Mayor Anna Little: A Debt Record Worse Than Obama’s
Asbury Park, NJ – Former Highlands Mayor and current congressional candidate in New Jersey’s District 6, Anna Little, touts herself as being a fiscal conservative, as someone who looks out for the taxpayers. However, a brief examination of her record as Highlands mayor (2008 – 2010) tells a much different story.
A simple comparison between the Borough of Highlands 2007 Annual Debt Statement (Highlands’ debt before Mayor Little came to office) and the Borough of Highlands 2010 Annual Debt Statement, reveals that Mayor Anna Little increased the Highlands’ debt by 33%.
An even more disturbing fact is that U.S. debt grew at a lower percentage in the first three years of the Obama Administration than in the Highlands under Mayor Little.
In the first three years of Obama’s term, the U.S. National Debt ballooned by 25%. Highlands’ debt under Mayor Anna Little exploded by 33% in the same time period.
“When our nation has a spending and debt problem, we can’t afford representatives that have a record of debt and reckless spending, they will only make things worse. We need to send people to Washington that are serious about cutting the debt and committed to drastically reducing deficit spending.” said Ernesto Cullari, Republican Congressional Candidate for the 6th District.
By the time Mayor Little’s term had expired, she left the 5,005 Highlands’ residents with a total debt of $6,280,844. That is a debt burden of $1,254.91 per resident.
More from my site
Bait and Switch: “Meet and Greet” turns into “Debate” 
Cullari Issues A Debate Challenge to Little
Cullari Advertising on TV
Anna Little Wins GOP 6th District Nomination
Cullari: Little Blew It Against Pallone
Anna Little’s Response 
Little Still Not Registered With FEC As A Candidate For Congress- Anna C. Little, 6th District Congressional Candidate, June 5th – NJ Primary Election Day
Congressional Candidate Anna C. Little Defends Sleazy Strip Club
Patrick Murray predicts that Cullari will defeat Little
Yes, facts are stubborn things.
And too, they are tools of manipulation and misrepresentation.
Many can remember how Reagan was accused of increasing the debt during his term. This of course was done using some “stubborn facts” while ignoring some others.
Recall how the left used selective facts which appeared very similar in fabrication to the chart in your campaign ad for Anna’s opponent.
Reagan’s policies doubled the amount of tax dollars taken in by the government, but liberals, ignoring (some) stubborn facts, failed to inform that the Democrats during that time, tripled the spending.
Reminds me of the old Soviet Union, reporting that the USA’s race car which took part in a multinational endurance race had come in “next to last place” and theirs finished in 3rd place.
Actually there were only 3 cars in the race. Yes, facts are stubborn things.
Facts are facts, but equations will always give a wrong answer when selected parts are left out.
While Anna’s opponent seems to have no problem accosting her record with selected facts as a reason not to vote for her, it seems to this voter, that the art of deception is not grounds for a vote.
Dwight
Not all of the tax receipt increase was due to economic expansion. Yes tax receipts went up during Reagan’s term. But remember this includes the Social Security payroll increase, increase of coverage to Federal Employees and State Employees hired after 1984, expansion of Medicare tax to Federal employees and Sate workers not covred by Soicial security plus taxation of Social Security benefits that began in 1984. Facts are stubborn things.
Dwight,
To paraphrase Lloyd Benson from the 1988 Vice Presidential debate….
I know Anna Little. I have served with Anna Little. Anna Little is no Ronald Reagan.
Oh com’on were talking thousands of dollars here, Also Anna Little cannot spend a dime with out approval from council, To be more clear is the Bias Reporter really comparing apples to apples. Obama has spent Trillions don’t you think the story stretches a Bit.
So i guess she CUT the budget????
When i was in school, 33 was bigger than 25—but i don’t have an NJEA edumacation.
@Kevin Retcho Facebook
Because increasing the debt by 33% is no big deal…. Why don’t we just increase our national debt by 33%, no biggie… To say she’s not responsible is ridiculous! She was mayor. She voted for these budgets.
