NJ Spotlight's Interactive Map: Tracking The Gubernatorial Campaign Contributions

NJ Spotlight once again has put up an interactive map that shows us in which parts of the state this year's gubernatorial candidates received their campaign contributions from. Democrat Phil Murphy, has a clear money advantage over his rival Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

Here in Middletown, Guadagno has out fundraised Murphy by slightly more than $10,000 ($26,800 to $16,074).  Interestingly, $1,500 of which has come from the campaign account of Middletown's Stephanie Murray.  What does that tell you?

Either Guadagno is worried about the overall money difference between her and Murphy and shook down Murray's campaign for a $1,500 contribution or Murray's campaign thinks so little of its opponent, that it doesn't think it needs its money to win reelection. Maybe it's both.        

From 10/26/17 Friends of Stephanie Murray campaign ELEC report 

Questions remain on Guadagno pension-fraud probe after State shuts door on probe

From NOT NJ Watchdog:

The shadow of a pension fraud probe continues to hang over Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who acted as titular head of New Jersey government for most of last year and is widely expected to run for governor in 2017.

With a recent appellate court ruling that released some records but withheld the findings of the investigation, it is unlikely the public will ever learn why the case was quietly dropped by the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice, where Guadagno once served as deputy director.

As Monmouth County sheriff, Guadagno made false and conflicting statements that enabled her chief officer, Michael Donovan, to collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary. It was one of three cases the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System board of trustees referred to DCJ for investigation.

“The concerns raised are that the taxpayers of New Jersey are being defrauded,” wrote PFRS board secretary Wendy Jamison to then-Attorney General Paula Dow in June 2011. “Please provide this office with the outcome of this investigation.”

Instead, the DCJ refused to share the findings with PFRS, leaving its board without the guidance it sought on how to handle double-dipping abuses.

“Upon a thorough investigation of this matter, it is being returned to you for whatever administrative action you deem appropriate,” DCJ Corruption Bureau Chief Christine Hoffman informed PFRS in a June 2012 letter that reported the case closed, but little else.

The Appellate Division ordered the release of those two communications after a lengthy public records battle. Yet the judges allowed DCJ to keep secret a five-page memo that contains the findings of the investigation.

While the probe ended without prosecution, the underlying facts of the case continue to challenge Guadagno’s credibility.

The full story by investigative reporter Mark Lagerkvist is now online at NJ Spotlight - http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/01/05/state-shuts-door-on-guadagno-pension-fraud-probe-but-questions-remain/.

NJ Watchdog: Corruption case undermines Christe claims as prosecutor

On the presidential campaign trail, Chris Christie boasts that he was a no-nonsense prosecutor above politics.

“The fact is that this Justice Department under this president has been a political Justice Department,” said Christie during last month’s debate on CNBC. If elected, he promised to nominate “an attorney general who will enforce the law and make justice more than just a word.”

But back in New Jersey, the Christie administration appears to be burying a corruption case involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, his second-in-command. An alleged $245,000 pension fraud occurred when Guadagno was Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, the year before she first ran for lieutenant governor as Christie’s running mate.

On Thursday, a New Jersey appeals court ruled the state attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice must release two confidential documents to New Jersey Watchdog. Justices George S. Leone and Carol E. Higbee rejected a lower court’s decision to block release of the records as an “abuse of discretion.”

“We cannot agree that the fact the investigation concerned possible sensitive issues of public corruption weighs against disclosure,” the ruling stated. “In cases involving allegations of public corruption, transparency and the public’s right to know are particularly important.”

Guadagno made false and conflicting statements that enabled her sheriff’s chief officer, Michael Donovan, to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary, as first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010.

In 2011, DCJ began an investigation at the request of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System board of trustees. From the start, the probe was riddled with conflicts of interest.

Guadagno is a former deputy director of DCJ who had supervised or worked with many of its investigators. Yet Christie did not use his authority to appoint a special prosecutor or independent investigator under the State Constitution.

What happened to that investigation is a mystery slowly being revealed through years of public records battles between New Jersey Watchdog and the Christie administration.

The complete story is online at http://watchdog.org/246981/nj-corruption-undermines-christie/.

NJ Watchdog: Appeals court orders release of corruption probe records

A New Jersey appeals court has ruled the state must release two confidential state records from a corruption probe involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to New Jersey Watchdog.

The opinion released Thursday by the Appellate Division reverses a trial court decision by Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson last year not to release those records from a state Division of Criminal Justice investigation of alleged pension fraud.

In a 14-page opinion, Justices George S. Leone and Carol E. Higbee rejected Jacobson’s reasons for blocking release of the documents to the investigative news site as an “abuse of discretion.”

“We cannot agree that the fact the investigation concerned possible sensitive issues of public corruption weighs against disclosure,” the ruling stated. “In cases involving allegations of public corruption, transparency and the public’s right to know are particularly important.”

