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Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 06:03:50 PM EST
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As the days go by, the situation continues to change in Burlington County. Yesterday, I got a notice reminding me of a Special Meeting to elect a new Chairman of the Democratic Committee on February 4. It said in part:As there is some confusion as to the status of the forthcoming special meeting The letter covered what they said were allegations made in reference to the special meeting that required them to "respond in an honest effort to clear the record." To be honest, I'm not fully clear on the acting designations, but the letter covered who is authorized to send notice of meetings and alleged procedural irregularities with the resolution. Herb Conaway had introduced a resolution at the last committee meeting calling for an election on that date, rather than in June as had been anticipated.
Today I opened my mailbox and had another letter, this from Acting Chairwoman Alice Furia: By now you have heard about a special meeting scheduled for February 4, 2010 at Kove II, which purportedly has as its purpose the election of an "interim chairman" for the Burlington County Democratic Committee. Such an election will not take place or be recognized on that date. Pursuant to the advice and opinion of legal counsel, the special meeting February 4, 2010, to the extent it seeks to elect an interim chairman for the BCDC, is absolutely contrary to and violates the BCDC's by-laws. Therefore, any action taken at that meeting purporting to elect an interim chairman shall not be recognized, and will be declared null and void. The election iwll take place in June - as scheduled - pursuant to and as required by the BCDC's by-laws, and will take place on the first Tuesday immediately folllowing the primary election. Along with the letter came a legal opinion from the firm of Zucker Steinberg with respect to whether an election can be held February 4:Since the BCDC by-laws do not permit the selection of a Chair on an interim basis, any attempt to do so through a special meeting is ultra vires and therefore, void.
In fact, if a Chairperson were to be elected on an interim basis, that election would breach the by-laws and unjustly infringe upon the duties specifically assigned to the Vice Chair. What a mess, I can only imagine what I'm going to find in my mailbox tomorrow.
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Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 10:23:35 PM EDT
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The race for Assembly in the 8th district is already seems up to full speed. Republican Incumbent Scott Rudder and challenging Democrat Bill Brown have been going back and forth over veteran's issues this week.
Yesterday, Brown called on Rudder to sign his petition and condemn the comments made by Laura Ingraham about the Navy Seal Snipers. Rather than answer Brown's call, Rudder tried to tout his work for veterans citing past efforts with Brown as an example. That prompted Brown to put out a release giving examples of how Rudders efforts were for show including this tidbit: Scott Rudder has introduced more legislation pertaining to feral cats than veteran's causes. Ouch. Brown then responded that Rudder had time to put out a press release, but not sign his Ingraham petition. Fasten your seat belts, it's only April.
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Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 03:18:10 PM EST
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Not like she does anything when she shows up, but since Marth Bark has run out of no-show jobs to be doled out for votes, she has decided to convert her full time employment into her latest no-show job allowing her to collect a little more from the public trough while she still can...State Senator Martha Bark is expected to resign her seat on Monday so she can qualify for benefits on January 1. If Bark, who did not seek re-election this year, were to wait until her term expires on January 8, she would not begin receiving benefits until February 1. That's right boys and girls, she is worried that she will miss out on a month of those pension payments. Even better, she is waiting until the last day to resign to squeeze out every last penny of pay. I guess we will only find out if her bark is as bad as her bite on payday, because that is the only time she will show up. Don't let the door hit you... on that taxpayer funded ass.
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Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 08:48:00 PM EDT
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Today, the U.S. District Court Judge hearing the case of the alleged attacks against Fort Dix had the pleasure of viewing the despicable flyer put out in the 8th district against Tracy Riley by her Constitution hating opponents trying to tie her to terrorists and he wasn't pleased..."It's pretty despicable stuff," the judge said, noting that Dawn Marie Addiego, one of the Republican candidates, is a lawyer. "She should know better." He's exactly right, she should know better. They all should know better. In an ironic twist, now the judge has to decide if the mailer has the potential to not only sway a political election, but taint a whole jury pool in the process.
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Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 10:37:05 PM EDT
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 The Burlington County Republican Party has spent the last five months denying that Boss Glenn Paulsen had any connection with their current leaders. A funny thing happened on the way to the polls on election day: their little secret got out and has turned into a public fight over support, funding and power between the county power boss and the county's Senior Senator.A smoldering feud in the Burlington County Republican party caught fire Tuesday when, in a private letter to local party chairmen, state Sen. Diane Allen said GOP boss Glenn Paulsen had tried to withhold $150,000 from her campaign.
