What Is A Freeholder And Why Is This Election Important?

What is a Freeholder?

As a candidate for Freeholder the questions that I get most are; what is a County Freeholder and why should I vote for you? I hope this column answers those questions.

Brian Froelich

The Monmouth County government is a large enterprise that employs over 3,000 people and is responsible for over $1 billion of your taxpayer money. And, while most people agree that monopolies are not good in either business or politics, the Republican Party machine has controlled and monopolized the Freeholder Board for 24 of the last 25 years. And despite talking about ‘small government’ they keep building a larger one. For example a) they increased taxes by over 100% (from $149 million to over $300 million). b) They built one of the largest jails in the United States. (It is 50% too big and one third empty.) c) They spent over $100 million in deficits to maintain, not one but, two county nursing homes. (Most counties have none since NJ has over 300 private homes.) d) They admit that the County Library system budget of $19 million for 13 branches is ‘out of control’. And e) they recently built 2 new office buildings when the county office vacancy rate is over 30%. (They spent $40 million when similar space is selling for less than half that amount.)
As just a simple example of the issue, Hudson County (not known as a paragon of fiscal virtue!) has a higher population but raises lower total taxes than Monmouth County.

The result of this Republican Party monopoly is that in Monmouth County homes values and tax ratables are declining; unemployment is, and has been, one of the highest of surrounding counties; poverty is increasing (especially for the very young and old); population growth is one of the lowest of surrounding counties, and a rising crime rate and heroin epidemic is an acknowledged fact.

In addition there has been a constant stream of scandals. Chris Christie, when he was a United States Prosecutor said that Monmouth County corruption runs “wide and deep”. Nothing has changed. We have had scandals in every area of county government from the Freeholders, to the Sherriff’s office, to the Clerk’s office, to Brookdale College, etc. The ethical scandals ranged from Birdsall illegal donations (which the Freeholders refused to disclose), to the million dollar award to Republican Mayor Lucas (which Freeholder DiMaso subsequently admitted shouldn’t have passed), to having a Republican Party executive and campaign coordinator managing $100 million in annual county purchases (which Republican Freeholders don’t see as a conflict). It is time to say enough is enough.

Few residents attend Freeholder meetings so Monmouth County residents need a watchdog on the Freeholder Board. If elected, Larry Luttrell and I will insure that all reasonable alternatives are considered, that business logic is applied, and the ethical rules are implemented and enforced.

In any case, please vote on Tuesday, November 5

Brian Froelich

Candidate For Freeholder

PS You can find out more about my background and positions at www.froelich4freeholder.com

New Jersey Women's Leaders Call on Governor Christie to Denounce

Below you will find a letter from women leaders across New Jersey demanding that Governor Christie condemn Hudson County Republican Chair Jose Arango’s offensive comments and call for his resignation.

July 31, 2013
From: Women Leaders of New Jersey
To: Governor Christie

Dear Governor Christie:

Today, your Hudson County Republican Chair, Jose Arango, made deeply offensive comments about the Democratic Lieutenant Governor nominee, Milly Silva.

According to PolitickerNJ, Mr. Arango belittled and demeaned Ms. Silva’s qualifications in what can only be described as blatantly sexist remarks.

Ms. Silva has worked since the age of 14, getting a good education and rising to become an influential leader in the State of New Jersey. As Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU, Ms. Silva oversees more than 8,000 members and helps negotiate multi-million dollar contracts that are good for business and workers.

We ask you to join us in condemning Jose Arango’s misogynistic comments and call for his resignation. Statements like this cannot be a part of this campaign and demean all women in the state of New Jersey.

We deserve better than his disrespect and contempt.

Sincerely,

Loretta Weinberg, Senate Majority Leader

Nia Gill, Senate President Pro Tempore

Nellie Pou, Senator

Teresa Ruiz, Senator

Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assemblywoman & Buono for Governor Campaign Chair

Marlene Caride, Assemblywoman

Valerie Vanieri Huttle, Assemblywoman

Mila Jasey, Assemblywoman

Angelica Jiminez, Assemblywoman

Pamela Lampitt, Assemblywoman & Chairwoman of the Assembly Women & Children Committee

Annette Quijano, Assemblywoman

Celeste Riley, Assemblywoman

Grace Spencer, Assemblywoman

Linda Stender, Assemblywoman

Shavonda Sumter, Assemblywoman

Connie Wagner, Assemblywoman

Nancee May, President of the New Jersey Federation of Democratic Women

Amy Papi, 2nd Vice President of the New Jersey Federation Democratic Women

Peg Schaffer, Somerset County Democratic Chairwoman

Liz Muoio, Mercer County Democratic Chairwoman

Lauren Murphy, President of the Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County, and Clifton Democratic Chairwoman

Kathy Makowski, President of the Middlesex County Federation of Democratic Women

Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan & Retha Onitiri, Co-Chairs of the Monmouth County Democratic Women’s Caucus

Leslie Huhn, Chair of the Sussex County Women’s Caucus

Jamie Lombardi, Executive Director of the Sussex County Women’s Caucus

Buono Statement in Response to Arango’s Offensive Comments

New Brunswick, NJ – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono issued the following statement in response to the insulting comments made by Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango:

"Jose Arango's wildly sexist statements are an insult to accomplished women everywhere who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Milly Silva has worked since the age of 14 to lift herself out of poverty and risen to become an executive overseeing thousands of workers and multi-million dollar contracts. I urge Governor Christie to demand the immediate resignation of Jose Arango and make clear such outrageous attacks have no place in his campaign. And the next time Mr. Arango thinks about demeaning a woman's achievement, maybe he'll remember the mothers and sisters and daughters across New Jersey who deserve better than his condescension and disrespect.”

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**  Earlier today Hudson County Republican Chairman Jose Arango in rather sexists tones, dismissed Milly Silva, Barbara Buono's choice as Lt. Governor, as being basically  unqualified to be her running mate and compared her to his secretary stating:

 “Poor thing, it’s like picking my secretary. She’s a very nice person. The union likes her, but even in the union she’s vice president. She hasn’t been a committeewoman. It’s like the guy in CVS with no expertise who suddenly gets promoted to pharmacist. It’s like the guy saying, ‘I work at CVS, I can be the pharmacist.

Look, she’s a great person, but they just picked her because they couldn’t find anyone else, No one knows Milly.”