As New Jersey’s second-in-command, Guadagno frequently serves as acting governor when Chris Christie travels outside the state on presidential campaign trips. She is mentioned as a likely Republican candidate for governor in 2017 – and could take the reins earlier if Christie steps down before his term expires.

The alleged $245,000 fraud occurred when Guadagno was Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, the year before she first ran for lieutenant governor as Christie’s running mate.

Guadagno made false and conflicting statements that enabled her chief officer, Michael Donovan, to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary, as first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010. The story included links to smoking-gun documents, including an internal memo initialed by Guadagno.

In 2011, DCJ began an investigation at the request of a state pension board. But the probe was riddled by a major conflict of interest since Guadagno is a former DCJ deputy director. Christie did not use his constitutional power to appoint a special investigator or independent prosecutor.

The story is online at http://watchdog.org/246882/nj-corruption-probe-records/.

Salute to Patriotism Gala Celebrates 20th Anniversary of New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial

Holmdel, NJ (September 25, 2015) – The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation 20th Anniversary Salute to Patriotism Gala will be held October 29, 2015 at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club. The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a program at 7 p.m. The Gala will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. Since 1995, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial has provided a place to honor those who have served and continue to serve our country. The Memorial is a place “To Remember, To Heal, To Honor” through ceremonies and outreach programs.

“I believe that we cannot thank our men and women veterans enough for all the dedication, sacrifice, and strength they display while serving our country. This Memorial brings both recognition and a deep appreciation for their bravery that only a few can exhibit,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “Here in New Jersey, we come together not only as a state or community, but as a family that will forever support our military.”

The Gala will honor Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems. Both honorees have had a profound impact on the state of New Jersey and support veterans and active duty military service men and women.

As a proud military mother of her Air Force Academy graduate son, Kevin, Lt. Governor Guadagno has great empathy for active duty service men and women. She headed Military Appreciation Month in May and sponsored the “Dress Our Vets” campaign to provide professional clothing for service-women transitioning from the military to business in New Jersey. As Chair of the New Jersey Military Installation Growth and Development Task Force, she is responsible for securing the long-term growth of New Jersey’s military bases and U.S. Coast Guard installations. She also serves as Secretary of State overseeing the Governor’s Business Development, its $40 billion tourism industry as well as administering programs related to arts, culture and history.

Peter Cancro’s secret to success is his philosophy of “giving.” He believes that making a sub sandwich and making a difference can be one and the same. Charities, hospitals, school systems and numerous individuals have benefited from his support. In March 2015, Jersey Mike’s celebrated its 5th Annual “Month of Giving,” a national fundraising campaign, raising more than $3.1 million for 120+ local charities. Since the program started five years ago, Jersey Mike’s and its generous customers have raised more than $8 million. All year round, through a variety of programs, Jersey Mike’s franchisees across the country support the military and their families.

The Gala will feature an open bar, hors d’Oeuvres, dinner, silent auction and live music. Tickets are $175 for individuals and $350 for couples. Dress is business attire. Moderator for the evening is Jack Ford, noted legal analyst.

Honorees Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and Peter Cancro are Gala Co-Chairs. Gala Vice Chairs are Linda Kellner, John Reinhardt, Anita Roselle, Harry Sassaman and Carol Stillwell. The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees are Chairman Clark W. Martin, Robert Briant, Jr., Roy D. Budd, Harry Chowansky III, Francis P. Crotty, James S. Cusick, Beverly Fedorko-Ott, Thomas P. Ford, Ann Kelsey,
Jess Le Vine, Robert W. Looby, James Petillo, Gordon S. Pingicer, W. Peter Ragan, Sr., John C. Ricker, Jack Tully, Michael Warner, Gilbert “Whip” Wilson, Herb Worthington.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 732-335-0033 or visit www.njvvmf.org.

NJ Watchdog: Criminal probe secrets center on Christie's second-in-command

The public’s right to know the outcome of a criminal probe of an alleged $245,000 pension fraud involving New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno will be debated next week in state appellate court.

New Jersey Watchdog is appealing a lower court’s decision not to release the findings of an investigation by the state attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard next Wednesday at Rutgers Law School in Camden.

Guadagno frequently serves as acting governor when Chris Christie travels outside the state on presidential campaign trips. She is mentioned as a likely Republican candidate for governor in 2017 – and could take the reins even earlier if Christie steps down before his term expires.

The alleged fraud occurred when Guadagno was Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, the year before she first ran for lieutenant governor as Christie’s running mate.

Guadagno made false and conflicting statements that enabled her chief officer, Michael Donovan, to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary, as first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010. The story included links to several smoking-gun documents, including an internal memo initialed by Guadagno.

In May 2011, DCJ began a criminal investigation at the request of a state pension board. But the probe was riddled by a major conflict of interest because Guadagno is a former DCJ deputy director. Christie did not use his constitutional power to appoint a special investigator or independent prosecutor.

