth County Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger needs no introduction but he will need our ideas and support in his new role.
For years Middletown’s Mayor Scharfenberger has been an outstanding Committeemen of the best run big town in NJ. Middletown is safe, has excellent schools, is business friendly, plenty of open space (need more though always – haha), affordable housing for young and old and taxes that are reasonable compared to other towns. I am sure resigning his post as Mayor of Middletown was sentimental but he has left Middletown in good hands. Now the entire Monmouth County can benefit from his leadership, hard work and vision.
Monmouth has been a rewarding place to raise a family for generations. Great magnet schools, strong fiscal ratings, best County park system in NJ, lots of preserved farms, open beaches and rivers. Monmouth County has a large geographic footprint and many diverse communities and lifestyles. We have large number of eclectic personalities, artists and freethinkers. We also have some of the most brilliant financial minds who choose to live in Monmouth and have thrived with our ferry systems and quality of life. Monmouth is a cool place to live.
Freeholder Scharfenberger (like our other excellent Freeholders) will be spending lots of time in his car getting to know Monmouth and her residents. Welcome him and tell him what you think! Whether a Mayor, Freeholder or just another guy, Gerry Scharfenberger listens.
In my view one of the enduring qualities of Momouth County is how the governing officials and our residents pulled together in times of crises like the closing of Fort Monmouth, Sandy and 911. No one gets left behind. Now we face other challenges such as opiates, almost confiscatory property tax issues in certain towns and a need for high quality jobs for our children who are moving out of the state at alarming rates. We also have tremendous opportunities to grow and thrive while retaining our quality of life and character.
Freeholder Scharfenberger has proven over and over he is up to the task and we are fortunate to have him.
You get rid of the one guy who would give your sorry administration any credibility. A real pompous arrogant rich guy.
Step out of line and your out.
The Governor is acting like a two bit dictator who is so insecure he has to destroy anyone he feels is not bowing down far enough or fast enough. Years ago Scharfenberger helped resolve an issue with DOT that was dragging on for years in my town so this is really Murphy’s loss of an effective employee. A real leader puts his ego aside and keeps the best players for the team.. I’m sure this won’t be the last
Should be no surprise to anyone when there is a new administration that the holders of political patronage type positions are replaced. People know that when they accept the positions (and they were the ones replacing someone else) and the fact they are replaced is in no way disparaging or reflective of poor performance. Republicans did the same thing under Christie so if you weren’t complaining back than (when Corzine appointees were replaced), its a little late to start now.
Bob, that was already said above: we Republicans are more than aware of how the “spoils system” works- since more of us have felt that sting than Dems have. And, many here are simply stating that Dr Gerry is an excellent public servant, and that it is a loss to the state.
Bob – you seem nice enough but you oversimplify everything. The fact is that Murphy kept Scharfenberger on until he did not tow his political line and then suddenly cans him when he has the audacity to not show up for a political press conference. It was political retribution plain and simple. Frankly I don’t blame Scharfenberger for not going to the unveiling of a crazy proposal.
What’s more this puts an end to the charade of bipartisanship that Murphy has been mumbling about. He has lost all credibility as being anything more than a temperamental, partisan lightweight . If this is an example of his leadership we are all in trouble