And with their first appointment...

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:00:00 PM EDT

Although Chris Christie bailed out of the event, the new Evesham Council candidates were sworn into office and they took control on Wednesday night. Fundraising allegations that surfaced in the days before the swearing in served as no deterrent though as the new council members wasted no time getting back to business as usual. With their first appointment, they brought in someone named Tony Drollas to serve as solicitor:

Drollas is with Burlington County GOP Party Boss Glenn Paulsen's law firm, Capehart Scatchard Attorneys at Law of Mount Laurel. While Paulsen isn't the formal party Chairman, his next door neighbor Bill Layton holds the role. The Burlington County Democrats put out a video last year detailing the connections of the Paulsen's 20 shell game and how they finance the election of Republicans in the county. At 2 minutes, 19 seconds of that video, they explored the connections of Drollas guaranteeing $30,000 in loans along with the work he and his family have received. Not only did Drollas become solicitor, but Capehart scored another appointment with Brian Kowalski being named the new bond counsel. The Burlington County Democrats didn't miss the chance to respond to this latest connection:

The Paulsen's 20 (www.paulsens20.com) is a political version of a Ponzi scheme founded by Paulsen in which investors have made over $30 million in taxpayer-funded contracts, jobs, salaries and billings.

Here's what Paulsen said at the time the Democrats initially released the Paulsen's 20 video:

Paulsen said his contributions have nothing to do with his law firm doing work in the county.
"Pay-to-play is illegal. There never were quid pro quos when I was county chairmen or now," he said. "That shouldn't preclude me or anyone else from exercising their first amendment rights in accordance with the law."

Come to think of it, it's probably fitting that Chris Christie didn't attend the event. He turned his back as US Attorney while corruption reigned at the Burlington County Bridge Commission, where under oath it was said by Bob Stears at sentencing, "I got sucked into a corrupt group of people." The former Republican Mayor of Evesham Gus Tamburro said Paulsen held the attitude, "So let it be written, so Let it be done." Last Wednesday, it was done once again.

Jason Springer :: And with their first appointment...