How would you like to be the speaker who goes to the podium before two international celebrities? And do it while you are nursing a very bad cold? Well, New Jersey Assembly candidate Troy Singleton was in just that position last night, and he hit a home run.
Last night's Get Out the Vote rally in Willingboro featured nine time Olympic Gold Medal winner Carl Lewis and Oprah celebrity Newark Mayor Cory Booker. But Singleton was a star in his own light.
Singleton's district, the seventh, is one of the few competitive legislative races this year. He and his running mate, Assemblyman/Doctor/Lawyer Herb Conaway are competing against the flip-flopping Mayor of Mount Laurel, Jim Keenan, and Christie Clone Chris Halgas.
Singleton already has a list of accomplishments that would make him one of the best prepared Assemblypeople in Trenton. As chief of staff to former Speaker Joe Roberts, Singleton knows the ins and outs of the State House. He's a labor leader and serves on the Turnpike Authority, the Burlington County Bridge Commission and is a trustee of Rowan University.
Lewis and Booker were inspiring in their remarks last night. But listening to Troy was the highlight.
The Philadelphia Inquirer had an in depth piece yesterday on the agency talking about how despite the notion they want people to believe that they are a model that has learned from past mistakes under the new leadership of John Comegno, they are still a prime source of business for many of the GOP donors and the game continues:
The commission and its staff have a number of Republican ties. Comegno's law firm, the Comegno Law Group, is a GOP donor. The executive director is the son of a Republican political action committee treasurer. And the new chief financial officer is a former GOP councilwoman from Riverton.
Comegno is the current chairman of the bridge commission and despite all of these ties to the county party, he described "the commission as a model of transparency and accountability, saying political relationships and donations are not related to agency operations in any way." This "model of transparency" still has deep ties to the county party:
The law firm Capehart Scatchard, an influential backer of the Burlington County Republican Party, has received $2.2 million in legal fees since 2007. That's the equivalent of billing 13 hours a workday over the last three years.
Capehart Scatchard is GOP party boss Glenn Paulsen's law firm where he is a partner. His neighbor is Bill Layton, the current chairman of the Republican party Burlington County. Follow me below the fold for more.
And after Republican Freeholder James Wujcik disclosed additional county revenue of $621,000, Democratic Freeholder Chris Brown became incensed that other board members were unaware of the development.
"This information is absolutely critical. When you put a budget together, we need the damn numbers," Brown said. "We should not be handed a document (tonight) saying there is another $621,000. This is a joke."
The freeholders unanimously passed Brown's motion to table action on the Donnelly budget until the freeholders can review new budget information.
Wujcik said he learned earlier Wednesday that the county would have to pay $621,000 less in projected payments for leased bonds sold through the county bridge commission. Wujcik, who said he did not withhold that information from the board, later called Brown "arrogant" and "pompous."
As to the disclosure timeline, Donnelly apparently briefed the Republican Freeholders earlier in the day, but left the two Democrats on the board in the dark on the matter. The Democrats challenging for the Freeholder seats in November jumped at the opening:
"How do you "find" more than $600,000 this late in the process, when a budget is up for public hearing?" asked Bernard. "That's either incompetence or dishonesty, but it's definitely fiscal malpractice. Burlington County taxpayers deserve accountability from their public officials."
"The political appointees who are responsible for this stunt need to be punished or terminated," said Kersey. "This is precisely why their patronage salaries need to be cut. Actions such as this "miraculous discovery" of revenue at the last minute are more proof they are over-paid and under-qualified."
Maybe the Governor can call the bridge commission for help with the state shortfall too.
Chris Myers, 3rd District candidate for Congress in the GOP primary doesn't like being asked about who he takes contributions from, but maybe someone should fill him in...
Democrats have already tried to tie Myers to a machine that's responsible for fiscal waste and mismanagement, pointing to $4,600 in donations that he accepted from former Burlington County GOP Chairman Glenn Paulsen and J. Garfield DeMarco.
DeMarco presided over the Burlington County Bridge Commission during a period when lobbyist Bob Stears - who pleaded guilty to over-billing the county by $1 million - said he was forced to fill the party's coffers with some of that money.
