Belmar’s absentee mayor wants to be a freeholder

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty has taken a page out of Governor Chris Christie’s book by neglecting the job he was elected to while running for higher office.

The Asbury Park Press is reporting that Doherty has missed most of the Belmar governing body’s meetings since he became a Democrat nominee for Freeholder in June. The amount of meetings he has missed this year, 8, is more than double all of his absences in the previous five years combined.

Just like Christie said he could govern New Jersey via smart phone from New Hampshire and Iowa, Doherty says his absenteeism is no big deal.

“A council meeting is maybe two hours a month. I spend well over 20 hours a week being the mayor of Belmar. So for two hours a month if I’m not available, that has zero impact on the ability to perform my function as the mayor of the town,” Doherty told The Press.

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DiMaso: No Gas Tax Price Gouging in Monmouth County

Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso announced today that the County Division of Weights and Measures, which she oversees, is on the look-out for unscrupulous gas stations that are raising their prices on the news that New Jersey Gas Tax has been increased by $.23 per gallon.

The new Trenton money grab does not go into effect until November 1.

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Monmouth Dems were Sketchy on Taxes, Spending and Debt at Manalapan Debate

Sketchy Sue Fulton

Sue Fulton, a Democrat candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder, said she would reduce property taxes by 5% last week at a candidates forum at the Four Seasons 55+ community clubhouse in Manalapan.

Fulton did not say what programs she would cut, or what fiscal gimmicks she would employ, to come up with the $15.275 million. In a television commercial that started airing today on cable, Fulton said,”Cutting taxes won’t be easy. But I learned a long time ago, the the tougher the job, the harder you work.”

Fulton and her running mate, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, who we already know is sketchy, criticized their opponents, Freeholder Director Tom and Arnone and Deputy Freeholder Director Serena DiMaso, for the $4.5 million dollar property tax cut they made this year. Read the rest of this entry »

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Dem Freeholder, Surrogate candidates were recruiting interns at Middletown High School North

photo via Middletown High School North’s website

The Monmouth County Democrat candidates for Freeholder and Surrogate were recruiting 14 and 15 year old high school students to be interns for Chairman Vin Gopal’s organization when they made a campaign appearance at Middletown High School North earlier this month.

According to an email from Gopal to members of the Middletown Board of Education and Superintendent William George Ed. D, the Democrats’ Campaign Coordinator, Meaghan Mahoney reached out to Assistant Principal Tyniesha Douglas on August 10 asking if she could advertise open intern positions to the student body and requesting to address a Government, Law and Public Policy Pathway (GLP3) seminar.  Douglas responded the next day offering to arrange for Mahoney to meet the class and asking her to bring possible candidates.

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Arnone: Casino referendum is bad for Monmouth County

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone today announced his opposition to the public question that would amend the New Jersey Constitution to allow casino gambling in Northern New Jersey.

“My first responsibility as a Freeholder is to make sure Monmouth County’s interests are my top priority,” Arnone said in an announcement released by ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ the group that has been campaigning against the constitutional amendment, “Unfortunately, the ballot question on casino expansion is misguided, shortchanges our horse racing industry, and favors a small group of out-of-state, special interests.”

“In no way does this legislation help Monmouth County,” Arnone concluded.

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Monmouth Democrats threaten to sue over the Middletown High School North story

For the second time in less than a month, the Monmouth County Democrats have threatened to sue MoreMonmouthMusings.

Earlier this month Maggie Moran, former Governor Corzine’s campaign manager and Deputy Chief of Staff and the wife of Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty threatened to take legal action against us if we did not correct or retract a story wherein we claimed she worked for Ashbritt, the company that made millions cleaning up the Jersey Shore after Hurricane Sandy and the company Belmar hired after Dirty Doherty fired a local clean up contractor.  We responded by publishing her lawyer’s letter and proof that Maggie worked on behalf of Ashbritt, in the form of marketing materials with Maggie’s name and phone number on it.

Yesterday, Monmouth County Democrat Chairman Vin Gopal, threatened to sue, not about something we wrote, but about something we might write.

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Freeholders Launch “Grown in Monmouth” Marketing Campaign

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Freeholder Lillian Burry announced a boost to the Agribusiness sector of Monmouth County’s economy last week with the launch of a marketing campaign for farm products grown in the county.

Monmouth County farms and related business can sign up to use the new “Grown in Monmouth” logo which is the first part of county wide marketing strategy funded under a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant the county received last year to evaluate current trends and future opportunities to expand the local farming industry, and to develop a marketing strategy to promote and market agricultural products.

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The Arnone Report: Remembering those lost on 9-11

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Over the weekend, Americans all over our great country gathered at memorials and events to remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against our nation. We honored the innocent lives lost, along with the fearless display of heroism by first responders and citizens who responded to the unfolding tragedy.   In all, nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks that day – they were family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

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Maggie Moran denies working for AshBritt post-Sandy

Maggie Moran

Maggie Moran, the only Democrat political consultant/campaign manager to lose a statewide race in New Jersey in the last twenty years and the wife of Monmouth County freeholder candidate, Belmar Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty, denies that she did work for AshBritt Inc. during the aftermath in Superstorm Sandy, as has been reported by MoreMonmouthMusings and many other publications.

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The Arnone Report: Addressing the needs of autistic children and adults

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

As I have mentioned before, one of the most rewarding organizations I am involved in is the Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children (MOFFC).  I share this honor with our Monmouth County Sheriff, Shaun Golden, as we are both members of the board of directors.  As the vice chairman of the board, I am working with MOFFC leadership to develop a facility for adults with autism because they “age out” of the current services available within our county at 21 years of age.  This facility would provide programming, services, therapies, and life skills training. These adults with special needs deserve a safe environment where they can continue to thrive and learn.

I am pleased to say we are extremely close to making this program a reality and I am currently working on the funding sources for it. I hope to have more specific details on this important and exciting project in the weeks to come.

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