Christie’s approval ratings sink to stink

TRENTON — Another poll, another bad sign for Gov. Chris Christie’s standing among New Jersey residents. The governor’s approval rating slipped to another all-time low, according to a new Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday. The survey found 64 percent of voters disapprove of the job Christie is doing, compared to only 29 percent who approve. The… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Christie nominates Judge Escandon for tenure

Judge Paul X. Escandon

Governor Chris Christie announced yesterday that he has nominated Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon for reappointment to the bench.  Should Escandon be be confirmed by the State Senate, he will be a tenured Judge eligible to serve until the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Escandon was appointed to the Superior Court in 2009 by Governor Jon Corzine.  His service on the bench became a matter of public controversy when Governor Chris Christie lent a sympathetic ear to Rachel Alintoff, whose divorce was being presided over by Escandon, during a Town Hall Meeting in Garfield, Bergen County, on May 2, 2012.  Alintoff complained to Christie that Escandon stripped her of her parental rights as a punishment for seeking an Order of Protection against her estranged husband in New York and that the Judge ordered her estranged husband, who she said makes over $500,000 per year on Wall Street, to provide only $1000 per month in support for her and her son.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth GOP: Doherty is bought and paid for by out of county special interests

Republicans Sheriff Shaun Golden, Surrogate Rosemarie Peters, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso

The Monmouth County Republican Organization said that Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Freeholder in the June 7 primary, is bought and paid for by Trenton lobbyists, Wall Street executives and North Jersey political bosses “seeking to turn Monmouth County Government into their own Hudson County style patronage machine.”

In a press release distributed Monday afternoon, the Monmouth GOP organization said that Doherty’s latest campaign finance report indicates that over 60% of the $98,000 he disclosed the source of came from donors who reside outside of Monmouth County.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Chelsea Clinton campaigns in Monmouth County, supports her mother

HAZLET — On the last day for residents in New Jersey to register to vote in the June 7 primary, Chelsea Clinton made two stops along the Jersey Shore to campaign on behalf of her mother, Hillary. At events in Long Branch and Hazlet, Chelsea Clinton touted her mother’s record as a “change-maker” and her ability… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

47 days, coincidences and counting

By Muriel J. Smith

Editor’s note: This article is the third in an exclusive series of Muriel’s inspiring and hopeful message after dealing with breast cancer

It was Dec. 18, a week before Christmas, I learned I had breast cancer. But it was little. The tumor couldn’t be felt by Dr. Mary Martucci, the surgical oncologist at Centra State Medical Center, who examined me. But it could be seen on the ultra sound. And confirmed by the biopsy. And it was located pretty well directly in the middle of my right breast.

On the other hand, I was at the Star & Barry Tobias Women’s Health Center at Freehold’s Centra State Medical Center where radiologist Dr. Kenneth Tomkovich was involved in a nation-wide trial procedure. I fit the criteria to participate in it. Even better, Dr. Martucci, the  surgeon who would have done the lumpectomy had I opted for that option, said that whichever I chose…surgery or the trial, cryoablation, would be ok. A surgeon who certainly put her patient first! And I was grateful.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

“Lawless Matt” Doherty defies Court, Pay to Play Ordinance

Defy– openly resist or refuse to obey

Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty speaks during the Two Year Hurricane Sandy Anniversary while Governor Christie practices his Trump sidekick pose(Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)

In his latest campaign finance disclosure with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty did not disclose the names of donors who gave his campaign $300 or less, as required by Belmar’s Ethics and Pay to Play Law.

Before he stopped talking to MoreMonmouthMusings, shortly after he declared his candidacy for Monmouth County Freeholder in January, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty told us that his borough’s pay to play ordinance was unenforceable.  Never-the-less, he pushed the Borough Council to pass a new ordinance that would allow him to take donations from people and entities who have business with or are regulated by the Borough and not to disclose donations less than $300.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Russian Zoo Names Black Goat After Barack Obama

A Russian zoo, made famous by the unlikely bromance between a tiger and a goat, has now named a newcomer to the attraction after U.S. President Barack Obama. The Primorsky Safari Park has adopted a goat named “Obama” from a farmer in the city of Sochi, the location of the last Winter Olympics in 2014, NBC… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

N.J. lawmaker fuming after Sandy whistleblower told to leave FEMA contractor alone

WASHINGTON — A lawyer for the contractor helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency review Hurricane Sandy damage claims has demanded that a whistleblower and a law firm stop contacting its employees to bolster allegations that storm victims were shortchanged. The letter from Optimal Solutions and Technologies referenced Jeff Coolidge, a whistleblower who worked for a company… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

May 17 is the voter registration deadline to vote in the June 7 primary

New voters can still register to vote in the June 7 primary. The deadline is Tuesday, May 17.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are still battling for the Democratic Presidential nomination and locally, the Democrats have an election to choose who their County Freeholder candidates will be on the November general election ballot.  Running for Freeholder under Clinton’s line are Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty and Brenda Sue Fulton of Middletown.  Running with Bernie Sander are Angelica Ashford of Manalapan and Laury Wills of Little Silver.

The Republican presidential primary has been settled, with Donald Trump the presumptive nominee.  Ted Cruz and John Kasich remain on the New Jersey ballot.   The Republican Freeholder candidates, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Freeholder Serena DiMaso are running unopposed for their nominations.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

No jury trial for drunken drivers, N.J. Supreme Court rules

TRENTON — The state’s highest court has ruled that those accused of drunken driving in New Jersey have no right to a jury trial, even when they face months in jail and steep fines for repeat offenses. Driving while intoxicated is not a criminal offense in New Jersey, and the state Supreme Court on Thursday maintained… Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet