The immaturity of Caroline Casagrande

By Dan Jacobson, also published in the September 29, 2011 issue of the triCityNews

It’s well known that I’ll blast any politician for perpetrating all manners of bullshit. These are people who should know better.

But there’s a difference with Republican Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande. She likes to tout her status of one of the youngest members of the state legislature. And it’s suddenly showing.

It would be overkill to blast her. So I’ll go relatively easy. Quite frankly, I don’t know if she can take it.

For Casagrande is there by accident. Her Republican running mates in her old district – Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon – carried her in. Same is likely true this year in her new district: she’s with Beck and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini. No one knows Casagrande. Voters will likely just go down the Republican column like lemmings as they always do. What a way to run a country.

Obviously, the biggest challenges we face are economic. But even bigger is whether we’re going to continue to elect the same mediocre clowns who give us the same awful results. Our state’s massive economic mess will never be addressed until we start electing people with the maturity and seriousness to address them.

I’m running for one of the two Assembly seats as an Independent in the 11^th District. That makes me one of Casagrande’s opponents.

Here’s the problem. If a politician will bullshit you on any major issue, they could bullshit you on every major issue. To my surprise, Caroline Casagrande suddenly proved herself one of the bullshitters. That I can’t stand.

The controversy involves same-sex marriage, but the real problem is her sudden refusal to take a stand. That surprised everyone who thought she was opposed. (I favor marriage equality.) When asked last week by powerful Republican blogger Art Gallagher her position, Casagrande said she would not take one. Her initial reason? Too busy dealing with fiscal issues. Like anyone buys that.

With the redistricting earlier this year, Casagrande’s new district has a sizeable gay and lesbian population – as well as a group of conservative Republicans on the other side who oppose same-sex marriage. So Casagrande just ducks the issue. Why not? Most likely she’ll cruise to reelection without voters knowing any of this.

But I can’t stand a politician who won’t take a stand. That type of nonsense is what’s gotten us into our economic mess. And I can’t keep quiet when I see it. Like me, Casagrande has a big mouth – which is why I liked her – but I confused that with a mature self-confidence and independence that doesn’t exist.

In the end, all the Assemblywoman has got is a big mouth. At least I use mine to take a stand and take the heat.

Of course, Casagrande is welcome to equal time by taking this column for a week. She won’t. Why rock the boat? Why not just keep going to those friendly audiences and acting like a hero – and getting reelected by simply putting your name on the ballot? Wow, what a rewarding way to spend one’s life.

Then again, who the hell appointed me God?

So I’ll let you make the call. Below is how Republican blogger Gallagher reported Casagrande’s actions on his More Monmouth Musings site last week. I’ll also reprint what I posted on Art’s site in response.

This all exploded when the gay and lesbian advocacy group Garden State Equality asked the 11^th District candidates their position on same sex marriage – certainly a reasonable request if you’re seeking office.  Here’s Art Gallagher’s take:

Republican Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande has corrected the widely held perception that she would vote against gay marriage by saying only that she hasn’t publicly taken a position on the issue. She said her focus has been on fiscal issues and that she would need to study the civil union law before taking a stand on gay marriage.

Casagrande’s refusal to take a position on the politically expedient schedule of Garden State Equality has drawn criticism from her opponent Dan Jacobson and others. Jacobson said the issue has already been hotly debated and the issue should be simple.

Casagrande says it’s not so simple, “I haven’t seen a bill,” said Casagrande, “What about protections for religious institutions? If the issue is so simple, why did (Democratic Senate President) Steve Sweeney vote no and then change his mind later?”

Here’s how I responded on Gallagher’s blog:

Respectfully, I’m not accepting Caroline Casagrande’s explanation. Her running mates have taken a stand. Everyone else in the 11th District race has taken a stand. Governor Christie has taken a stand. Steve Sweeney has taken a stand – after apologizing for initially taking a political stand on this moral issue. That’s why Sweeney reversed his position. Not because of its complexity…

As a supporter of same sex marriage, I should be praising Caroline for seeming to move off a position that most people thought she held. But I’m not. I’d rather have her just decisively say she opposes it than engage in this bullshit.

Because there’s a bigger principle here – whether someone has the maturity and seriousness to hold this office. Saying that you can’t take a stand on this bill because you’ve been busy with fiscal affairs, as Caroline said a couple days ago, is nonsense. And everyone knows it.

Marriage equality is a major issue, but it’s certainly not the biggest one facing voters. The biggest problems are economic. But even bigger than that is whether we are going to stop electing people who are just playing games. That’s my objection to what Caroline is saying.

That’s what she’s doing here. And it’s what makes me go ballistic about politicians.

I’m actually a bit stunned by Caroline’s gamesmanship. After all, last week I wrote that I’d likely vote for her if I wasn’t running because we seem to share similar economic views, even if I disagree – or at least I thought I disagreed – with her on social issues like abortion and same sex marriage.

My advice to Caroline is simple. Stop this nonsense. Take a position like everyone else is able to do. And let’s all move on, and forget this ever happened. Otherwise, your failure to take a stand will become a major issue in your new district.

And I assure you it will become a major issue between the two of us in my capacity as an editorialist and candidate. Sure, I will always generously give you equal time in an equally prominent place in my newspaper. But I would rather not have us in such an adversarial relationship. I don’t know how much friendlier and more respectfully I can put it.

Hey, what can I say?

After all, we’re the triCityNews. We’re here to help – especially a frankly immature elected official who needs to learn a lesson and cut the crap.

(The 11^th District where I’m running includes: Asbury Park, Long Branch, Red Bank, Ocean Township, Neptune, Neptune City, Interlaken, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, West Long Branch, Eatontown, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Colts Neck, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough.)

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What if we held an election and nobody cared? Part 2, 13th Legislative District

Prelude from Part 1:

In seven weeks New Jersey voters will have the opportunity to elect an entirely new state legislature.

Patrick Murray’s Monmouth University/Neptune Nudniks poll conducted in August indicates that New Jersey voters disapprove of their legislature by a 48%-35% margin.  Democrats disapprove by 45%-38%.  Independents, the majority, disapprove by a whopping 50%-28%.  Surprisingly, Republicans approve of the legislature by a 45%-41% margin.  Public workers disapprove by 55%-26%.

Based solely on those poll results, one might expect that we’d be in the middle of a spirited campaign with Democrats and public workers rallying to throw the Republicans out of office.  Obviously that is not the case.  Democrats control the legislature that their base and Independents disapprove of strongly.

Due to Dr. Alan Rosenthal’s decision that New Jersey voters are better off being continuously represented by legislators they don’t know, there are only a handful of competitive legislative races.  The Democrats will continue to control the legislature for the next two years.  Probably the next ten years.

13th Legislative District

This district keeps the Bayshore towns of Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Middletown, and Union Beach from the old 13th, adds Atlantic Higlands, Highlands, Monmouth Beach,  Rumson and Sea Bright from the old 11th and Fair Haven, Little Silver, Oceanport, Marlboro from the old 12th.

The Republican incumbents are Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon. O’Scanlon previously represented the old 12th.

On paper this should be a competitive district.  Democrats actually have a voter registration edge.  According to Labels and Lists Inc there are 34,193 registered Democrats, 33,758 registered Republicans and 74,492 unaffiliated (Independent) voters in the district.

Despite the slight registration edge for Democrats, the district generally votes Republican.  John McCain won the district in 2008, Chris Christie beat Jon Corzine here by a wide margin, and Anna Little beat Frank Pallone here in 2010.

Of the 16 municipalities in the 13th, 9 of the are comfortably controlled by Republicans. 6 are competitive towns with a local governing body that shifts from R to D on occasion.   Aberdeen is the only reliably Democratic town on the municpal level.

With 31% of the registered voters in the district, Middletown dominates.  Even though their registration edge is less than 2000 voters, Republicans dominate Middletown.  Middletown voters love their hometown office holders, Joe Kyrillos and Amy Handlin who they have elected time after time over the last two decades plus; Kyrillos served two terms in the Assembly from 1988 through 1991 and has been a Senator since 1992.  Handlin was a Monmouth County Freeholder from 1990 through 2006 when she entered the Assembly.

Roughly 73% of the district is new for O’Scanlon.  Yet, that 27% from his old district, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Oceanport and Marlboro knows O’Scanlon well.  They elected him to two terms in the Assembly after he lost to Michael Panter by only 73 votes in 2005.

The Democrats are running two former Hazlet mayors and a former Middletown township committee member. 

