Ever since the news broke about Gerry Scharfenberger being appointed by Governor Christie to a $95,000 a year job as the new Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy and then keeping it quite by lying to the press when asked by several local news organizations such as the Asbury Park Press,Two River Times, Greater Media's the Independent and RedBankGreen.com about his current employer during this past election season, I've been receiving a ton of emails and comments left on this blog from friends and other Middletown residents that are upset at being deceived once again by the master of deception himself, Gerry Scharfenberger.
These people, some of whom voted for Scharfenberger, are angry and want to know what can be done about overturning the outcome of Tuesday's election due to the fact that if they had known in advance about Gerry's new position in Trenton it may have changed their votes.
But what really has them upset is his lame excuses for not making the appointment public knowledge back in August when he accepted the job. Scharfenberger has been quoted as saying ""I just assumed that everyone knew." by the Asbury Park Press and "I wasn't go to promote it to help my election, which I thought would be unfair." by the Atlantic Highlands Herald.
Many of these people think that keeping this information from the public, while not illegal, was unethical and the equivalent to fraud. They are thinking of taking action against Scharfenberger by starting a Recall campaign against him.
When I heard this for the first time, I thought it was an intriguing idea so I looked up the Recall Provision in the NJ State Constitution to see what it would entail.
Article 1, section 2b explains what needs to be done in order to recall a local public official as follows:
The people reserve unto themselves the power to recall, after at least one year of service, any elected official in this State or representing this State in the United States Congress. The Legislature shall enact laws to provide for such recall elections. Any such laws shall include a provision that a recall election shall be held upon petition of at least 25% of the registered voters in the electoral district of the official sought to be recalled. If legislation to implement this constitutional amendment is not enacted within one year of the adoption of the amendment, the Secretary of State shall, by regulation, implement the constitutional amendment, except that regulations adopted by the Secretary of State shall be superseded by any subsequent legislation consistent with this constitutional amendment governing recall elections. The sufficiency of any statement of reasons or grounds procedurally required shall be a political rather than a judicial question.
After reading the provisions it seems that all which is needed is to collect Scharfenberger is the signatures from 25% of all the registered voters in Middletown on a petition, which would be about 12 thousand or so, within 160 days. It seems doable but I doubt that it is plausible, recall efforts very seldom work, many signatures are challenged and thrown out by the powers that be and it is extremely time consuming to gather all those signatures
So we are probably stuck with him until he either resigns on his own from the Township Committee or is eventually thrown out of office by the voters after the next election. With that being said though, if anyone truly wants to start the recall effort, I'd sign my name to it.
9 comments:
This evil individual is not fit to serve in public office!
He proves it time and again.
And neither are the rest of that bunch of ethically challenged specimens....not an ounce of decency among them......nothing but a cesspool at Kings Highway!
http://www.yourmiddletown.com/bio.asp
Why no mention on the Republican candidate web site? Two River Times, App, Independent and Red Bank Green also asked about occupations.
He with held from all.
Nothing about it on any search engine.
This is clearly deception at its best. An elected official behaving in this matter is grounds for a recall. We were all deceived and his excuses insult our intelligence.
Mike,
Thought you would like to see this comment on Bob Ingels.
13. . DUPED IN MIDDLETOWN Says:
November 7th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Now I really know why Mayor Scharfenberger says “G_D Bless Governor Christie” whenever he has the opportunity to do so! It’s not about the Governors Toolkit, it’s about Gerry having a full-time job and the ability to latch on to the NJ pension program in very much the same way as he claimed others should not do. He is a hypocrite and should be ashamed of himself!
Talk about a lack of transparency. His action by not publicly disclosing his new position is morally reprehensible, even if not per-se illegal, or a violation of the campaign rules. It shows that his ethical standards are not to be trusted. This should be aggressively investigated and in my view, his seat on the Middletown Township Committee should be subject to a recall. Many would have voted differently upon hearing of this new position, especially given that he was already in it since August and never, ever made reference to it.
Moreover, this is not a Republican or Democratic campaign matter, this is a matter of trust and leadership. Simply put, this reaffirms what many have been saying to me for some time — do not give him the benefit of the doubt, as he can’t be trusted!
Gerry is probably thrilled deep down inside to have this job — and probably hasn’t had a real full-time job of responsibility for quite some time, due to his lack of adequate, credible credentials!
GERRY SCHARFENBERGER: SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR CRONIES — YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!!!
How would the seat be filled if he were tossed out? With the lone Democrat out, who would replace him? Is that what this is really all about, him bowing out, but only after the sole honest man has been shafted?
Anon 3:20,
If scharfy were to step down or removed from office, the Middletown Republican Municipal Party Chairman, Peter Carton, would nominate 3 people to take his place on the Township Committee. It would then be up to the members of the Township Committee to pick 1 of the 3 to sit on the dias with them.
But since the Township committee will be all Republican anyway, Party Chairman Peter Carton will just appoint whoever he wishes.
Sean Byrnes will not be reappointed to the Committee nor will any other Democrat and there will be NO special election to allow voters a chance to place a Democrat on the Committee.
You ask if this is what it is really about? No, it really isn't. It's about expecting open, transparent and ethical behavior from our local officials that forget they are elected to represent everyones best interests,not just their own.
Mike,
When I asked "is this really what it's all about" I was referring to why the Mayor kept his position hidden from the voters. Perhaps his intention was to step down from the township job, but only when the seat could be hand delivered to a Republican crony. Had he advised the voters honestly, prior to the election, the seat could still be filled by VOTERS-potentially with a Democrat. No argument about the sleaziness of the action. It's just hard to fathom that anyone would stick their finger in the voters' eyes so brazenly if they weren't already packed and ready to go.
If the process for replacing him is as you say, the voters are screwed no matter what. He made sure the voters hands were hogtied before the s--t hit the fan.
The Governor is laying off 1200 people on January 1st. this appointment is a disgrace. We can not let Carton and Settembrino off the hook either. They both new. MY "neighbors" the Steibs sent out letters to everyone in the 22nd district saying gerry was a Senior Archeologist and Adjunct Professor. their word is garbage as well. This Republican is furious. start the recall, I have 5 registered voters in my house that will sign it. hell, give me a petition and I'll carry it to my ethical neighbors
This is a classic "tempest in a teapot."
The Mayor taking a state job would not have changed the outcome of the election at all.
He made a decision not to trumpet the news and that was his own choice, but there is nothing illegal or unethical about that decision.
Nor is there any conflict of interest in him serving as a member of the Township Committee while also working for the state.
I guess it gives you guys something to grumble about, but you likely are in even less of a minority than those who didn't vote for the Mayor in the election.
You'll have your next chance at him in three years...
Mike,
Peter's Peckers are capable of anything! They have proven it!
It will only take till next November to stick this caper up Fiore and Brightbill's shabby,contemptible a$$es.
NOBODY LIKES LIARS and CHEATS !
NOBODY !
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