Without Art to corral you donkeys, I thought I’d send the friendly admin my latest Random Thoughts, and try to incite a riot, as I’ve been discussing this very topic with neighbors in my town.
It’s no secret at this point, Jen Beck and Mary Pat Angelini have both come out in favor of gay marriage, a position that is off of the usual Republican line. Earlier this year, Jen Beck voted against a Christie line item veto for “women’s health funding”, which is also off of the line. Likewise, Mary Pat Angelini sponsored and pushed, what I would consider to be nanny state, anti bullying legislation and then pushed the student survey bill that would have asked students for personal information about their households like salary, religious beliefs, political affiliations among other items, again seemingly an off of the line bill. For me personally, both have been on the wrong side of Second Amendment legislation over and over again, supporting One Gun a Month legislation and doing nothing to get NJ’s laws in line with the nation’s firearms laws in light of recent Supreme Court decisions. I’m sure I’m missing a few places where they weren’t toeing the line, but these example should suffice.
But while Jen Beck and Mary Pat Angelini seem to stray from the party line on these few, relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, issues, they also can be accused of just toeing the line on many others. Both can be counted on to toe the line when it comes to pension and benefit reforms, both can be counted on to toe the line when it comes to the 2% property tax cap and other tax reforms. Both seem to toe the line on school choice, teacher tenure reforms and other school funding issues. In fact, one can certainly make the case that both Beck and Angelini always just toe the party line… usually.
So what do you want your elected representatives to do? Do you want them to just be consistent and toe the line, every time? Or do you want them to be free thinkers who sometimes stray from the party line, but try to represent local interests? Is there another option that allows free thinking and local representation without having the appearance of just toeing the line, or crossing the line at the wrong times? If no one on either side was willing to budge from their party line, would anything get done? Does anything, good, get done now with the current system? Where do you draw the line on toeing the line? As a county committeeman, would you accuse me of toeing the line for supporting candidates who don’t always toe the line, or am I getting out of line to support candidates who are sometimes out of line? Again, is there another option?
Feel free to discuss. In the meantime, don’t mind me – I’ll be out “toeing the party line”, or not, and asking everyone in district 11 to vote Beck, Angelini and Casagrande on November 8th because they have done a great job toeing the line or have proving their ability and will to get off the line and have a voice of their own. Either way you look at it, I’m happy with the general direction that the Great State of New Jersey is moving, and.I’m convinced that, in general, Beck, Angelini and Casagrande will continue toeing the line, or not, to keep our state moving in the right direction.
If Old Bridge residents continue to vote for party over policy they will get what they have always gotten. After 16 years of Democratic control Old Bridge residents have higher taxes, deficit spending, dictate, deceit and the State telling us to get our budgetary practices in order or they will have to step in.
The Democratic committee of Old Bridge calls themselves progressive and forward thinkers. All I have seen and experienced are my taxes progressing higher with a reduction of services. Desperate for votes the Democrats are promising tax relief during an election season, very convenient and finally transparent. I won’t give them my vote on an empty promise.
While the economy has been tanking for the past four years the Democrats have been fiscally irresponsible. Old Bridge residents are facing an $8 million deficit for 2012 and the Democrats blame lack of state funding. I blame them for their lack of commitment to be effective leaders and good stewards of our hard earned tax dollars. Where have they been under a progressive rock.
They have dictated by a 5-4 vote, along party lines, the early retirement health care ordinance for municipal workers. This reduces their years of service to Old Bridge from 25 to 15, allowing 10 years from other municipalities and Old Bridge residents left to pick up the cost of their health care until they pass. On a petition over three thousand resident signatures against the ordinance wanted a referendum on the ballot for the taxpayers to decide. This did not happen due to the deceitful shenanigans of a partisan democratically run town and county.
The State of New Jersey has warned the township several times in writing not to plan their budgets around non recurring revenues. They were told if they continued the state would have no choice but to step in. The OB Municipal Utilities Authority, water and sewer, has been an expedient slush fund for borrowing $1.3 million in 2009 and 2011 and selling OB land to them for $5.3 million while our water and sewer bill has skyrocketed. If the rumor is correct the Democratic council wants to sell the MUA, why would they sell our water rights away? Is this the way we want to run our township?
If anyone has ever watched the council meetings on public access they would see and hear how unprofessional the democrats attitudes are towards residents comments, verbally dismissing them, not returning resident phone calls and passing ordinances, without public comment, that effect their safety and pocketbook .
Due to the lack of a record to run on the Democrats have taken their money machine and have resorted to slandering Republican candidates while all these individuals did was contribute to their communities and be on boards in the town. Democratic Mayor Patrick Gillespi was disingenuous in the Suburban when he did not give credit to the planning board for their work on the master plan for OB. The credit belongs to Republican mayoral candidate Owen Henry and the other planning board members.
The Democrats will have to run on their 16 year record which is not good enough for me or the residents of Old Bridge. They can try to blame the Republicans but the residents are not stupid, the Democrats created the mess, allowed it to progress and haven’t fixed it to this point.
Remember, if you always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always gotten.
Vote Republican Column A on Nov 8th and together we can get Old Bridge back on track.