Christopher Cullen is the former Hazlet Mayor challenging Kyrillos for Senate.  Cullen, who served one term on the Hazlet Township Committee, won the nomination for Senate as a write-in candidate in the primary after failing to submit his petitions after being tabbed at the nominating convention in the spring.  He is the director of facilities maintenance and custodial services at MAST High School.  He is a member of Operating Engineers Local 68 and was previously a member of the teamsters.

Hazlet’s Community Center is named for Cullen’s father, James J. Cullen, who served the community for many years as a Republican office holder.

Both Democratic Assembly candidates won their first municipal elections in the wake of Operation Bid Rig.  Lavan was elected to the Hazlet Township Committee in 2005 and served through 2010 when he lost his reelection bid.  Like Cullen, his union roots are deep.  He has been a member of the International Longshoreman’s Association for 46 years.  He is making his support of unions, and the Right to Work legislation that Handlin and O’Scanlon have sponsored, the center piece of his campaign.

Short, a former Republican and a West Point graduate was the first Democrat elected to the Middletown Township Committee in 2006 in the wake of Bid Rig. He was swept out of office with Jon Corzine in 2009 as Chris Christie and the GOP swept Middletownoverwhelmingly.  Short was ambivalent about seeking a second term, but ultimately ignored MMM’s advise that he take the plaque.

Based on the early inactivity of the campaign, I was wondering if the feisty Constitution Party slate of Steve Boracchia for Senate, Bill Lawton and Frank Cottone might actually garner more votes than the Democrats in this race.  However, a volunteer from the Democratic campaign reached out to me to optimistic declare that the Democrats will produce a shocking victory on election day.  The volunteer said that Cullen, Lavan and Short are going in 20 different directions knocking on doors and that they are marshalling their scare resources for a last minute sprint into office.

While the 13th districts candidates don’t have the state Democratic support that the 11th district candidates have enjoyed….a paid staff and high profile fund raisers hosted by Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Senate President Stephen Sweeney…the volunteer said that the campaign is expecting an influx of union money and that Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan is coming to the district next week to raise money for the slate.

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What if we held an election and nobody cared? Part 1, 11th district

In seven weeks New Jersey voters will have the opportunity to elect an entirely new state legislature.

Patrick Murray’s Monmouth University/Neptune Nudniks poll conducted in August indicates that New Jersey voters disapprove of their legislature by a 48%-35% margin.  Democrats disapprove by 45%-38%.  Independents, the majority, disapprove by a whopping 50%-28%.  Surprisingly, Republicans approve of the legislature by a 45%-41% margin.  Public workers disapprove by 55%-26%.

Based solely on those poll results, one might expect that we’d be in the middle of a spirited campaign with Democrats and public workers rallying to throw the Republicans out of office.  Obviously that is not the case.  Democrats control the legislature that their base and Independents disapprove of strongly.

Due to Dr. Alan Rosenthal’s decision that New Jersey voters are better off being continuously represented by legislators they don’t know, there are only a handful of competitive legislative races.  The Democrats will continue to control the legislature for the next two years.  Probably the next ten years.

11th District

The 11th district race is the only local race that is remotely interesting, so far.

There are two reasons that it is interesting. Independent candidate Dan Jacobson is colorful and is wisely using MMM, as well as his own publication to generate interest in his campaign.  Republicans are not happy about this, but MMM has had a long standing policy welcoming voices other than Art Gallagher’s.  Democrats have foolishly ignored the opportunity for years despite Gallagher’s overt invitations.

The other reason that the 11th district race is interesting is that Senator Jennifer Beck made gay marriage an issue.  That’s right, Beck, not Jacobson, not MMM, gave gay marriage prominence in this race.  She did so when she told Gannett columnist Jane Roh that she would change her vote on the issue.

“There are lots of reasons why I ultimately voted no. My position has evolved. I spent a lot of time on this issue, and at the end of the day, I would support it if it came before me.”

The Democrats, jumped on Beck’s curiously timed  “flip-flop.”   She had given them an issue.

The issue heated up again when Beck told Garden State Equality that she would vote to override Governor Christie’s veto of same sex marriage if given the opportunity.  Put on the spot, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini took the same position with some reluctance.

As a result, Beck and Angelini’s running mate, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, is now in a tough spot.

