FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLD BOYS NETWORK REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED MONMOUTH COUNTY FREEHOLDERS PREPARE TO GIVE 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT FOR LOCAL REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN
February 14th, 2013
FREEHOLD - The 5-0 Republican controlled Monmouth County Freeholders will be voting on a resolution to release taxpayers funds to Manalapan Republican Party Boss and Elected Official Andrew Lucas. http://oprs.co.monmouth.nj.us/OPRS/Meetings/AgendaFrmHolder.aspx?eid=143&ty=1
This vote will gift $1.2 million which will come from state, county and Manalapan taxpayers. In exchange, he promises not to sell this recently purchased property to a developer.
"There is something wrong with a system whereby a sitting elected official applies for a taxpayer funded grant and there is no transparency. In reading the resolution, don’t be fooled by the corporate name. It is owned by elected Committeeman (and former Mayor) Andrew Lucas," stated Chairman Vin Gopal
Recently, Republican Manalapan Deputy Mayor Ryan Green voted against the Lucas land deal. Mr. Green first moved to table the purchase due to incomplete documentation. Green stood up to local Republican boss Lucas.
State Comptroller Matt Boxer recently issued the results of an investigation condemning a mayor in another New Jersey town for improperly using his position of influence in a private land deal. ttp://www.nj.gov/comptroller/news/docs/investigative_report_chesterfield_01_29_13.pdf
"This doesn't pass the smell test. While middle-class families in our county are working hard to makes ends meet, Manalapan politician Andrew Lucas is about to make over a million dollars off of taxpayers. If the Republican controlled freeholder board chooses to put the interests of their crony politicians ahead of the taxpayers of this county, we will have a serious problem. This will be one of the most important issues facing this year's county election," stated Gopal.
The public meetings are held at the Hall of Records, 1 East Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728
Workshop Meeting at 2pm
Voting Meeting at 7pm
Since this is on the agenda, the public will have the opportunity to be heard at each of these meetings.
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An update:
At Thursday afternoon’s Freeholder workshop meeting, a decision was made by the board to table this resolution for a future meeting. Thus, there was no vote at their regular meeting on Thursday night. At the Manalapan meeting the night before, the vote to allocate the municipal funds did not pass.
The Freeholders made a point that they didn't want discussion on this matter until it comes up for a vote on a future agenda. Some people commented anyway since they had taken the time to attend the afternoon meeting. Former Freeholder Amy Mallet was one, and she made a well-worded argument against approval.
I video-recorded the afternoon meeting, so you can watch it and see Amy’s comments in a day or so when the video is posted.
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