In this second segment of Art Gallagher’s interview with Middletown Township Committee members Tony Fiore and Steph Murray we learn about Murray’s background, education, family and her new career. Towards the end of the segment, the Deputy Mayor talks about the publicized financial issues she and her family have been through and how they handled being in The Asbury Park Press’s spotlight over that personal matter. Read the rest of this entry »
MONMOUTH COUNTY VOTERS: VOTE NO & NO on the public questions. One disallows income from legal settlements to be used to service general debt… the other INCREASES debt by allowing yet another bond issue for the “cause of the week”.
Kim Guadagno,the GOP nominee for NJ Governor, joined the New Jersey’s best afternoon radio host, TommyG, yesterday afternoon.
Kim and Tommy keep it real for a half hour. It is worth a listen, especially if you have never met Kim and don’t have first hand experience with how down to earth she is. Read the rest of this entry »
New Jersey’s gubernatorial contenders will face off in the first of two broadcast debates tonight at 7 PM.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, the Republican nominee, and former Goldman Sachs banker Phil Murphy, the Democrat, will take stage at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark for the debate which is scheduled preempt Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on ABC affiliates in New York and Philadelphia. NJSpotlight will be livestreaming the event. Read the rest of this entry »
Art Gallagher met with Middletown Deputy Mayor Stephanie Murray and Committeeman Tony Fiore for an interview last week. Both up for reelection to the Township Committee next month, Murray is seeking her third term, Fiore his fourth.
In the first two segments of the interview we hope to give Middletown voters a sense of who Fiore and Murray are personally. In the final segment we cover what they have accomplished for Middletown through their years of service and what they intend to accomplish in the next three years if they are reelected. Read the rest of this entry »
Like Kevin Asadi and other residents, I recently received the letter from Senate candidate Vin Gopal which denounces the Assessment Demonstration Program (the “ADP”), implemented in 2013, as the source of high property taxes.
Since I have run in four state elections in Monmouth County, I have been in Mr. Gopal’s shoes. Political operatives refer to the weeks before an election as the “silly season”, since candidates will say almost anything about their opponents to generate a headline.
However, there is a line which should never be crossed – candidates should not issue false or misleading information, since it not only subjects them to legal liability, but most importantly, it does a disservice to taxpayers. Read the rest of this entry »
Monmouth County residents: I received this letter in the mail today from Vin Gopal. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but a letter like this shows such a gross and shocking misunderstanding of how property taxes work, that I fear what damage he might do to all of us, should he win.
I handle property tax appeals as part of my law practice. Here is how it works, basically: the property you own is given an assessed value by the local tax assessor or by a revaluation company. In most counties, that assessment will remain the same year after year, until the town decides to perform a revaluation or a reassessment.
Whether your assessed value is $100,000 or $1,000,000, either way, your town needs a certain number of dollars in the kitty each year in order to operate. Take the amount of money the town needs divided by their total assessments, and the quotient is called the “general tax rate.” The property tax dollars you pay is the product of your assessed value times the general tax rate. Read the rest of this entry »
“Your election is not only critical to the small-business owners in your district, but also to protecting free enterprise across the state,” wrote State Director Laurie Ehlbeck in letters to the legislators.
“Small-business owners are the backbone of our economy and collectively provide most of the jobs in the New Jersey,” said Thompson. “It is my privilege to fight for them. I am honored to have the support and partnership of the NFIB/NJPAC.” Read the rest of this entry »
In the NJ gubernatorial race, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, the GOP nominee believes in standing for the National Anthem. Former Goldman Sachs banker Phil Murphy, the Democrat, applauds the NFL players who are taking a knee during the patriotic opening ceremonies of their games.
“As the mother of an Air Force pilot, I believe this is a no-brainer. When that national anthem comes on, no matter who you are or what issues you may have, you should stand and salute our flag. Our anthem should and must stay above the partisan political fray,” said Guadagno on Facebook. Read the rest of this entry »