Casagrande has been, ummm, straight, in how she has responded to the issue.  She could have remained silent and let people continue to assume that she was against gay marriage rather than say she has yet to take a position.   This has resulted in attacks by Jacobson, Olivia Nuzzi and other Democrats who scoff at Casagrande’s insistence that the issue is not simple and that the rights of religious organizations need to be respected as well.

Gay marriage advocates say they have no problem with religious rights being protected and that is no longer a valid reason to withhold support of marriage equality.  While that might be true now, it has not been true in the 11th district’s recent past.  The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association lost the tax exempt status of its Pavilion in 2007 when it refused to allow a lesbian couple have a civil union ceremony there.  The Methodist organization told the couple they could have their ceremony on the boardwalk that is also owned by the group, but not in a structure where religious ceremonies are held.

That compromise wasn’t good enough and the couple complained to the State Division of Civil Rights.  Eventually, Lisa Jackson, Governor Corzine’s DEP Commissioner and now President Obama’s EPA Commissioner, declined to recertify the pavilion’s tax exempt status which the Camp Meeting Assoication had enjoyed under New Jersey’s  Green Acres program.   Reports indicate that the loss of tax exempt status for the structure cost the association about $20,000 per year.

New York’s recently enacted gay marriage law would have protected the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association from the lesbian couple’s complaint and from Jackson’s punitive action had it been law in New Jersey in 2007.   I’d be willing to bet that Jacobson, Nuzzi and the 11th district Democratic candidates did not know that before it reading here.  Garden State Equality was front in center in the 2007 fight against the Camp Meeting Association.  I’ve yet to hear a peep from them about the rights of the religious or the rights of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in particular with regard to gay marriages now that New York has set a new standard.

While the gay marriage issue is not going away, so long as Chris Christie is governor it is not a practical political issue for a legislative race.  While Democrats are expected to continue their hold on the legislature, there in not enough support from their side of the isle to override a veto.  Garden State Equality blew their chance to get a gay marriage law passed when they agreed to Governor Corzine’s request that they not push the issue until after his re-election race.

The importance of gay marriage to voters in the 11th district depends on who you believe.  Beck told MMM that Garden State Equality told her that there are 10,000 same sex couples in the 11th district.  I would would want to see a list and match it up to the voter registration records before I bought that claim.  There is no historical evidence of such a voting block.

Until I see such a list, I won’t be convinced the issue is as critical to 11th district voters as 6 of the 7 candidates running seem to think it is.  Its the economy and those who are trying to make the campaign about something other than the economy think the voters of the 11th district are stupid.

While all this chatter is fun, it won’t have much of an impact on election day.  Despite a 10,000 voter registration edge for the Democrats, Jacobson and the Democrats expect the Republicans to win a low turnout election by a wide margin.

Coming soon, What if we held an election and nobody cared?  Part 2, 13th district.

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Monmouth County Qualifies For Diasater Relief

Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre told MMM that Monmouth County will be included in President Obama’s declaration of a major disaster, making the county, its municipalities, businesses and individuals eligible for FEMA disaster relief.

Halfacre received a call Saturday evening from Chris Stark of the Governor’s office with the news which the Governor wanted to get out immediately.

FEMA inspectors canvassed damage throughout the county eariler throughout the day.

In a conference call with the media on Friday, Bill Vogel, FEMA’s Coordinating Officer, said there are two kinds of federal assistance available for major disasters.

Public Assistance is granted to government entities and non- profits for infrastructure repair, including roads, parks and government buildings.  The threshold for Public Assistance is $3.27 per capita per county.  Vogel said that currently there is only money available in this fund for debris removal and emergency repairs until Congress authorizes additional funds. 

Individual Assistance, as the name implies, is funding for citizens and businesses that have suffered disastrous damage.  These monies are fully funded and need no additional Congressional authorization.

Vogel said that all survivors who have suffered damages should register with FEMA by calling 800-621-3361 or on the web at fema.gov.  FEMA and NJ OEM employees that are canvassing the state this weekend will make their cells phones available to survivors to immediately register.

Residents should contact their own insurance companies immediately. FEMA assistance will only pay for damages that are not covered by insurance.

Major Dennis McNulty of NJ OEM said that Disaster Recovery facilities will be established throughout the state and open for business by Tuesday September 6.  The locations of the Disaster Recovery offices will be posted on fema.gov and ready.nj.gov.

