Barbara McMorrow

[richardkelsey]

This was a great choice. I am sure my endorsement through her over the edge! LOL

Barbara -- two words for you. ("Inspector general")

I could be there by January 1. :-)

[Marc LeVine]

Rich:

Don't take a penny less than the $53,000 the GOP gave its current counsels to justify their own jobs!!! And...at least...we can trust you!

Marc

[Marc LeVine]

McMorrow wins full term as freeholder; Little also wins

DEMOCRATIC UPSET
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/8/06
BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
FREEHOLD BUREAU

Democrats claimed a seat on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders for the first time in 20 years as Barbara McMorrow defeated Republican Andrew Lucas. GOP Freeholder Anna Little was re-elected over Democratic challenger Greg Gibadlo.

"I'm so humbled by the outpouring of support from everyone in Monmouth County. I truly hope to be their voice in county government," McMorrow said. "I've spent all my life in public service. Therefore I want to continue to serve the people of Monmouth County."

Lucas' defeat sent shock waves through the Republicans gathered at GOP county headquarters in West Long Branch last night. Many blamed the defeat on the discontent with Washington and the war in Iraq.

"It is a major Republican backlash," said Holmdel Mayor Serena DiMaso.

Lucas, 29, told the gathered supporters, "I'm sorry I let you down," then added, "Some of you may have a heavy heart, but we preserved Republican control" on the freeholder board. McMor-row will be the lone Democrat on the five-member board.

The most recent Democrats to be elected freeholders were John D'Amico Jr. and John A. Villapiano in 1986. The board has been all-GOP since 1989.

Meanwhile, voters elected Republican Rosemarie Peters to serve as county surrogate over Democrat Beverly Bova Scarano. The surrogate serves a five-year term and will earn a minimum salary of $91,650 to oversee an office of 19 employees.

With 95 percent of the votes cast, Peters received 87,626 votes to 82,649 for Scarano.

"This is a bittersweet occasion," said Peters. "I had confidence that we would sweep" the three county offices up for election.

Little contended in her victory speech that "Drew Lucas has laid a foundation, and he will be back."

GOP County Chairman Adam Puharic said the party had beaten back a national Democratic wave. "The results are an indication that this organization can hold back the tide. That we can hold onto a freeholder seat is an indication how hard this party works."

McMorrow, a former Freehold councilwoman and Freehold Township resident defeated Lucas, a Manalapan committeeman, by 87,288 votes to 82,697 for a full three-year term.

Little, of Highlands, was running against Democrat Greg Gibadlo of Middletown for a one-year unexpired term on the board. Little received 86,129 votes, and Gibadlo received 82,596.

The Democrats had called for an outside review of the county budget to cut spending. Democrats also had criticized the GOP-controlled board over the reappointment of County Counsel Malcolm V. Carton.

The freeholders reduced the fees paid to county counsels following a five-month study of the legal department but came under fire when they voted 3-2 in August to keep Carton — a longtime fundraiser for the Republican Party — in the job he has held for more than 20 years. The study cost the county $53,000.

Little had voted against Carton's reappointment. Lucas has said he would have voted with his running mate against Carton.

McMorrow called for the board to hire an independent forensic auditor to review the budget, while Gibadlo wanted to appoint a bipartisan commission to "restructure and re-engineer" the county's $457 million budget. Lucas argued that the board should conduct its own review and proposed a performance audit of the budget and county government. Little said she is already working to eliminate unnecessary spending. She serves on a freeholder committee reviewing the budget line by line to look for savings to be made in 2007.

At the polls, some voters said they cast their ballots for change in the county government.

"I voted on party lines because I think one-party rule in the county is not good," said Kathy Pietrunti, 51, of Middletown, who supported the Democrats. "I just don't like one party controlling things."

But Rhoda Chodosh, 57, said she supported Republicans because she believed they would be more effective agents of change.

"I supported Andrew Lucas because I like his policies with open space and Anna Little is a reformer," Chodosh said. "They both want change and reform."

Monmouth County voters also overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding question on the ballot to establish a countywide property tax of 1.5 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value for open space and farmland preservation. The vote was 99,883 to 53,675.

