Not the best for the job, but the person in best standing with Ocean County Republicans

by: Jason Springer

Mon Jun 21, 2010 at 12:30:00 PM EDT

The extensive search, or lack there of which has landed Carl Block his latest plum position in Ocean County government has drawn the scorn of an Asbury Park Press editorial:

Earlier this week, longtime double-dipper Carl W. Block was appointed as the next Ocean County administrator. In accepting the job, Block said he will resign his elected office, that of county clerk. That is not a selfless act of public service: Block will earn $149,500 per year as administrator, 30 percent more than his $115,000 salary as clerk.
With public pensions based on the three highest years of one's salary, the new job will set him up nicely for retirement.

I'm sure the Governor is just waiting to use this as the latest example of abuses in the pension system, right.

That speaks poorly of the Ocean County freeholders' desire to find the best person for the job, rather than the person in best standing with Ocean County Republicans

If he's the person in best standing with the Ocean County Republicans, that speaks volumes in itself. Their bench did get shorter when Assemblyman Van Pelt went down on corruption charges, but apparently Block with all his past questions is just the man for the job. As the editorial notes, how would they even know if anyone was better for the job than Block because they never bothered to even look. Looking forward, Block moving to the County Administrator spot does create an opportunity for Democrats.

Jason Springer :: Not the best for the job, but the person in best standing with Ocean County Republicans

Tags: Asbury Park Press, APP, Ocean County Republicans, George Gilmore, Carl Block, (All Tags)

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Not the best for the job, but the person in best standing with Ocean County Republicans | 1 comments

Will TROOC put up a candidate? (0.00 / 0)

If they do that will put the Clerk's office in play for Democrats. In the primary the Traditional Republican (TROOC) anti-Gilmore line got 40% of the vote. There are clearly divisions within the Republican Party, and not just the TNut fringe. Alot of Republicans are fed up with the corruption and cronyism that led to Van Pelt's conviction, the investigation of Toms River schools superintendent (and Gilmore stooge) Ritacco, and now the salary and pension boost for Carl Block.

Ironically, it was Block who was defeated for re-election as mayor of Stafford last year by a coalition of TROOC and Democrats working together.

This is probably the best opportunity Dems will have to gain a foothold in Ocean County for a long time to come. They just need to put up an effective candidate, and hope that TROOC puts up an independent conservative to siphon votes away from the GOP.

If I had my choice I would put up former Barnegat mayor Dolores Coulter, if she's available. She did a great job as mayor of Barnegat and alot of Republicans voted for her. She's knowledgable, experienced and would make a great candidate.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

by: ken bank @ Mon Jun 21, 2010 at 22:23:13 PM UTC