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Monmouth County Park Closures

Due to the weather forecast, All Monmouth County Park System Parks, Golf Courses, Activity Centers, Environmental Centers, Visitor Centers, Program Buildings & Historic Sites will be closed to the public on Sunday, August 28^th. All Monmouth County Park System programs, activities, classes, lessons, clinics, trips & Group Picnic/Shelter rentals for Sunday, August 28^th have been cancelled

Some additional information regarding specific programs & parks:

–      Turkey Swamp Park Campgrounds will close at 12noon, Saturday, August 27^th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

–      Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park will be closed beginning Sunday, August 28^th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

–      The Dorbrook Recreation Area Sprayground will be closed beginning Sunday, August 28^th and will remain closed to the public until further notice.

–      The Going Batty Campfire program at Turkey Swamp Park for Saturday, August 27^th has been cancelled.

–      The Navesink River Kayak Trip for Sunday, August 28^th has been cancelled.

–      All boat tours at the Manasquan Reservoir for Friday evening, 8/26 thru Sunday, 8/28 have been cancelled.

–      Creature Feature at Huber Woods Environmental Center for Saturday, August 27^th has been cancelled.

–      The Monmouth County Youth Golf Tournament scheduled for Monday, August 29th at Bel-Aire Golf Course had been cancelled.

–      The Park-A-Day Camp for Monday, August 29^th departing from the Coastal Activity Center has been cancelled for Monday only.

–      Camp Seven Presidents for Monday, August 29^th has been cancelled for Monday only.

–      Charmin Discovers at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park for Monday, August 29^th has been cancelled for Monday only. 

Unless contacted separately by Park System staff, all programs & activities scheduled for Saturday, August 27th will be conducted as planned.

Updated information regarding the parks, golf courses and programs/activities which begin on Monday, August 29^th will posted on our website www.monmouthcountyparks.com as it becomes available. If you have any questions, email us at info@monmouthcountyparks.com or call (732) 842-4000 ext 4312 

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Monmouth GOP May Face Tougher Election Than Expected

By Art Gallagher

Throughout the spring and summer the conventional wisdom has been that the Monmouth GOP will not face serious challenges in legislative and county races of 2011.   2011 is supposed to be a “good Republican year.”

It still could turn out that way. Probably will.  But MMM has learned that the Democrats think they have unexpected opportunities.

On the legislative level, the Trenton Democratic machine has taken interest in the new 11th district. 

Back in April after the new legislative map was released the Democrats were scrambling to field a slate of candidates.  No Democratic elected officials would challenge Republican incumbents Senator Jennifer Beck or Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande and Mary Pat Angelini.  Now the Democrats think the 11th is in play and will dedicate financial and human resources to elect Ray Santiago to the Senate and Marilyn Schlossbach and Vin Gopal to the Assembly.

Both sides fear that Independent Assembly candidate Dan Jacobson will draw votes away from them and could end up being a spoiler.   In his column in last week’s triCityNews, Jacobson said that he expected to take votes from both sides and that he would need 20% of the voters to cast an uninformed protest vote for him in order to win a seat.  Jacobson said he expects Beck, Casagrande and Angelini to prevail in November.

On the county level, the Democrats are planning a character assassination on Freeholder Lillian Burry.  They will allege conflicts of interest on Burry’s part going back to her tenure as Mayor of Colts Neck and continuing in Freehold.

Game on.

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Freeholders Set To Approve Union Contracts

By Art Gallagher

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders are scheduled to approve five union contracts at their Regular Meeting on Thursday June 23, 7 PM at the Neptune City Municipal Building, 106 W. Sylvania Ave, Neptune City.

MMM attempted to learn the terms of the contracts today, to no avail.  We’ll follow up tomorrow.

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What if Kyrillos goes to Washington?

By Art Gallagher

From the getting way ahead of ourselves department, what impact would Joe Kyrillos’ election to the U.S. Senate next year have on the Monmouth County political landscape?

Kyrillos’ entry into the U.S. Senate field is probably an indication that bio-tech entrepreneur John Crowley will not be a candidate.  As a former State GOP Chairman and Christie confidant, Kyrillos would not announce an exploratory committee if he had not already explored the level of support he would have with the GOP power and fundraising establishment.    Should Kyrillos seek the nomination to challenge Senator Robert Menendez, he will probably get it.