The county currently budgets a fixed amount of $16 million annually for an Open Space Trust Fund and sets a tax rate based on the amount. Establishing a tax rate instead means the amount collected will increase as property values rise and will help keep pace with the increase in land values.

Gibadlo and McMorrow had opposed that proposal.

Melissa Goldstein, 39, of Upper Freehold voted yes on the county open space question.

"I think it's very important," Goldstein said. "I love all the county parks. Many times a year we visit the county parks. I think they're beautiful."

row will be the lone Democrat on the five-member board.

The most recent Democrats to be elected freeholders were John D'Amico Jr. and John A. Villapiano in 1986. The board has been all-GOP since 1989.

Meanwhile, voters elected Republican Rosemarie Peters to serve as county surrogate over Democrat Beverly Bova Scarano. The surrogate serves a five-year term and will earn a minimum salary of $91,650 to oversee an office of 19 employees.

With 95 percent of the votes cast, Peters received 87,626 votes to 82,649 for Scarano.

"This is a bittersweet occasion," said Peters. "I had confidence that we would sweep" the three county offices up for election.

Little contended in her victory speech that "Drew Lucas has laid a foundation, and he will be back."

GOP County Chairman Adam Puharic said the party had beaten back a national Democratic wave. "The results are an indication that this organization can hold back the tide. That we can hold onto a freeholder seat is an indication how hard this party works."

McMorrow, a former Freehold councilwoman and Freehold Township resident defeated Lucas, a Manalapan committeeman, by 87,288 votes to 82,697 for a full three-year term.

Little, of Highlands, was running against Democrat Greg Gibadlo of Middletown for a one-year unexpired term on the board. Little received 86,129 votes, and Gibadlo received 82,596.

The Democrats had called for an outside review of the county budget to cut spending. Democrats also had criticized the GOP-controlled board over the reappointment of County Counsel Malcolm V. Carton.

The freeholders reduced the fees paid to county counsels following a five-month study of the legal department but came under fire when they voted 3-2 in August to keep Carton — a longtime fundraiser for the Republican Party — in the job he has held for more than 20 years. The study cost the county $53,000.

Little had voted against Carton's reappointment. Lucas has said he would have voted with his running mate against Carton.

McMorrow called for the board to hire an independent forensic auditor to review the budget, while Gibadlo wanted to appoint a bipartisan commission to "restructure and re-engineer" the county's $457 million budget. Lucas argued that the board should conduct its own review and proposed a performance audit of the budget and county government. Little said she is already working to eliminate unnecessary spending. She serves on a freeholder committee reviewing the budget line by line to look for savings to be made in 2007.

At the polls, some voters said they cast their ballots for change in the county government.

"I voted on party lines because I think one-party rule in the county is not good," said Kathy Pietrunti, 51, of Middletown, who supported the Democrats. "I just don't like one party controlling things."

But Rhoda Chodosh, 57, said she supported Republicans because she believed they would be more effective agents of change.

"I supported Andrew Lucas because I like his policies with open space and Anna Little is a reformer," Chodosh said. "They both want change and reform."

Monmouth County voters also overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding question on the ballot to establish a countywide property tax of 1.5 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value for open space and farmland preservation. The vote was 99,883 to 53,675.

The county currently budgets a fixed amount of $16 million annually for an Open Space Trust Fund and sets a tax rate based on the amount. Establishing a tax rate instead means the amount collected will increase as property values rise and will help keep pace with the increase in land values.

Gibadlo and McMorrow had opposed that proposal.

Melissa Goldstein, 39, of Upper Freehold voted yes on the county open space question.

"I think it's very important," Goldstein said. "I love all the county parks. Many times a year we visit the county parks. I think they're beautiful."

[richardkelsey]

Marc said:

Rich:

Don't take a penny less than the $53,000 the GOP gave its current counsels to justify their own jobs!!! And...at least...we can trust you!

Marc

I don't think I can run a conflict check for that little! LOL Seriously though -- I'd take the job on a contingency.

