Dueling press releases in Burlington County
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterIn Burlington County, few press releases go unanswered.
Today’s dueling releases are brought to you by freeholder candidate Joe Donnelly and Burlington County Democratic Chairman Richard Perr.
Donnelly issued the first release today, touting his skill at “reining in the cost of government” and laying out a plan to cut the property tax burden by instituting a hiring freeze, cutting county employee cell phone use, reducing the county vehicle fleet and recycling waste gasoline.
“The current freeholder board has done well to keep Burlington County’s per capita spending lower than any other county in South Jersey,” said Donnelly. “But the fact of the matter is we must do better. Government can not continue to grow at its current rate and expect to be sustained by property taxpayers. We need real reform, and we need it now.”
But the Democrats were quick with a response, saying that Donnelly promised reform but was afraid to take on Republicans when it counted. Perr said that Donnelly “refused to condemn” state Sen. Martha Bark, who’s under investigation for an alleged no-show job; recoup money that was paid to Republican lobbyists by the Burlington County Bridge Commission; or criticize Burlington County Republican boss Glenn Paulsen.
"While Donnelly now criticizes his own running mates, as well as the GOP-controlled Freeholder Board led by Jim Wujcik, he has been resoundingly silent on the numerous scandals plaguing his party,” said Perr.
Donnelly is running for a seat on the Burlington County Freeholder board against Democrat Tom Bader.
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Recent Press Releases
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Syndicate
Perr - what a Gas Bag!
Oh please, like EVERYONE is at fault for the Bark thing! omg what a complete moron! And you guys call him your leader??? How about Perr coming clean on his own dirty laundry>? in his own party?? Donnelly has nothing to do with Bark he never had never will, but like I said, I love that Perr keeps dragging out all these "ethics issues" but Perr forgets that until he can say the Dem party is 100% pristine, you know, not throwing stones and glass houses? But I am not surprised; after all, lets keep harping on the GOP "scandals" when I dont have to tell you that my Freeholder candidate wants to cut benefits for the county employees and potentially harm hard working residents's pocket books. Yes, thats the ticket!
More Cowbell Please !!
Fear and Loathing in BurlCo
Between the Assembly seats, freeholder election and Senatorial seats in BurlCo, there is arguably not a more contested and accusation-laden contest thus far in the entire state than there.
As anyone with any political knowledge will tell you, having a freeholder board held by one party is detrimental and promotes no dissent on contracts and major county issues. Besides the problem of a monolithic approach to governance, this particular board of freeholders are not promoting the public's interest by continuing to make contracts with "made" groups in the Paulsen family like PaineWebber, Paulsen's law firm (Capehart), and other connected groups.
Bader was right about the slush fund for the Bridge Commission being a bad idea that only increases the need for further taxation, and Perr is right in criticizing Donnelly for refusing to disconnect himself from corrupt practices by Paulsen, Stears and Bark.
Bark
Ok, I will bite on this one. When has Senator Bark been "charged or convicted" of any wrong doing? Seems to me and to many people I know that this whole lets throw ethics charges around is getting tiresome. It really gets embarrasing when my own party has no issues to talk about except this issue. I am glad that issues like my neighbor's issues with healthcare and taxes are not as important. Fortunately, most voters will vote on their finances. I am sure he average voter in Burlington County does not give a darn about all these scandals on both sides as much as how they will find ways to pay their bills and rent. Sad to say, the only things I have heard so far from my party is scandal this, scandal that, Republican, R's and this "Boss Paulsen." No wonder GOP has the majority on the Freeholder Board.
stop the madness
I think I'll enter a sympathy plea to politicsnj to tell them to stop posting so many articles on burlington county for this week..seriously if another bicker fight between Martin and gopgal and whoever else happens this site might just implode.
Then again Im at a pretty decent handicap because I dont know much about Burlington County outside of Dennison vs. Diane and Bodine.
So
I have been told on this thread that "having a freeholder board held by one party is detrimental and promotes no dissent on contracts and major county issues." Does this go for Camden County too? Does this mean that those who criticize one party rule on a county level will go out and rectify it in their own county of Camden by campaigning for the GOP candidates? Of course the answer is no. I guess NIMBY is alive and well in Camden County.
Career Politician
Joe Donnelly at the young age of 37/38 is a career politician. He only speaks up when it is necessary to further his career. He has gone from Riverton Council to Cinnaminson Council. He has tried a run for Assembly and now he wants a Freeholder seat. I'd be leary of his motives. He can't bash Martha or any of the Burlington GOP policies because his pay to play record in Cinnaminson is horrible. He touts a strong stance on pay to play but still hires the money firms. He is wrong for the County. What he tells the public about his pay to play stance, doesn't match his actions or come close to the policy being proposed in Evesham and adopted in other municipalities throughout the State. If so he would have a whole new professional staff in the Township. Say NO to JOE this November
freeholders
the oc: First, I'm tired of fighting with you via ad hominem arguments and want to have disagreements based on no personal attacks from this point on. You on board? I apologize for any and all personal attacks in the past.
Secondly, yes, I was thinking of the Camden County freeholders when I said that. What's happened in CamCo has been happening in BurlCo (admittedly, jkasko was right about some of the transgressions of CamCo freeholders in the past); if we're being frank and as objective as possible, I don't think there is any conclusion to come to besides that. Tell me who is a moderate, non-conservative Republican freeholder candidate in CamCo who is running, and I'll consider voting for him/her. To be realistic, though, it is nearly impossible for a Republican to win in CamCo.
Well Said OC
I think this is the first time I have ever seen Martin actually "try" to backpeddle! With that being said, I was set vote primarily for my party sans a few line switches, but now, after reading these press releaess, talking to my friends many who work for the County in various capacities, I am not convinced that Bader is the appropriate person to be Freeholder. Just to put him on because he is a Dem is not enough; from what I heard from my own party sources, they too are not happy with this entire ticket from both Districts! From our rank sources in the party, Perr has made some bad choices and these candidates save for a few are causing more problems. Right now, Donnelley from what has been reported has been kicking booty and talking to groups, events, etc and no one knows who this Bader really is.
donnelly
I have to give Donnelly credit for putting himself in the line of fire by running for office. It is hard enough to find good candidates to run for office. Just look at the Dem's. They have to recycle discarded GOP'ers. Donelly is a hard worker who is ready to think outside the box and disagree with his party. Give him a shot. We need people with energy and the willingness to serve.
Don't count out Bader. He's
Don't count out Bader. He's a great guy with a very impressive resume and trust me, he's out there, too, meeting with scores of burlco voters. Isn't it about time we had a freeholder board with at least one Democrat on it? This is especially so after all of the scandals in Burlco with the Repubs. I think Bader is a great choice to be that one Dem on the board.
THEY'RE FIRED !!!
The Burlington County GOP has been caught with their hands in the cookie jar too many times. This year, they are all going down. Too much legal graft, too much corruption, too much greed. It's over now and come November they will be history. Goodbye to the thieves !
MartinOne and others
this is only my second day posting. reading what you write and then the stupid replies from gopgal and her ilk (i mean ick), i think you just waste time responding to them. i don't know how many people come to this site, but hopefully a few. better to use the space to educate people and energize supporters for the democrats. if the ick crowd bring up points worth responding to- go ahead and respond. but as i see it, there isn't much to what they say. even when you do respond to their points, they just pretend like you didn't and assume people following their comments aren't bright enough to catch on. there must not be that much traffic on this site. otherwise the gop would have smarter people posting for them. along with that, all the fat comments about diane allen and the other woman are dumb too. i just got my property tax bill. don't worry-people will be voting their pocketbooks this year.