She must have ben a great mayor based on her overwhelming support in the 2010 election, effective mayors win their towns in landslides………………………………….oh, never mind.
Putting aside Anna Little’s last minute pro union vote in the Highlands and the noted increases this article talks about; Anna has no campaign discipline. She can’t keep campaign managers and she can’t keep to a productive game plan; rolling around like a loose cannon.
Note that the total national debt nearly TRIPLED under President Reagan. The percentage growth of Federal spending did decline some though from what it had been under the privious administation.
Reagan did sign several huge tax increases while President (to try to keep the deficit under control) when they were combined with spending cuts. Reagan certainly understodd the word compromise. Those actions would have likely had him soundly booed off of GOP debate stages in 2012 as a violation of Grover Norquists no new/increased tax pledge.
Back to Atlantic Highlands….does anyone know specifically what contributed to the higher debt? New capital projects(s) etc???
For those with an NJEA edumacation–it’s HIGHLANDS, not atlantic highlands
Now stop picking on Bob English, he just doesn’t know any better because of that education. 🙂
Now that geography class is over, anyone know the answer to what I was asking?
“does anyone know specifically what contributed to the higher debt? New capital projects(s) etc???”
@Bob English…this is where there should be a “like” button. Nice one Bob.
I KNOW that highlands had a flat budget for the years when anna was mayor. I worked on the public finance committee that Mayor Little created. I have never seen so much BS. Nice chart… I guess desperate times call for desperate actions.
She was out gunned by a 4 to 1 on the council. The democrats did not need her vote for anything not even to bond. She still got a flat budget passed. Even when she had the majority (the last year) The two republicans that were elected worked with the democrats for all the appointments, she had no say as mayor. If I remember, you were working with those two republicans.
Lets see the facts… What big spending programs did she create to increase the “Debt” by 33%… Please… let us know. Otherwise I suggest you start to write a “comics” site in stead of a “news” site.
The crazy thing is that if this all was true it would have come out the last time she ran, Pallone would have been all over it. He didn’t because it isn’t true.
In very tiny letters, the author of the orginal colorful diatribe is identified only as: ‘admin’. Arthur, who do you suppose does NOT have the guts, or credibility, to be identified by name for this so-called factual dirt we were promised to look forward to???
Edith,
This post is a press release from the Cullari campaign. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
Ms. Knowles- why is it that you so fervently support Anna Little and question anyone who doesn’t? Are you from Highlands? Can you shed any credibility as to why anyone should support a candidate who left a town in financial shambles and lost that town to Pallone in 2010?
Mr. Cullari seems to have made clear case as to why Anna Little should not be the nominee against Pallone. I haven’t heard one Little supporter make the case as to why she should. Aside from the fact that she may sing God Bless America better than Mr. Cullari, what makes her a better nominee when she has already failed?
Even if Higlands did take on more debt, the town is much better off and has come a long way in the last 5 years. I don’t know the facts, but taking on debt does not mean the budget was not cut…
Art – You need to stop endorsing people until after the primary, this should have been clearly titled as a Cullari press release. You are hurting the party and giving cannon fodder to the opposition.
Aren’t we better than that???
‘Ms. Knowles’ says to ‘lkf’…. “He,he,he,he! Don’t understimate Monmouth County Residents!!!!!”
A useless and silly debate as niether candidate has a shot at beating Pallone this time out.
Ok…..time for a former supporter of Little and someone actually from Highlands to chime in. As far as Little being outgunned by democrats on council, that is a crock! Most of the time she conspired with them, voted with them on almost everything, and threw other Republicans under all 18 wheels of the bus, all while singing her dear little heart out! If she didnt support the spending, and didnt agree with the democrats, why did she vote for them almost all of the time. The public record will bear this out. Its fact that under the “little” government that Highlands was subjected to under our dear Anna, debt increased substantially. Furthermore the idea that Highlands is much better now than 5 years ago is more BS. I dare anyone, and I mean anyone, to list one, even one, major accomplishment of Little’s as Highlands mayor? Someone tell me, preferably from Highlands, what she did for the town?