Paulsen, she said, ''is not working in the best interests of the organization.''
''His actions have divided this county and alienated many,'' she wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 21.
In an interview Tuesday, Paulsen said Allen was thinking only of ''her own self interest and not the interest of the party.''
He tried to withhold the money from her, Paulsen said, because other candidates in tighter races needed it more. Wait, who's that, Boss Glenn Paulsen making decisions about funding? That's not what "Chair on Paper" Dawn Lacy says is going on..."Whomever spoke to PoliticsNJ.com's Wally Edge purporting to convey the opinion of the Burlington County Republicans regarding the 7th District Assembly campaign was wrong. As Chairwoman of the Burlington County Republican Committee, I would like to go on the record as saying that the BCRC has conceded nothing in this race, and we believe that we have an opportunity to elect two excellent candidates for Assembly on November 6th. It seems like the puppet is trying to talk out of turn from the puppetmaster. Now 2 weeks before the election, when politicians are fighting for their political lives, a fight over money has forced Paulsen's shadowy role pulling strings behind the scenes into the public light. More from Diane's letter... ''Unfortunately, our campaign ultimately had to hire an attorney to help us wrest control of these funds from Glenn. After a month of legal wrangling, we were finally able to get most of our funds transferred -- a bit more than $150,000 in total.'' Not only are they not turning away Paulsen's tainted funds, they are seeking legal avenues to gain access to it. Two weeks out, Diane Allen decides to finally go public with the news that Paulsen has been calling the shots all along because she's not gonna get the money she thought she had coming. That's the Burlington County GOP for you, more concerned about keeping their power than doing what's in your best interest. It'll be interesting to see how this internal fight plays out going forward on the County and State level this cycle and with the big elections in 2008. Traditionally, Burlington County had been a Republican base, but now it appears to have some very visible cracks.
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Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 10:33:49 PM EDT
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It's nice to see the Democrats taking the fight to their Republican opponents in Burlington County because for a long time, that didn't happen. Now you have Democrats trying continue on their recent gains in Marlton, Mount Laurel and at the County level by attempting to pick up a Freeholder Seat, a Sherriff seat and the Legislative races in the 7th and 8th districts. Today we have action in the 8th district and with the Freeholder campaign. In the 8th district, we have Assembly Candidate Dawn Addiego who gains a nickname: "Deadbeat Dawn". Apparently this "fiscally responsible" candidate who will solve the state's financial woes can't handle her own bills and finances... Assembly candidates Tracy Riley and Chris Fifis renewed their declaration that career politician and perennial tax-raiser Dawn Addiego lacks the qualities necessary to be a legislator, noting her recent failure to pay her professional fees as an attorney which has resulted in her ineligibility to practice law (Source: www.judiciary.state.nj.us/cpf/ineliglist09242007.pdf)."This is not the first time that my opponent has shirked her financial responsibilities," said Fifis.
Addiego was delinquent on $3,776.71 for tax payments on her home, and only satisfied this debt in May of 2007 (Source: Evesham Tax Collector). Will this decide the campaign, of course not but it does undercut the argument that she will be a sound watchdog for the taxpayer's dollars. Let Dawn answer questions about her own finances rather than talking about her message.Follow me below the fold to see what payback is being alleged in the Freeholder campaign...
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Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 07:09:45 PM EDT
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PoliticsNJ has an interesting article today on the current state of the race facing the GOP candidates in the 7th district who were very excited about their prospects when they recruited former Philadelphia Flyer Brian Propp...But Propp may be the victim of limited GOP resources. One year after Democrats won the Burlington County Surrogate race, the Republicans are on the defensive: their main goal is hold their two Freeholder seats and re-elect Sheriff Jean Stanfield. And a party switch has made the normally Republican eighth district a little more competitive -- Assemblyman Francis Bodine, a Republican elected official for the last thirty years, switched parties earlier this year (after the GOP dumped him) and is now running for an open State Senate seat against County Clerk Phil Haines. That has also put the two open Assembly seats in play.
