Oink! Oink! Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.

Politics is not service to the community but service to self. Is it more disgusting that Hawkins took the positions or that such an amalagmation of jobs is allowed under the law? Pay-to-play is nothing compared to this. By the way, ask Hawkins what the Fire Director's functions are versus the Fire Chief. That's right Orange also has a Fire Chief (an actual accredited professional) who gets a six figure salary. If he wants to be a full time mayor then ask the council for a raise in the salary. The taxpayers in Orange should be upset.

why must we always assume someone is up to no good?

What?

The people of Orange have been fleeced for years and this guy comes in for a "change". The reality is out with the old boss in with the new boss. It is pocket padding plain and simple. He set the tone by "gettin' his".

So is Eldridge, apparently.

Add another $70,000 to the take for the beautiful but inexperience Chief of Staff that Hawkins appointed. The young woman is intelligent and capable. The problem is, there is no staff to be chief of, nor has there historically been such a position in Orange.

Mims Hackett, following the lead of the corrupt Mayor Brown, appointed a "Confidential Aid." but changed the name of the position in the waning days of his reign to “Chief of Staff” when citizens started to protesting his political bag man.

Mayor Brown charged taxpayers $17,000 for his traveling companion, Hackett charged $50,000, and Hawkins wasted no time in spending $70,000 for his eye candy “Confidential Aid” – excuse me, “Chief of Staff”.

Some things never change!

Why is it that women are attacked when they are in traditionally male positions? It gets worse when the woman is young and attractive. Being young and attractive does not mean that they are automatically considered to be less talented than a male counterpart. As I understand it, this woman was senior staff for a United States Senator who endorsed her for this position. If anyone bothered to check the newpapers as I did, you would find that she organized many special events and political rallies, organized and founded organizations that are now state wide, sits on the board of several non-profit organizations, and has had to coordinate many people in order to accomplish those goals. She spent much of her earlier years helping to organize people for political events, rallies, and campaigns. She is respected by local, county, and state officials. Yes, she is a woman. Don't let your gender bias get in the way before you judge her. She is tough as nails, well educated (with a triple major I believe, from Rutgers, which includes the Bloustein School from which she received an award), and is up to the task.

what an insulting, sexist comment! Women can be attractive and intelligent. They should not be denied opportunities because of their gender or their appearance. This young lady has worked and demonstrated her abilities on the federal level. In addition, she has worked in the private sector. With experience and education anyone should be able to excel and move to the next level no matter what their gender. To think that college and work experience amount to a small minded comment like "eye candy" is just insulting. There are almost 400 city workers in the town of Orange. Most cities have a chief of Staff. This position frees the mayor to attend to many pressing matters while the city continues runs smoothly. Perhaps some investigation into the way cities are run, and the many positions women have held in the administrative positions of those cities should be done prior to making comments.

Clearly he is making SACRIFICES for Orange. You armchair quarterbacks need to stop hating and start helping. And how dare some of you refer to his Chief of Staff as Eye Candy. This is just sexist and really shows your jealousy. Don't Hate, Appreciate. These folks are young, smart, innovative and progressive. And if they look good too, what a BONUS. We have been down too long and don't even know what it feels like to stand up. I can't wait until he really gets things going. If you don't have vision, please get out of the way of others. Even better try and help, we need everybody.

GET A LIFE

Quite the double-header! How is it possible that in the same year that a woman runs for president, we have people that assume women are empty-headed and only hired for their appearance. It is absolutely crude what you implied. The new Chief of Staff is more accomplished than many of the MEN that are appointed to the same position, especially in nearby newark. I understand that it may be hard for the ego to handle, that a women is more suitable for a position than you are, but such is life get over it. Not every politician is a dirty politician and not every woman is eye candy. Now go back into your cave.

Who attacked a woman?   I said: “The young woman is intelligent and capable.”   She has a better resume and demonstrated abilities than the new mayor. I would have voted for her over Jr. any day. Should she have won and appointed Eldridge, Jr. as a “Chief of Staff”, my complaint would be the same. Eldridge is as much “eye candy” as she is.

 
So don’t try and cover up poor political judgment and an arrogant grab of taxpayer money with  false cries of sexism. 

no.1 teacher and loving it,

Perhaps you should go back to school and investigate how city government is organized in Orange. Orange has a full time business Administrator to run the day to day operation of the city to free up the Mayor to pursue “pressing matters”. The mayor also has a City Attorney and a legal department, a full time Chief Financial Officer, a full time certified Fire Chief, etc., etc. As you said, almost 400 city employees- to guide him in learning about his new domicile and new job.

“Chief of Staff” was a bogus position as described by the May 1998 State of New Jersey Commission of Investigation Report on Orange municipal government. It is still a bogus position.

Oh, and did I say that the business administrator who runs the city is a woman?

I see you have already learned that there are almost 400 staff. I believe you stated that there was "no staff". We must move forward. We have a destiny. It is time for new things. Study the job descriptions before you speak about them. Test on next Friday.

no.1 teacher and loving it,

All employees are not “staff”. There are many departments which report to the mayor but do not work directly for him. The Mayor’s office has employees. Does Eldridge need someone to supervise his executive secretary? What you envision is a vice-mayor. There is no such position and the size of the Orange government structure makes it not cost effective. Which brings us back to my original statement:

Add another $70,000 to the cost of our new mayor.

Our good looking mayoral couple will cost taxpayers $180,700/yr ($216,800+/yr with benefits) from $28.000  in just the first fifteen days of their administration.

The finances of Orange are on the brink of disaster. The city has been on State welfare for years. The handouts are drying up. The city needs to cut all expenditures by at least 30% to bring the cost of government in line with realistic future tax revenues. Economic development will take years- is it ever succeeds. We really cannot afford to be just a career path step and training program for political legacies. Real sacrifices needs to be made now.

Hawkins’s first executive decisions show no acknowledgment or sensitivity to these realities. Neither do the comments of his apologists.

moving forward is painful for those who are afraid of change. Change, however does come to all things. name calling and petty comments do not move things forward. Bold action does. People who don't know what they are talking about must sit and wait for the change to prove itself. The mayor doesn't need apologists. He needs the support of people who are not afraid to move forward. Our town needs people who are willing to pull together...FORWARD. Share the vision of the elected mayor..try not to be bitter. Our town needs everyone to pull forward together.

with that said, i will not condemn the man, a house divided and all that. however, his initial actions do not inspire confidence. i just hope that his next actions will reflect someone who has recieved intelligent and visionary counsel. at least he quit his job as a west orange po. so he at least looks like he is going to take this job seriously

I believe that people need to investigate the truth BEFORE commenting!!!First, Major Hawkins is a well educated man. Why do you expect him to work for pennies? Secondly, his Chief of Staff is serving the taxpayers of Orange. I am sure that clarification of her job description would be given, if you had the intelligence to ASK! If a man was assigned the position, nothing would be said. However; a well educated, articulate, beautiful woman is a threat to your ego. She has earned her position and I believe that in time, you will be sorry for the comments that you made.

I believe that people need to investigate the truth BEFORE commenting!!!First, Major Hawkins is a well educated man. Why do you expect him to work for pennies. Secondly,his Chief of Staff is serving the taxpayers of Orange. I am sure that clarification of her job discription would be given, if you had the intelligence to ASK! If a man was assigned the postion, nothing would be said. However; a well educated, articulate, beautiful woman is a threat to your ego. She has earned her position and I believe that in time, you will be sorry for the comments that you made.