Christie: Prosecutor, not governor, ‘best job I ever had’

NEWTON, Iowa — Despite being reelected in a landslide, Gov. Chris Christie told a lunchtime crowd at an Iowa town hall Wednesday that serving as a U.S. Attorney was actually “the best job I’ve ever had.” With 102 days and 6 hours left before the crucial GOP Iowa Caucus, Christie also told those assembled to focus… Read the rest of this entry »

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More than 240K N.J. mortgages said to be ‘seriously underwater’

The share of “seriously underwater” properties in New Jersey declined from a year ago, according to a new report, but more than 240,000 homes still fell into that category in the third quarter of this year. Residents owed at least 25 percent over what what their home is worth on 13.8 percent of all residential properties… Read the rest of this entry »

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Gopal: Marlboro is in play

With only $3,000 cash on hand, as of September 30, Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal seems to be abandoning his strategy of concentrating on LD 11, and now appears to be focused on protecting his turf in Marlboro.

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Larry “The Lunger” Luttrell Resurfaces, Attempting To Thwart News Of Marder’s Ethics Violations

When we last heard from Lawrence “The Lunger” Luttrell, the three time election loser, was scurrying into obscurity while threatening to sue the Monmouth County Republican Committee for a radio ad that claimed his law license was “suspended” when in fact he had been ruled ineligible to practice law.

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To our knowledge, no one has actually investigated whether or not Luttrell actually practiced law during his ineligibility.  He claimed he was unaware that he had been ruled ineligible, so maybe he did perform legal work when he was not legally authorized to do so. That would be a problem.

Now, nearly a year later, Luttrell has resurfaced in an apparent attempt to keep the voters of Marlboro in the dark about Councilwoman Randi Marder’s ethics violations and worse, the waste of $16,000 of Marlboro tax dollars that Mayor Jon Hornik and the Marlboro Township Council authorized to be spent in legal fees to appeal the New Jersey Local Finance Board’s findings that Marder committed eight ethical violations associated with the Township doing business with her husband’s companies.

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The Arnone Report: Hold Up On ADP, All Systems Go On Shark River

By Monmouth County Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone

Freeholder Tom Arone

I know there is much speculation recently on the integrity of the Assessment Demonstration Project and I want everyone to know that we hear you and we will support your inquiries. Earlier this year, I along with my fellow members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders asked Matt Clark, Monmouth County’s Tax Administrator, to hold a meeting for all the municipalities to explain the details of the Assessment Demonstration Project. It was our understanding that attendees left feeling more comfortable with what they heard and understood the benefits of the program. As a result of the close working relationships we have throughout the County, numerous Mayors have contacted the Freeholders with concerns over the uncertainty of this program and the recent negative media coverage surrounding it.  While we all did our best to alleviate those concerns, we also understand the difficult position it puts most of them in. After the events the past few weeks, without making judgements on the program, its administrator or county tax board members, we believe it may be best to put this program on hold until all questions are answered and the Mayors can explain the long term tax benefit to the residents of Monmouth County . It is our hope that the timeline of January 1 will remain intact while these issues are vetted, as it gives the municipalities the ability to budget for the following year’s tax appeals. It is our hope that you continue to stay informed and aware of the tax assessment program through your municipality or at the County level.

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Saturday is Make a Difference Day in Middletown

Township Committee Urges Residents to Make Food Donations This Week

Middletown Township is participating in the nationwide community service day, Make A Difference Day, on Saturday October 24.

The Middletown Social Services Department is holding a food and cleaning supplies drive through Friday, October 23. Non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and paper products are needed to restock Middletown Pantry. The Middletown Pantry, which is managed by the Social Services Department and Middletown Helps Its Own, provides emergency food and household supplies to residents in need.

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

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Marlboro GOP Candidates Congratulate Middletown for Taking Action on Property Taxes

Mayoral and Council Candidates Pledge Solutions, Not Grand Standing

Ira Goldberg, Sui Allex and John Dwyer

Marlboro, NJ- Ira Goldberg, the Republican candidate for mayor in Marlboro Township issues his congratulations to Middletown Mayor Stephanie Murray and the Middletown’s Township Committee for taking decisive action to bring accountability and fairness to their Township’s Property Tax Assessments in the wake of the Asbury Park Press investigation that shed a scandalous light on the state-mandated Assessment Demonstration Program, the controversial new method of setting property values in Monmouth County.

“While Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik has been political grandstanding in the face of a scandal by calling for the ADP to be suspended without offering a replacement, my friends in Middletown have enacted a solution to inequitable tax assessments and put their own credibility on the line,” Goldberg said, “By firing Realty Data Systems, and bringing the home inspection and data collection functions in house, Middletown has offered a solution to the problem.  That is leadership.”

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State senators get lesson in school overcrowding, underfunding in Freehold Borough

FREEHOLD BOROUGH – State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Senators M. Teresa Ruiz and Jennifer Beck visited Park Avenue Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon to promote the value of the district’s early childhood education program. The met with teachers and students, watched them read books and heard them sing songs. Then were told that the benefits… Read the rest of this entry »

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, October 23-25,2015

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, Oct 23

• The Capitol Steps at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Haunted Literature Lantern Tour (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• The Rainmaker by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• The Seedbed at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Sinatra Our Way (Middletown) – MORE INFO
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Duncan Smith Theater (Holmdel) – MORE INFO
• The Importance of Being Earnest at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• “Redefining Stage Fright” Haunted Theater at BCC (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• Bruce Springsteen: A Photographic Journey at Monmouth U (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Jersey Shore Ghost Tours (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Camp Evans Base of Terror (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO

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Latino Coalition CPC Endorses Christine Hanlon for Monmouth County Clerk

Oh boy.  Things just went from bad to worse for Vin Gopal and the Monmouth County Democrats:

Frank Argote-Freyre, Chairman of the Latino Coalition Continuing Political Committee. photo via facebook

The Latino Coalition Continuing Political Committee (LC-CPC) announced today its support for incumbent Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon because of her forward thinking pledge to modernize the clerk’s office.

“Many of the clerk’s staff are still using typewriters to conduct business on a daily basis,” said Frank Argote-Freyre, Chair of the LC-CPC. “The Latino Coalition believes she is the right person to bring the office into the 21st Century.”

At a meeting with the Coalition, Hanlon pledged to provide more information in Spanish on the county’s website. Hanlon also said she plans to improve the Clerk’s office by adding e-filing, providing more information online, and creating a more mobile friendly office, including a forms portal for online submission of many county forms.

In contrast, her opponent, Democrat Kevin Kane never responded to a request for a meeting with the Latino Coalition.

“Kane has served for many years as a Councilman in Freehold Borough and has done absolutely nothing to improve relations between the immigrant community and the more established residents,” said Argote-Freyre. “When former Mayor Michael Wilson tried to force Latino immigrants from the borough through a series of unethical actions, Kane sat silently and did nothing to foster a climate of understanding.”

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