"You have to talk to Glenn about that," said Myers. "I don't know any issues about that so you'll have to talk to them about it."
"I do not have any information regarding that. Right now I am proud of every donation my campaign has received. But I do not have any information regarding that," Myers said.
"I got sucked into a group of corrupt people," Stears said. "I allowed myself to engage in fraudulent schemes."
"The contributions were mostly in Burlington County, but there were other contributions they would ask us to make."
"You're saying that money was paid back in political contributions that wouldn't otherwise have existed?" Simandle asked.
"Yes," Stears responded, adding that "I wish my case were unique, but it's not."
In case Mr. Myers is still confused, those corrupt people Stears referred to are now helping to finance his campaign. And just in case Myers is confused about whether this is still a problem, Stears would disagree...
Some $3,000 to $4,000 a month would then be made in political contributions, Stears said. He said most of that money was spent in Burlington County and some of it was spent elsewhere in the state. Stears founded the Trenton-based Strategy Group with Tom Wilson, the current chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party."That's pretty serious money at the local level," the judge said. "Yes it is and it continues today," Stears replied. He also agreed with the judge when he pointed out that kind of cash could help shape the political landscape.
I just want to make sure he is aware in case Glenn is too busy to fill him in.
But before sentencing, he told Judge Jerome Simandle that he was forced to contribute between $3,000 and $4,000 every month to the Republican Party as a condition of keeping his lucrative contract with the bridge commission.
"I got sucked into a group of corrupt people," Stears said. "I allowed myself to engage in fraudulent schemes."
"The contributions were mostly in Burlington County, but there were other contributions they would ask us to make."
"You're saying that money was paid back in political contributions that wouldn't otherwise have existed?" Simandle asked.
"Yes," Stears responded, adding that "I wish my case were unique, but it's not."
I wonder who directed him to make those contributions and who benefited from the money donated, possibly his partner and GOP State Chair Tom Wilson, County boss Glenn Paulsen or Ms. No-Show Job herself Martha Bark? Paging U.S. Attorney Christie...
A scheme to expand the powers of the Burlington County Bridge Commission has collapsed, which is the fate it should have met from Day One...
...The scandal-plagued commission needs to get its own house in order before it starts funneling money through a loan program that uses the county's good credit rating to keep interest rates reasonable.
This week, sentencing was delayed a third time for a commission lobbyist and spokesman who admitted in federal court that he deliberately over billed the commission for several years beginning in 1997.
By most accounts, the activities of Robert Stears resulted in up to $1 million in losses.
The state Attorney General's Office has also subpoenaed the commission to determine what work - if any - state Sen. Martha Bark, R-8th of Medford, performed as a consultant to the Palmyra Cove Nature Park project, this to the tune of $233,101.
The park is under the bridge commission's jurisdiction.
Equally troubling, the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol bridges came up short this summer when federal inspectors found them "structurally deficient" in the aftermath of the collapse of a highway bridge in Minneapolis.
With its less-than-stellar reputation, the commission has a way to go to regain public trust...
...Still, it's hard not to see this loan initiative as an opportunity for more pockets to be lined, more money to be doled out and more power to be wielded by commissioners who were never elected by the people they serve.
This has all occurred under the watchful eyes of the GOP controlling nearly all levels of county government for years. A GOP freeholder board, who made appointments to the bridge commission while GOP boss Glenn Paulsen pulled the strings and awarded contracts through the family business. Stears, who is awaiting sentencing has been thrown overboard by his former employer, the Strategy Group, which is the firm of none other than GOP State Chair Tom Wilson. If you're confused, that's the point. They're hoping you won't notice that they're robbing you blind.
A $44,300 study of the Burlington County Bridge Commission's management and contract-awarding practices recommends a series of reforms, all of which have either been implemented or are in the process of being implemented, bridge commission officials said.
County freeholders requested the study after a public relations consultant admitted last year that he routinely overbilled the bridge commission.
