Mad in Somerset

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 11:07:04 AM EDT

Somerset County is, by and large, Republican territory. But, just as we have seen elsewhere, the monopoly of power has led to corrupt practices that are costing taxpayers. Here's an excerpt from a letter that explains what I'm talking about:

According to an independent report to the Somerset County Freeholders, the Somerset County Parks Commission "suffers from a systematic failure in centralized control, direction and oversight". For years select Somerset County Parks Commission administrators, courtesy of tax dollars, have driven county supplied cars including gas and maintenance for unlimited personal use, taken trips to Las Vegas & California complete with bar bills and movies, provided jobs and no bid contracts for friends and family, have lived in rental homes at rates far below market (in fact far below COAH prices), played free golf, enjoyed food & drink at the ball park and taken limos to parties.

The author of that letter is Melonie Marano, who is a Democrat running for Freeholder. I met Melonie at a party recently and I don't know if it is my natural inclination for the underdog, my desire to see Democrats be competitive, or Melonie's natural charisma that made me excited about her prospects in Somerset County, but I'm pleased to be able to help her out.

You'll probably see more than one person post with this ID - the idea is to let people volunteering and/or working for the campaign have a voice and let you know what's going on. So if you see "Melonie Marano for Freeholder", take a look and see what you find. Melonie is out to surprise a lot of people in Somerset County - and we'd be glad to have your help and have you along for the ride.

Thurman Hart
General Blog Guy and supporter of Melonie Marano

Melonie Marano for Freeholder :: Mad in Somerset

Tags: Melonie Marano, freeholder, Somerset County, Parks Commission, (All Tags)

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Mad in Somerset | 4 comments

you know (0.00 / 0)

Are there really legitimate uses for these "company cars?" Maybe the state should just ban them all.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 17:51:24 PM UTC

Ban state & county cars? (4.00 / 2)

LOL!

Next you'll be advocating municipal and school district consolidation!

(It's actually more complex than all that - I believe it is less expensive to have pool autos than to reimburse for mileage, because it's easier to police misuse of an actual car than it is to police abuse of an expense account. Strictly my opinion, of course,though maybe someone out there with experience in fleet management could comment But if the pool cars are going home every night, THAT's abuse for sure ... )

by: denniscmcgrath @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 17:59:54 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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thanks! (0.00 / 0)

That is reasonable.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 20:01:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

cars - and gas too! (0.00 / 0)

Not only did they bring home the cars, they also had free gas to put in them, with no accounting for personal use vs. legitimate parks commision use either.

I could see someone arguing that some of the employees "needed" company cars, but would most companies pay for gas and unlimited personal use of that car?

I'm hoping that this will show people in Somerset County that 1 party rule isn't working here.

by: agr @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 23:34:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]