More facts, she lost her own town solidly to Pallone last time out, and lost the election by what? 10 points? Not even close!
Even more facts, she has no support from virtually all Highlands Republicans, none! Even the Monmouth county Republicans wont support her and would rather endorse a newcomer. Basically anyone other than Little.
And finally with a few scant exceptions all of Anna’s so called “army” has either gone AWOL, or deserted to her opponent! Why? Cause shes just that freaking awesome?
So, those are the facts from someone actually from Highlands, and witnessed most of the mess that Anna left behind in her wake during her historic rise to godhood! Oh, and last but not least she got paid to be Highlands mayor, but yet missed something like 75% of the meetings her last year as mayor! Shouldnt the taxpayers of Highlands be demanding a refund?
Just what I thought Edith. No substance and no explanation. What the hell does “don’t underestimate the Monmouth County Residents” mean?
I’ll wait for you to give us some reasons we should support the failed candidate from 2010 again.
This press release goes to show how LITTLE Ernesto knows about municipal government. Lets remember people he does know NOTHING.
ALL municipalities carry debt, they CANNOT print money like the federal government and so it is a very different animal. Municipalities have something called DEBT SERVICE.
There are two aspects to the municipal budget: The operating budget and the capital budget. The operating budget is the portion that is used to run the town. This includes the debt service payments that are bonded for under the capital budget (more on that in a second). The capital budget is the portion that is used to pave roads, fix buildings, purchase fire trucks, parks equipment, police cars, etc …
Municipalities are allowed by law to borrow through bonding or notes for capital projects and improvements up to 3 percent of the township’s total assessed valuation. Again this is normal, not rocket science and not VOODO. Why doen’t the chart show the numbers??? Ernesto has NEVER served in any Government, and simply doesn’t know what the law are or how they work.
I am also a highlands resident, was involved with the republican committee, so I know what is going on. The good mayor did have a flat budget, that means she held the line on spending. Soooo she created a PUBLIC budget review committee to engage the public on managing the budget, it was by partisan and did some great work.
The truth about highland politics is sad. What they don’t tell you is the reason that the republican committee turned over with all new people last cycle was that O’Neil and Nolan were traitors, they worked with the democrats to do all of the appointments. The republicans of highlands (the people) came together and revolted against Nolan, O’Neil and Art. The people through out the party bosses. O’Neil was so mad he even had a Pallone sign on his lawn during the run election cycle. Things are so bad here that O’Neil did not get the line from out sitting ELECTED chair, he is technically off the line. He was going to switch parties to where he belongs but instead he made a deal with Christine Hanlon who pushed the entire elected highlands committee OFF THE LINE. (this is why I am NOT supporting Christine for chair). Party Bosses RULE here in highlands, sad thing.
The main reason she lost highlands was because she riced all the municipal workers. (A Rice notice is a layoff notice) Those workers were very upset and had big families in town. She was not being mean, she was trying to maintain the flat budget. The contracted increases were sending the budget up and that was all she had to work with.
The truth is that that whole “she worked with the unions” thing is about one of the unions buckling and working with the town so they could keep their jobs.
I think she lost by like 70 votes in highlands. If you combine the municipal workers families with the O’Neil factor you probably have about 150 votes against her. Just wanted to put some context around the loss.
And Mr. John McCott (HighlandsGotVeryLittleGovt.FromLittle )… I think you also need to learn a bit on how things work and get better informed.
I guess I could say the “TRUTH” is a suborn thing.
I’m not going to defend Mrs. Little but what needs to be know is what was the additional bonding for and was Mrs. Little for or against it?
Without knowing that, just stating that the debt grew while Mrs Little was Mayor, does not mean a thing.