Art Appeared in Court today in front of Judge Thomas F. Scully. He did not waive his right to an extradition hearing. A hearing date was set for November 16. Additionally his Lawyer Michael P. Laffey of the Holmdel based Messina Law Firm filed a motion to have Arts bail reduced to $50,000.00 with a 10% option. It is currently set at $250,000.00 with no 10% option. That motion is being reviewed by the Judge. Mr. Laffey also informed the Judge that Art has an attorney in Delaware who is working on arranging for Art to submit to Delewares Jurisdiction. The Judge indicated that if that is arranged he will immediatly schedule a court appearance to waive the extradition hearing so that things can then proceed in Delaware.
The first row of seats in the Court Room were filed with Art Gallagher supporters.
After the hearing Mr. Laffey issued a statement that ‘Art Gallagher legally repossesed the buses in question. Watson Bus Company was in default under its lease agreement. There was no theft.”
Since this Blog is supposed to be about local Monmouth County politics I trolled the local Patch sites for something interesting involving local politics. The best I could come up with is this article in the Eatontown/Tinton Falls Patch. http://eatontown.patch.com/articles/board-of-ed-issues-a-call-to-action-to-tinton-falls-residents#comments. Maybe tommorrow something good will pop in Marlboro. Things are usually exciting there.
Anyway some interesting comments in this article. I see popular troll (and by that I mean smelly monster that lives under a bridge and eats goats Jim Sage jumped in.
So what do you pack of Hynaes masquerading as political pundits that Art calls an audience think of this story?
Did anybody see the debate? what did you think. I am wondering why they let Anderson Cooper moderate. The Democrats wouldn’t let Rush Limbaugh moderate their debates would they? Why are we so stupid?
State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R- Monmouth/Middlesex) responded to reports that Jersey City will borrow to pay for more than $9 million in accumulated personal time and sick time this year by calling again for an immediate vote to end unused sick leave payouts for public employees:”Today, we saw the clearest example yet of how the Democratic Majority’s refusal to enact meaningful sick leave reform is costing the taxpayers of New Jersey. Jersey City is being forced to pay $9 million in unused leave benefits, rather than controlling taxes and improving services is bad enough. Sick leave is not deferred compensation. It is not a retirement plan or a bonus- it is intended to be used as time off when an employee is sick. The Majority needs to recognize that we must end, not just cap, these payments and post the Governor’s conditional veto immediately.”
The amended version of, S-2220, which would change the retirees unused sick leave statute is now pending before the State Senate.
GOP lays out a comprehensive plan for economic revival and long-term growth
Old Bridge, NJ: Recognizing that the residents of Old Bridge are tired of the Democrats one-shot revenue raising schemes, Township land-sales and raiding OBMUA surpluses to plug self-inflicted budget gaps, the 2011 Republican team of Owen Henry, Brian Cahill, Eleanor “Debbie” Walker and Dr. Jim Anderson have assembled the following comprehensive 6-point plan to revitalize Old Bridge’s stagnant economy and restore integrity to the Township Council. Members of the public and press can find and download a copy of this plan at http://www.oldbridgerepublicans.com/framework-for-change/.
A Framework for Change – Putting Old Bridge Back on the Right Track
Old Bridge is Open for Business
Demonstrate to the Business community that Old Bridge is a Business Friendly town
Create sustainable additional Revenue – Create jobs
Partner with State of New Jersey’s Economic Development Team
Complete Review of all Vendor Contract
Review and re-bidding of all contracts to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
Additional review process to ensure fairness and least-cost
Township Administrative Efficiency
Complete review of Township Departments to eliminate redundancy and improve costs
Top to bottom analysis of Expenses
Complete Review of HR Policies and procedures
Fiscal Responsibility
Produce structurally balanced budgets
No more one shot Revenue Schemes
No more land sales to balance budgets
No more raiding the OBMUA’s reserve
Due Diligence
Immediately Repeal the newly enacted Lifetime Healthcare ordinance
Ensure Township employees have the tools they need to meet the needs of the Residents
Explore and invest in technology
Energy Audit to improve costs
Shared Service agreements with neighboring towns
Resident/Employee Outreach
Quarterly Resident Forums
Improved communication via Website, Social Media & in Emergencies
Mayor will be completely accessible to residents
Town Hall & employee forums with the Mayor
Open government – Restructure of Town Council meetings – Two Meetings per month
Republican Candidates Craig Marshall, Christopher Dean, and Marianne Longobardi respond to contest set forth by the Democrat incumbents
With just over a month to go until the election, Democrat incumbents Jon Hornik, Frank LaRocca, and Randi Marder have shown that they will do anything it takes to get elected; even if it means to buy a vote.
In the recent article published on Patch.com, Jon Hornik and the rest of his team are now trying to earn votes by offering a $250 reward for this so called “game” they have initiated. “I find it distasteful and certainly not what an election decision should be about.” Craig Marshall, candidate for Mayor, said “it is interesting that instead of talking about the issues that matter most to the citizens of Marlboro like taxes, jobs, spending, Mayor Hornik along with his running mates are trying to divert attention from their out of control spending and actions.”
Craig Marshall is referring to the sky rocket legal and engineering fees the town has endured over the last four years, as well as, Randi Marder’s husband doing business with the town while she is serving as a member of the council.
“The use of the car as a campaign gimmick only illustrates their failure to grasp the concerns of the taxpayers” said Marianne Longobardi, candidate for Town Council, “Instead of a one time $250 contest, the taxpayers of Marlboro would be better suited by leadership that will reduce their property taxes.”
Marshall, Dean, & Longobardi have pledged that if elected they will put to an end to the reckless spending and always put taxpayers first!