If Kyrillos beats Menendez we will probably also have a new President on January 20, 2013.   For Menendez to be beat in 2012, Obama’s showing in New Jersey will have to be weak and without coat tails.

Should that happen, the Monmouth County Republican Committee would elect a 13th district Senator who would serve until a special election in November of 2013.  Assembly members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon would likely seek to move up into Kyrillos’ seat.   If one of the Assembly members moves up, the committee would then be charged with filling an Assembly vacancy.

The field for the Assembly seat could be crowded, as there is a deep bench of GOP talent residing in the new 13th district.

Middletown is the largest town in the district and has a wealth of electable talent.  Freeholder John Curley, Mayor Tony Fiore and former Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger would all be strong candidates.  Scharfenberger would face giving up his job in the Christie administration.   Curley, who will probably be Freeholder Director in 2012 with Rob Clifton moving to the Assembly in the 12th district, would have a tough choice between Freehold and Trenton. 

If Curley sought and won the Assembly seat, it would set off a county wide race for his replacement on the Freeholder Board, assuming he is reelected next year.

Fair Haven Mayor Mike Halfacre, the only Mayor in history to lower property taxes four years in a row, would be a formidable candidate.

Marlboro, the second largest town in the district would probably be the source of Democratic candidates.  Mayor Jon Hornick would have his shot to move up.  He would be a strong Senate candidate against Handlin or O’Sanlon.  Jeff Cantor could be a Democratic candidate for Assembly.  The Marlboro GOP has yet to recover from the splits that contributed to Hornik defeating former Mayor Robert Kleinberg in 2007 or Cantor’s switch to the Democratic party in 2009.  Cantor was a GOP candidate for Freeholder in 2007.

Hazlet Mayor Scott Aagre would deserve consideration should he have aspirations for higher office.  Union Beach Councilman Charlie Cocuzza is popular and ambitious.

Keyport Mayor Robert McCleod, a former municipal judge who took one for the team to run against Frank Pallone in 2008 could decide that he is better suited to serve in the Assembly than to preside over the rough and tumble of Keyport politics.

Former Highlands Mayor and former Freeholder Anna Little could be a contender depending upon how her 2012 congressional ambitions work out.

If Little doesn’t run, her close ally, Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast could be a contender.

From the southern part of the new 13th, Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace has made a good name for himself as a strong advocate of Oceanport’s interests with Fort Monmouth and Monmouth Park.  However, Irace’s advocacy for Oceanport has ruffled feathers with Republicans in the County, the Legislature and the Christie administration.  He would need a strong grassroots organization to move up.

From the Monmouth GOP should have conventions department, if Freeholder Director Rob Clifton is elected to the Assembly this November, the Monmouth Republican Committee will be required to have a Title 19 convention to choose his replacement on the Freeholder Board in early 2012.  Should Kyrillos go to Washington in early 2013, the Monmouth GOP could potentially have three Title 19 conventions in early 2013; one to elect Kyrillos’ replacement in the State Senate, one to choose a 13th district Assembly member assuming either Handlin or O’Scanlon moves up to the Senate and one to elect a Freeholder should Curley seek and win the vacant Assembly seat.

It will all be enough to turn Chairman Joe Oxley grey, assuming he is reelected Chairman next June.

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Charitable Choices

By Art Gallagher

Something has been bothering me about the Jersey Shore Workcamp project I wrote about yesterday.  It is the same thing that bothered me about a similar project I wrote about in July of 2009.

Why are churches and high schools throughout the country sending teenagers here to Monmouth County New Jersey to fix up the homes of the needy?    Why are 440 kids coming here next month to do their charitable work instead of going to Newark, Camden, New Orleans, Mississippi or the South Bronx?

Why is there a need here?

Something I read in the Two River Times this morning made the conditions that allow for the Jersey Shore Workcamp bother me even more.

Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl is raising money, tax deductible money, for the Rumson fireworks.  He sent a letter to residents of Rumson, Navesink and Fair Haven asking for contributions to the Rumson Endowment Fund, Inc, a 501 c 3, to fund Rumson’s $100,000 fireworks display.

In the TRT article, Ekdahl is quoted as saying that the Rumson fireworks mirror the famous Red Bank Kaboom fireworks.  7500 people enjoy the Rumson show, not including private parties.  5000 of those people watch pyrotechnics from the Oceananic Bridge where they have great views of both the Rumson and Red Bank fireworks.