The consultant, Robert Stears of Lawrenceville, admitted during a December federal court hearing that between 1997 and 2003, he routinely inflated the number of hours he and members of his firm worked while under contract with the bridge commission. Stears pleaded guilty to income tax evasion and mail fraud and the incident led to the resignation of Bridge Commission Executive Director George Nyikita.
Ok, so we need a commission costing money, to study how money was taken, but all the changes recommended by said study were already being implemented anyway. Makes sense right?
And what have these $44,300 worth of changes actually changed? Don't worry, the Bridge Commission is already breaking their arm patting themselves on the back to take credit for the "successes." Follow me below the fold...
The money for the loans would come from a yet-to-be-selected bank and the bridge commission wouldn't be lending any toll money. The bridge commission needs the freeholders to authorize the use of the county guarantee.
The guarantee means the taxpayers of the county would be backing the loans arranged by the bridge commission, something only the freeholders can approve.
Are you dizzy from going in circles yet? Despite the fact that the Freeholder board has complete GOP Control, the measure only passed by a 3-2 margin and they needed one of the freeholders to cast the deciding vote by conference call...
However, Wujcik and Haines said they had reservations. Haines said he's not sure the 1 or 2 percent savings in interest lives up to the assertion by the bridge commission that the initiative is a vehicle for tax relief.
"I don't understand the rush to do this," he said.
Now that's a good question, whats the rush?
The loan program, which the bridge commission is calling Burlington Bank, could be operating as early as October under the current schedule.
So going by the current schedule, the Freeholders will have a month to start doling out $20 million dollars under the guise of protecting the taxpayers before many of them have their name on the ballot for Election Day. That's a pretty good setup for them, wouldn't you say? Like i said yesterday, if they go forward with this plan there had better be some strict guidelines on what qualifies and constant oversight on this one.
The two spans operated by the Burlington County Bridge Commission both scored lower than the Minnesota bridge on the federal scale. The Burlington Bristol Bridge, built in 1931, received a 30.1 rating and is listed as "structurally deficient" in the national bridges inventory of the Federal Highway Administration.
The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, built in 1929, received a 34.1 rating, but bridge commission officials noted that, despite its rating, it was not included on the federal inventory list of structurally deficient bridges in New Jersey.
"The Bridge Commission's failure to maintain these bridges is the cost of corruption," said Bader, a Democrat from Moorestown. "This threat to the publics safety is the result of two plus decades of GOP waste."
The ordinance would create the Burlington County Lease Bank, which would provide a maximum loan of $1 million for items such as vehicle and equipment purchases.
The bridge commission approached the freeholders last month with the idea. The commission, using its powers as an improvement authority, operates a bond program intended for major capital programs like roads and buildings. The Lease Bank, however, would provide money for smaller purchases and, for the first time, would include school boards.
While I like the idea of helping local towns, shouldn't they focus on their primary charge which is maintaining the roads and bridges? Especially after all of the news recently and the fact that the state says it will cost between 5 and 7 billion to repair the infrastructure. Is this really the time for this concept? They are charged with major capital improvements, not buying a vehicle or equipment for local towns. To me this just looks like more of the shell game to continue accumulating debt at all levels while telling the taxpayers you are not raising taxes.
And here is a question: Who decides the towns that will get approved for these loans? Doesn't this have the potential to turn into a $20 million taxpayer funded slush fund where the freeholders can buy political support during a very tough election year? If this plan does go forward, I would hope there are some well spelled out controls and guidelines to govern it.
So Senator Diane Allen is now questioning the Joint Legislative Ethics Panel over its dismissal of the complaint brought by everyone's favorite Mayor, Steve Lonegan against Senator Joe Coniglio because the Feds have informed Coniglio that he is a target of their investigation and in her letter, she says this...
It is difficult to make an informed decision without all the facts and even more difficult to know if we have all the relevant information we need.
Senator Coniglio may turn out to be a deserving target, but not only have my state tax dollars been wasted, but my local tax dollars have been looted as well and I haven't seen you "seeking all the facts" and "getting all the information we need." In the interest of consistency, please seek out all the relevant information so that we can make the most informed decision with all the facts on these situations as well. Thank you.
