The news coming out of Middletown today about our acting mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, is unbelievable but not really unexpected, many in Middletown thought that Scharfy had higher political aspirations then just sitting around Middletown pretending to care about the town, while driving up the municipal tax rate by 45% during his tenure as a member of the Township Committee.
Today's announcement that Scharfy has been appointed by Governor Christie to a $95,000 a year job as the new Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy (formerly the Office of Smart Growth), just confirmed it. His appointment to this position is a strange one considering after all considering that the man doesn't know how to plan for a township budget that doesn't include huge tax increases.
But I guess the only real qualifications needed for this appointment was his incessant and partisan bashing of all that were not of his same political affiliations and the nonstop, obsessive, sucking-up to Christie that borders on some strange kind of "Bromance".
Does this mean that he will be leaving his current job as a Senior Lead Archaeologist for GAI Consultants and giving up his part-time teaching job at Monmouth University? I don't see how he can find time for two full-time jobs, one part-time job and still have time to "volunteer" his services as a member of the Middletown Township Committee. Knowing how egotistical Scharfenberger is, I'm sure that he wont let it get in his way. He'll continue to serve out his newly elected term while padding his State pension with his new found tax payer windfall.
I wonder how many people would have voted for this sleazy political hack if they had known before Tuesday's election he would be leaving Middletown to work for Christie in Trenton? I mean really, this appointment didn't just happen over night. It had to have been planned, win or lose, for weeks if not months.
How good does this appointment look anyway for Christie, do you think that he will get any slack from the public after announcing that 1,200 public employees will be losing their jobs in January? I'm sure one public employee isn't to happy about it, that would be Acting Executive Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy , Linda Kellner, who has to make way for Scharfenberger.
As an anonymous poster stated on a previous post when the learned about Scharfy's new gig:
"Scharfy is now exposed and deceptive as usual. All along only interested in self promotion. Appointed to a business position.That's beautiful, can't even do his own budget. Great choice Christie."
I couldn't agree more.
I couldn't agree more.
20 comments:
The voters were fooled again. How ironic that Scharfy got the Tea party vote when he's the one who's made a mess of things. Now he gets rewarded with a job from the Gov. This guy cons everyone.
What is the recourse for the people of Middletown, upon whom a fraud has been perpetrated?
How about a recall petition
WHEN CAN WE START ???
If BULLSHIT was money this CON ARTIST would be a multi-millionaire !!....
and he's working on it at taxpayer expense !!!
Anon 6:48
I don't know, why don't we look into it and report back later?
Every member of the Township Committee has a job besides being on the Committee, including Sean Byrnes.
Mr. Scharfenberger should turn down a better job? In this economy?
This will have no effect on his duties as a Committee member, none.
It's a non-issue, save for the fact that it upsets some of the Mayor's few political opponents in town.
Anon 9:06
How do you know if wont effect his duties on the Township Committee? He now has 2 full time jobs and tow part time jobs.
Gerry alwayed love to boast that he spends over 60hrs a week on Township issues, how is that possible? 140+ hrs a week doesn't add up something will have to give or he'll just have to be honest with people and admit that he is a liar!
Mike -
Other members have jobs that also require working mush more than 40 hours per week, and yet they are able to handle it.
I assume that Mr. Scharfenberger will ease back on consulting, besides, he won't be mayor after January 1, right?
There are legitimate political reasons you can complain about the Mayor, but his accepting a job in Trenton isn't one of them...
Anon 11:41
It's not about who works how many hours in a week,its about being honest to residents that vote. If voters knew before Tuesday about Schary taking a job in the Christie Administration,I'm sure that it would have been viewed as a negative by many.
Does anyone really believe that Gerry puts in over 60 hrs a week on Township business? I think not!
And since when has Gerry been a consultant? His bio lists his main occupation as "Senior Lead Archaeologist" for GAI Consultants, Inc., not specifically as a consultant.
If all plays out as usual, Tony Fiore will be appointed as the next Mayor with Pammy being appointed as acting Deputy Mayor once again. But who knows, maybe Gerry is to valuable to be designated as a simple Committeeman if he will be responsible to answering to Christie.
http://www.ahherald.com/index.php/201011059690/Local-News/middletown-mayor-took-state-job-before-election.html
Mike,
This is deception pure and simple.
There was no mention of this in any of the articles about the Mayor's current occupation during the campaign. Therefore he wasn't honest about disclosure. All the candidates stated their occupations and he kept this hidden. To say he didn't want to influence the election is bogus. This is unethical and dishonest and the Mayor has to be held accountable.
The GOP mailings calling Sean Byrnes a career politician now show the lies and hypocrisy these people are capable of.
How could they have been done in April & May. The primary was in June?
This man is not capable of the truth. This is a classic example of his character which appears seriously lacking.
There was a contested republican primary so how could campaign literature be printed in April or May....do I detect untruths as usual...the Middletown Republicans have become a DISGRACE even to their own party .
The question remains...is this conduct not only unethical but also illegal??
Throw Pinnochio out on his @$$ !!
Anon 9:06,
Yes, other members of the committee have employment obligations as well as committee obligations. What makes Scharfenberger's appointment very questonable is that it is a political appointnment to government employment. None of the other committee people are in that specific situation. Multiple government jobs, or multiple elected positions, or combinations of these catagories that allow for pension padding -- an issue in NJ for years (Sharpe James and others) is something that Christie campaigned against. Scharfenberger has multiple (four) work production related commitments: two private sector and two that are politically grounded. And, it is clear that this $95,000 a year job is a political appointment that he is not qualified to perform: There is nothing in his professional background that qualifies Scharfenberger for this position. And, it absolutely smacks of "career politician". An intentionally deceptive lable often used by Gerry and Settimbrino in their recent campaign because they thought it would get people to vote against one of their opponents. For someone who came down hard on education administrators because of what their salaries cost taxpayers, I find it extremely hypocritical of Mayor Dr. Scharfrnberger to accept a taxpayer supported position so he could become Director Mayor Dr. Scharfenberger. (Grenafege)
Has anonymous 9:06 got her pom poms on today or is she using her RE credentials ??
Get real for a change....this is without a doubt unethical behavior from someone who has an education and apparently is not educated.....has character flaws and should not serve in public life !
I'd like to know why the Governor didn't announce this either. Why all the secrecy?
It was deliberately kept quiet.
9:06 Sean Byrnes has a profession as do the others. Please don't insult our intelligence.
We're not only questioning his taking an appointed government job while in office. We're questioning the lack of transparency and disclosure during an election.
It is called moral bankruptcy !!!!
I hope all you Republicans are happy with the guy you re elected. You don't give a damn about what's good for this town, all you care about is self promotion and getting elected. The corruption in this town disgusts me.
In August, the mayor came out with his "idea" of increasing the State's sales tax and using the money to offset property taxes. Laying aside the pros and cons of such a proposal, how is that not double dealing if in fact the mayor was working for the State at the time and did not disclose it? The AHHerald article states he was named to his patrongage position in August.
Why do you people keep voting for these people then? Unless you vote against them (and vote them out), they will continue to deceive, lie, cheat and steal their way into your wallets. Stop complaining and do something about it. You had a chance last week and blew it. Maybe this time you will learn from your mistakes, but we doubt it.
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