As a result, the county GOP organization -- where former GOP County Chairman Glenn Paulsen effectively dumped successor Mike Warner in June and replaced him with lobbyist Bill Layton -- has pulled out of the seventh district. Its amazing what a difference a few wins make. If I would have told people that the Burlington County GOP would be on the defensive 2 years ago, I would have been laughed out of most political circles.It looks like it will be up to Diane Allen to carry the water in the 7th, where she already has ads up on cable, while the party loads up all its ammo to trash the constitution in the name of winning an election against Candidate Tracy Riley and her running mates. It'll be interesting to see how the 8th District Democrats respond to the GOP shift in resources since we know that money will be used to trash them.
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Sun Aug 05, 2007 at 06:04:22 PM EDT
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Here's my question: Does it matter if the work you have done is better than it has been done in the past if people perceive the way you got that work to be bad? The Republicans have been seizing over recent reports of the hiring of engineering firms to do a portion of Evesham Township, Burlington County's work saying that it is an example of pay to play because Assemblyman Fran Bodine works for one of the companies which received a contract. Bodine for his part has denied any connection besides his help as a sitting official trying to elect candidates during the campaign."I had no input into this," Bodine said. "I didn't talk to anyone on the transition team (that awarded contracts). My participation in this whole thing was zero." So the cynic will say how could this man not try to get his employer a contract. The hardcore supporter will say he did nothing wrong without questioning. Some will ask to see how he influenced the contract and how he will benefit from the work. I have to say that I'm really not trying to pass judgment on that because until we have a full time legislature, we are going to have situations where people involved in their profession end up having the appearance of a conflict regardless of whether one exists unless their employer does not seek any public business. Reading the article further however, I find this nugget of information that the new firm, despite the way they got the contract, actually saved the town almost $200,000 just on that one deal.The firm has already proved to be cheaper than competitors, Brown said. For a parking lot project at Evesboro Downs, the company bid $172,000. The former township engineer, Alaimo Associates of Mount Holly, bid $350,000. On just one contract, the town saved 178k and last time I checked, that's a good thing. Also, lets note that this is the same Alaimo Associates who when the Republicans controlled the town received contracts such as this one while contributing through every branch of the Republican apparatus in the county.So back to my question: does the fact that they allege an appearance of a conflict negate the savings to the town? Isn't pay to play where there isn't a competitive bidding process and the company charges the town whatever they want because they can? It seems to me like Evesham taxpayers made out regardless of whether you believe the claims of a conflict. Your thoughts?
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 at 11:51:54 AM EDT
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 I wish i could take credit for that title, but it's actually the 1st line of an editorial in the Burlington County Times today ripping the 3 Burlington County Mayors who shamefully attacked Assembly Candidate Tracy Riley because her husband is doing his constitutional duty serving as a public defender in the high profile Fort Dix Case. The editorial continues...During an election in which Republicans here are being seriously challenged for the first time in decades, the mayors' missive smacks of fear and desperation.
We don't think voters are dumb. They will see through the innuendo and recognize this ploy for what it is: political maneuvering at its basest. Ah, but the story gets better because not only was it political maneuvering, but public tax dollars paid for it...Mayor Lou DeLorenzo of North Hanover said he sent the letter to Riley and area newspapers from a fax machine at the North Hanover Municipal Building. That means it went out on the taxpayers' dime. Apparently however, they didn't have all the mayors in the area participate in this exercise to save Burlington County residents...A fourth area mayor whose town is near Fort Dix was left out of the loop when it came to drafting the letter,That would be Mayor David Patriarca of Pemberton Township. He's a Democrat.
The exclusion was an oversight, Mayor DeLorenzo said. Pretty convenient one, we say. I'm shocked, actually I'm not but I'm really glad the paper is calling them on all of their bullshit. They conclude the story reminding the Mayors and the Burlington County GOP as a whole of some basic civics lessons to help them better represent the people they say they are trying to protect with this political stunt...Two points to remember in the fog of political war are the Constitution guarantees legal representation to every accused, no matter how heinous the crime, and a defense attorney has the absolute right to defend any client. Trying to smear Tracy Riley because her husband is carrying out his country's constitutional mandate is a foolhardy tactic on the part of the mayors - and the Republican organization backing them.
"Quite frankly, these mayors need a civics lesson on what the Constitution provides," said Joe Pinto, president of the Burlington County Bar Association.