Republican State Chairman Thomas Wilson will take a public role in support of John McCain's campaign for the 2008 presidential nomination, according to several GOP County Chairmen who say Wilson has disclosed his intentions to them.
Wilson, the ethically challenged GOP Chair will have a difficult time giving McCain, a supposed ethics reformer, any real credibility among GOPers or the press in the Garden State.
Wilson made his support of McCain clear during a series of telephone calls to party leaders testing his own support for re-election in June following his former business partner's admission that their firm,
The Strategy Group, intentionally overbilled the Burlington County Bridge Authority for public relations services. Robert Stears, an ex-Republican National Committee staffer who partnered with Wilson in a Trenton lobbying group, faces up to 25 years in a federal prison for bilking the BCBA out of as much as $1 million. Some Democrats are calling on Wilson to return his share of the profits from the Burlington contract.
McCain already sold out his straight talk credentials by becoming President Bush's lapdog. And now it seems like he's ready to sell his reformer credentials in favor of GOP Boss Tom Wilson
The bridge commission story doesn't seem to be going away either as the 22 year chairman of the bridge commission announced he is resigning for "health concerns" and several sources are also reporting that more embarrassing details will surface regarding Wilson 's involvement with the Burlington County Bridge Commission in the following weeks...
Republican State Chairman Thomas Wilson could lose his job following the guilty plea of his former business partner, according to four different Republican County Chairmen who say party leaders are actively discussing Wilson's political future. Wilson's term expires in June.
The Burlington County Dem's Chairman Rick Perr today said Tom Wilson should return fees his old lobbying firm received from the Burlington County Bridge Authority.
"I was astonished by your unwillingness to accept even the slightest responsibility for your firm's malfeasance," Perr wrote in a letter to Wilson. "The facts are clear: Bob Stears billed the Burlington County Bridge Commission as an employee and partner of the Strategy Group, and your firm profited from his illegal actions. Your disingenuous claims that Mr. Stears carried on a scheme that was bringing in such large amounts of money to the firm - and that no one else knew about it - defies credibility. In fact, it is an insult to the taxpayers who were bilked in this sordid deal."
Robert Stears, a longtime spokesman and lobbyist for the Burlington County Bridge Commission, admitted Friday to billing the commission hundreds of thousands of dollars for work not performed.
Stears also admitted that he failed to pay income taxes on much of his ill-gotten gains, entering guilty pleas to a two-count federal charge of mail fraud and income tax evasion.
One can only wonder what will come next as there have been both federal and state criminal investigations into what amounted to no-bid, no-show, no-work contracts.
It has been alleged that the former GOP Chair Tom Wilson's firms received millions of dollars in contracts and Senator Martha Bark has been under investigation after being paid $330,000 for work that has not been documented.
We've seen Junior the opportunist jump on Wayne Bryant, who no one here is defending. But where is he on Bryant's Republican soulmate in the 8th district, State Senator Martha "no-show" Bark?
The state Attorney General's Office is investigating positions Bark held with two Burlington County government agencies that paid her a combined $330,000 from 1997 to 2003.
State investigators said they are trying to determine what, if any, work Bark did while employed by the Burlington County Bridge Commission from 1997 to 2001 and Burlington County Institute of Technology in 2002 and 2003.
The state launched an investigation in March 2004, a week after the Burlington County Times published a story that said the two agencies had no records that explicitly showed how much work Bark performed on those government jobs.
As if that wasn't enough...
Bark has similarly been criticized for sponsoring legislation that granted improvement-authority power to the bridge commission while she was an agency employee.
Well stay tuned, because the grand jury concludes soon, so this story may continue and Junior may have another opportunity to oomment on the matter.
Come to think of it, this is just the Republican Corruption in Burlington County that Junior has yet to call for heads to roll on. Is there something in your county he's missing?
We've seen Junior the opportunist jump on Wayne Bryant, who no one here is defending. But where is he on Bryant's Republican soulmate in the 8th district, State Senator Martha "no-show" Bark?