As “Real Highlands person” stated, maybe a new fire truck was needed, etc.
How sad—if the Diva wins the primary–as a conservative i would have to be consistent and vote for the person who actually shows up for work—-that would be Cupcake………
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Try again so-called real highlands person!
Although you are correct in many things you cite about what happened to the Republicans in Highlands, I know having been involved, you are wrong about Little.
Almost all of her decisions were made for political reasons. The alliance with the democrats to renenogitate the police contact as he last act in office, against the Repulicans on council proves this. She threw anyone under the bus or used them if it was to her advantage. She voted with the democrats most of the time, even when it came to appointing democrats over fellow Republicans. She openly admitted she has a hard time saying “no” when it came to council issues.
She refused to back up fellow Republicans attacked unjustly by highlands democrats. When a fellow Republican and supporter was actually physically assaulted by a sitting democrat councilman, she not only refused to ask this councilperson to resign from council, but then voted to give this person legal representation(with the democrats) paid for by the tax payers of highlands, when the assaulted person dared to file assault charges.
She was unable to work with, or cooperate with other Republicans on the town council.
She would often state her position was one way publically and do the exact opposite at the council table.
Virtually all Republican appointees to boards were swept away during her tenure, and Little stood by and didnt do anything to stop or protest it. She just voted with the democrats.
She constantly makes egotistical statements like “my star is rising” to describe herself.
Anna little is about one person, Anna Little. She was a weak and ineffective leader at best. And at her worst was a total political animal and opportunist.
Why does anyone thing that local Republicans do not support her and neither does the county. Both places when she has previously held office?
All the pro-little posters her have failed to name even one accomplishment of Little’s while she was mayor of Highlands. Why? There were none!
That’s not true—she managed to flip a town under R’s to D’s, not to mention the booming business district………….
WOW, WrongRealHighlandsPerson is really wrong.
Interesting how negative and inconsistent the “anti” anna little people are. I talked with the current sitting chair and she confirmed the post by the Real Highlands Person. Just like the article posted here the negative stuff is just that negative stuff, not true.
One accomplishment was she had the storm sewers cleaned every month. She also did a great job during one of the storms. I heard she had a town worker man one of the main pump stations during a nor-easter. He kept it pumping… I know that that pump went down during the hurricane with no one manning it. Actually a democratic councilman ended up jumping the fence to get it working… The new mayor really dropped the ball.
So…………….
Keeping the storm sewers clean……..presumably a regular maintainance activity by borough workers is the BIG accomplishment by Anna Little while she was mayor of Highlands? Thats It? Seriously? Seriously?
Thats all anyone could come up with? Im talking one thing, just one, that she did as mayor to make the town a better place.
Did she provide better code enforcement? No!
Does the town look better? No!
Was bay ave. business dist. revitalized? No!
Did she address corruption and abuses by members of the Highlands council? No!
What did she do? And noone can come up with even one major accompishment!
Storm sewer cleaning? Thats it?
Thanks for helping to prove my point!
You are soooo wrong. You don’t live in highlands, where before mayor little the streets would flood after every rain storm.
No one ever put a maintenance plan in place. Prev administrations were reactionary… no planning.
Clearing the drains of the sand and silt made a HUGE difference.
I am not going to waste any more time with this. If you look at her blog:
http://mayorlittle.blogspot.com/
Every year she did a state of the borough.
I recommend that anyone with any questions about what she did look at that blog and ignore the static here in the room.
Thanks for making my point! Once again, Thats it? I see you dont mention any other fantastic Little accomplishments!
Also, there were 4 other people on the council with little, Im sure they had nothing to do with making sure drains were clear. But did Little have new drains installed to help flooding? Did she institute some sort of flood mitigation program?
So………she got people to do their jobs? Fine!
Im still waiting for the long list of other accomplishments……………… but all I hear is the chirping of crickets…….. chirp chirp! chirp chirp!