For Immediate Release
January 10, 2007
Contact: Rich Levesque 609-267-3432

KOTCH WATCH

George Kotch’s betrayal of the Burlington County Voters Must End(Mt. Holly, NJ) – Having not yet resigned from his $50,000 a year position as Administrative Council to Burlington Township, George Kotch is now poised to become one of South Jersey’s biggest double dippers.

That was the message today from Rich Levesque, Burlington County Republican Committee Executive Director, who said that Kotch will add $99,000 more to his public salary when he finally takes office as county Surrogate on January 19, 2007.

“The voters of Burlington County have been betrayed,� said Levesque. “While Burlington County widows and orphans are awaiting Surrogate-elect George Kotch to take office and serve them, they now learn that he is going to become one of South Jersey’s biggest double dippers.

“Kotch has become what he and his Democrat Chairman, Richard Perr, have claimed is one of the biggest problems in government, namely, a pension padder,� Levesque added.

Worst of all, Levesque said, Kotch did this while probably knowing that it was illegal. Prior to being sworn in, Surrogates must resign from any other public office, position or employment whether it be elected or appointed.

“George Kotch owes the voters of Burlington County an explanation. He has already defrauded the voters by not being sworn in during the county government reorganization and now he is trying to defraud the taxpayers by collecting two salaries,� said Levesque.