I have nothing against fireworks, I just don’t like crowds.  I went to the Red Bank fireworks once in the 90’s.  The show was spectacular but the crowd was too much for me.   For the last couple of years I’ve preferred to watch the NY fireworks from a distance on my deck in Highlands while listening to the Red Bank and Rumson shows.   Even if the Gooches or the Halls invited me to a private fireworks party I would think twice for fear that the short drive to and from home would take hours with all the traffic.

I think the good people of Rumson, Navesink and Fair Haven should spend their money however they like.  If they want to chip in $100,000 per year for fireworks for all to enjoy, fine with me.

But there is something unseemly about the fact that a week later 440 kids from throughout the country will be coming to the neighborhood, and paying $449 each to do so, in order to fix up the homes of the poor and disabled.

Anyone who wants to volunteer or contribute to the Jersey Shore Workcamp can contact Bill Bechtoldt at 732-671-1036.

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To Reduce Tax Burden, Shared Services Are A Necessity

By Freeholder Thomas Arnone, Monmouth County

The shared services initiatives spearheaded by Monmouth County government have been extremely successful. Under often difficult circumstances, the county has provided key services and recorded very significant cost savings to local partners.

It is estimated the county has saved municipalities millions of dollars through successful sharing of 911 dispatch, public works assistance, Planning Board, cooperative purchasing, information technology and digital records management, among others.

For example, one municipality publicly reported an estimated savings of more than $600,000 per year by participating in the county shared services dispatch program conducted through the Sheriff’s Office. I am pleased to report Neptune Township recently joined the county’s shared services dispatch program, which will save local taxpayers $1 million over the life of the agreement and generate $1.8 million in revenue for the county over the same period, helping to offset expenses and hold the line on taxes.

Monmouth County shares services with all 53 municipalities in an effort to reduce local costs through strong community partnerships. The success of the initial program has allowed for expansion into additional partnerships with police departments, fire departments, first aid squads, authorities, commissions and public schools and institutions of higher learning.

Recently, I instructed our shared services staff to perform a Web-based survey of municipal partners that will serve as a catalyst to an expanded shared services program. This comprehensive survey, which is being conducted now, will help solidify the focus of the program going forward. Based upon the survey responses, the county will continue to streamline and improve its outreach, education and implementation methods to best serve the needs of the community.

The initial response from the survey has been overwhelmingly positive in favor of increasing shared services and expanding the county outreach program. For example, initial responses indicate 100 percent of respondents would consider increasing their use of shared services if the county provided the service at a cost that is less than they currently pay, allowing them to deliver quality services to their constituents at a reduced cost.

Ninety percent of respondents who have used Monmouth County’s shared services stated they are extremely likely or very likely to use the services again in the near future. Nearly 52 percent of respondents stated they first learned of shared services from a Monmouth County shared services representative, from the county shared services Web site or by attending a county shared services seminar or educational outreach event.

Further initial responses showed 100 percent have considered implementing shared services in their own town in an effort to reduce costs. Ninety-six percent of respondents said they would benefit from access to a centralized county Web-based database and interactive posting site and 96 percent said they would have strong interest in attending county sponsored shared services seminars and speaker series.

A large majority indicated a “user fee” was the most attractive way for their organization to pay for shared services, solidifying the county model of covering costs, providing quality services and generating revenues.

Under my leadership, Monmouth County shared services will continue to offer top-quality services to its local partners. Due to economies of scale, the county’s fee-based business model often will provide these services for less than what it would cost a town or school district to do the work themselves, or what it would cost an outside provider to do it, therefore saving taxpayers money.

In addition, the county will be able to offset its costs by pursuing increased revenue opportunities through the newly developing fee-based system. In today’s economic climate, shared services have ceased to be an option and have indeed become a necessity if governments are to deliver top quality services to constituents at more affordable costs.

The new two percent cap and rising institutional costs such as health care and pensions will make the upcoming budget year perhaps the most difficult ever. With true leadership and courage we must continue to tackle these difficult issues head on.

I will not be deterred by the criticism of those who seek self service over progress. Together, we must seize this moment in history to continue to expand shared services if we are to reduce the heavy tax burden on New Jersey citizens and preserve the high quality of life we all have come to enjoy in Monmouth County.

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