They could also use a refresher in campaigning with integrity. It's a shame that these constitutional cowards attacked Mr. Riley's wife because she is a convenient political target for them. Candidate Riley said it best, "A woman shouldn't be made an appendage of their husband. He's his own person with his own views, and so am I." I look forward to seeing her fight back more against these pathetic attacks and I hope the local media continues to call it for what it is. Shameful.
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Sat Mar 03, 2007 at 10:10:16 PM EST
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There will be new Legislators representing the 8th Legislative District, regardless of whether the Dems pick up any seats...Burlington County Republicans will retire Assemblyman Francis Bodine, and have picked three new faces to run for the Legislature in the 8th district: County Clerk Phil Haines for State Senate, and Freeholder Dawn Addiego and former Medford Mayor Scott Rudder for Assembly.
State Sen. Martha Bark is retiring, and Assemblyman Larry Chatzidaks was also asked not to seek re-election. I'm interested to see who the Dem's put up against them. It looks like the Republicans are trying to separate themselves from some of the past investigations and scandals such as the Burlington County Bridge Commission, Doug Forrester/Benecard, and Martha Bark's No-Show Jobs, but I don't think it'll work. I hope you can't just drop your candidates and forget about all the millions of dollars you screwed the taxpayers out of.
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Thu Feb 08, 2007 at 06:54:48 PM EST
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Looks like things will be a little more interesting in the 8th district this cycle. The Inside Edge says...
While Burlington County Republicans have not yet made final decision about the eighth district, it appears that County Clerk Philip Haines will run for the State Senate. He would replace Martha Bark, who announced last week that she would not seek re-election.
Republicans are expected to dump Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis from their ticket and replace him with Scott Rudder, the former Mayor of Medford. Incumbent Francis Bodine, who had also been in danger of being replaced, will get at least one more term.
Chatzidakis was actually vacationing in Greece and decided not to come back for the budget vote last year. It looks like the Republicans have also failed in their attempt to cleanse themselves of the Martha Bark criminal investigation because Scott Rudder's father is actually the person who hired Bark for her no show job at BCIT. Only in Burlington County...
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Wed Feb 07, 2007 at 10:32:43 AM EST
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My State Senator, Martha "no-show" Bark can't leave her seat soon enough for me and apparently she couldn't wait to leave her seat in Trenton yesterday as well..."I just thought, well, here we are, it's going to happen, why shouldn't it be me so we can get out of here?" -- Retiring State Sen. Martha Bark, 76, explaining why she voted for A-1, the property tax relief plan. (Star-Ledger, 01/07/07) Way to stand by your principles. What a profile in courage she is.
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Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 08:17:39 PM EST
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For the first time in years, the 8th legislative District looks like it actually may be exciting. First I'll give the background and story on the district, then talk about the upcoming race.
New Jersey's 8th Legislative District encompasses 16 towns in Burlington County including Easthampton, Evesham, Hainesport, Lumberton, Mansfield, Medford Lakes, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Pemberton, Shamong, Southampton, Springfield, Tabernacle, Woodland and Wrightstown.
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Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 10:28:36 AM EST
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Residents of the 8th District can rejoice because according to PoliticsNJ...Martha Bark will not seek re-election to the State Senate. The 75-year-old Burlington County Republican will announce early next year that 2007 will be her last year in office. The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting today that an ethics probe into allegedly no-show jobs held by Bark has been expaned to include a $5 million Delaware River Port Authority grant for a project that "employed Bark as a consultant." The GOP is anxious to avoid placing the heavily Republican 8th district into play. And more on the Inquirer story from today...A state probe into part-time jobs held by GOP State Sen. Martha Bark has expanded to the Delaware River Port Authority, which gave $5 million in toll proceeds to a Burlington County nature park project that employed Bark as a consultant, according to officials familiar with the investigation.
In recent months, state investigators and a grand jury have interviewed DRPA officials and demanded records related to grants its board awarded in October 1999 and September 2001 to the Palmyra Cove Nature Park.
During that time, Bark was a paid consultant to the park project. So it looks like the Burlington County Republicans are giving Bark the same treatment their leader gave Rumsfeld yesterday. I guess they're hoping the stink from Bark is gone by the time the election rolls around.
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