I can tell you right now I could cut 15% from the budget without affecting the quality of life and services provided by the County. In addition, some excellent County offices and personnel would even get raises (Imagine rewarding merit and holding the non-meritorious accountable).

Just interviewing me for the position would probably cause some resignations!

It's a two year operation. One lead, one forensic accountant, one computer forensic expert, and two investigators.

It would be about 1 million to do it correctly -- though I could probably do it with one less invetigator and consultants on an hourly basis. Two years -- 800K. I will bring you back a report recommending cuts, changes, restructurings, reductions, de-duplication, and eliminations totaling not less than 10% of the county Budget.

My team just might uncover any left over corruption that was missed -- just for a bonus.

[Marc LeVine]

Republican who (loves) McMorrow was her friend

CAMPAIGN SIGN BAFFLED GOP
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/16/06
BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
FREEHOLD BUREAU

The list of suspects was short but included a sitting Monmouth County freeholder, the Board of Freeholder's former director and the mayor of the county's largest town.

The charge, in essence, was a betrayal of the Republican Party.

The mystery at hand was the identity of the person responsible for the "Republicans (love) Barbara McMorrow" campaign signs that appeared shortly before the election. McMorrow, a Democrat, won a seat on the freeholder board last week, breaking her party's 20-year losing streak.

Like all good mysteries, the answer was under everyone's nose. The paid-for line on the signs read, "Friends of Barbara McMorrow, B. McClure, Treasurer."

So who is B. McClure?

She is Barbara McClure, 58, of Ocean Township, a registered Republican who never held an elected office. She is McMorrow's lifelong friend and childhood neighbor. McClure came forward on election night while waiting for the results with McMorrow at Palumbo's restaurant in Tinton Falls.

"It really isn't much of a story," said McClure after the election. "It was just a good friend supporting a friend."

McClure said she has voted for Republicans most of her life. But she supported McMorrow in the election because she believed in her friend and thought "the county needed a change."

"I think the incumbents have gotten too comfortable," McClure said. "There appears to be so much abuse of power."

McClure, who grew up next door to McMorrow in the Wanamassa section of Ocean Township, said she acted on her own. She wanted to do something to support McMorrow's campaign, but did not have a lot of time.

McClure couldn't say how many signs were ordered or how many were put up.

"I was not trying to do anything political," McClure said. "It was a catchy thing. It caused more of a stir than I thought it would."

That it did. The signs had Republicans pointing fingers at each other. The list of suspects included Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, former Freeholder Director Thomas J. Powers and Howell Mayor Joseph M. DiBella.

"Oh, for God's sake," DiBella said when confronted with the news that his name was mentioned in the Internet speculation over the signs.

"Believe me, I do not have the time, the money or the resources to have been engaged in any of that," DiBella said. "It is a shame that there are people who are trying to tear down the party from the inside out."

Burry was equally outraged by the accusation.

"That is the most absurd, ridiculous thing I have heard," Burry said. "I would not do anything like that. No. No. No.

"I am the municipal (Republican) chair in Colts Neck," Burry said. "I am extremely devoted to the party and to the candidates."

Burry and others also were quick to defend Powers, who could not be reached for comment.

"I know it wasn't Tom Powers," said James S. Gray, clerk to the freeholder board. "Tom Powers did not buy those signs. Neither of them would do something like that. No way."

Whether the campaign signs swayed the outcome of the election is a matter of debate.

"Every little bit helps," former Monmouth County Republican Chairman William F. Dowd said.

The current county GOP chairman, Adam Puharic, did not think the signs swayed voters. But he blasted their appearance shortly before the election.

"It was a misleading tactic," Puharic said.

McMorrow said she learned about signs the same way as her opponents. She spotted one while driving on Halls Mill Road in Freehold Township.

"I pulled over and got out of my car," McMorrow said. "I didn't know what it was."

But she recognized McClure's name and called her friend.

"It means the world that she would think to do something like this, because she is not political," McMorrow said.

McMorrow said the signs showed "you don't have to be a Democrat to think I would do a good job."

[richardkelsey]

William . Dowd is a likely contributor to those signs. LOL