Stonewalled by DCJ and the governor’s office for nearly two years, New Jersey Watchdog sued the state in 2013 for records of the investigation.

The investigative news site won a partial victory in the trial court last year when Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson ordered DCJ to reveal some of the documents it sought.

However, Jacobson also ruled DCJ was allowed to keep the findings of the investigation secret. After reviewing the documents in private, the judge determined the state’s interest in keeping the records confidential outweighed the public’s right to know.

In September 2014, New Jersey Watchdog appealed Jacobson’s decision to the State Appellate Division.

Lawyers for the state contend disclosure would undermine DCJ’s future ability to conduct corruption investigations. The investigative news site is arguing that the public has an overriding interest in knowing whether or not the probe itself may have been corrupted.

Appellate Division Judges George S. Leone and Carol E. Higbee will preside at the hearing. Judge Michael A. Guadagno, the lieutenant governor’s husband, is not assigned to the case.

The story is online at http://watchdog.org/235567/christie-criminal-probe-secrets/.

Letter: For Those That Can't Reach Gov. Christie Call The Lt. Gov

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:

Dear Editor,

It is unclear when the Chris Christie Presidential Wannabe Magical Mystery Tour will end, spending taxpayer money all around the country, but refusing to provide the citizens of our state with any sort of accounting to explain how our money has been spent. The court battles to keep these records secret have also been at taxpayer expense.

Many citizens have questions for Governor-turned-Dictator Chris Christie, but with him travelling out-of-state all the time in his megalomaniacal fantasy to become U.S. President, they simply can’t reach him.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno carries a cell phone and tells business people to call it if they have problems with red tape or otherwise need her assistance to use it. I believe we should share that number with the Sandy families Christie has abandoned and anyone else who has questions for his administration. Call 609-575-8111.



Eric Hafner
Toms River

NJ Watchdog: Christie promises to 'tell it like it is,' but hides truths in NJ

Chris Christie declared his candidacy for president Tuesday, promising America that he would “tell it like it is.” But his track record in New Jersey shows the governor has often gone to great lengths to hide the truth from taxpayers.

“We are going to tell it like it is,” Christie proclaimed in a gymnasium packed with supporters at Livingston High School. “The truth will set us free.”

In contrast, New Jersey Watchdog and other news outlets have gone to court on numerous occasions to try to win release of public records the governor and his administration have refused to disclose.

Judge Mary C. Jacobson is deciding whether to order Christie to turn over nearly $1 million in American Express bills racked up the governor’s state police security team. Christie’s office is arguing that records of those past expenses would reveal secrets that could put the governor at risk in the future.

“I’m not convinced it is essential to the governor’s security to withhold details,” said Jacobson during a hearing last month in Mercer County Superior Court.

Christie is also fighting the judge’s order to turn over a copy of a high-tech media list that his office assembled at taxpayers’ expense. The list is an integral cog in a publicly-funded publicity machine that launched him into the national spotlight and towards a probable run for the White House in 2016.

The Christie’s administration’s biggest secret may be its failure to fully investigate or pursue allegations of a $245,000 pension fraud that implicated Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. The controversy began when Guadagno was Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, the year before she first ran for lieutenant governor as Christie’s running mate.

As sheriff, Guadagno allegedly made false and conflicting statements that enabled her chief officer, Michael Donovan, to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary, as first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010.

In May 2011, the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice began a criminal investigation at the request of a state pension board. But the probe was riddled by a major conflict of interest. Though Guadagno is a former deputy director of DCJ, Christie did not use his constitutional power to appoint a special investigator or independent prosecutor.

Stonewalled by DCJ and the governor’s office for nearly two years, New Jersey Watchdog sued the state in 2013 for records of the investigation and its outcome.

The investigative news site won a partial victory in the trial court last year when Jacobson ordered DCJ to reveal some of the documents it sought.

The disclosures showed that DCJ only generated six pages of investigative records before closing the case in June 2012. The probe appeared to be virtually non-existent; there were no records of interviews or statements from Guadagno or witnesses.

However, Jacobson also ruled DCJ was allowed to keep the findings of the investigation secret. After reviewing the documents in private, the judge determined the state’s interest in keeping the records confidential outweighed the public’s right to know.

New Jersey Watchdog appealed Jacobson’s decision to the State Appellate Division. A date for oral arguments has yet to be scheduled.

Other news organizations have had court battles over public records with the Christie administration. At one point last year, Christie’s administration was a defendant in roughly two dozen public records lawsuits in Mercer County Superior Court.

Meanwhile, after announcing his White House run on Tuesday, Christie travelled to New Hampshire for five days of campaign events. His schedule includes a “Telling it Like it Is” town hall meeting.

“I mean what I say and I say what I mean – and that’s what America needs right now,” said Christie.

The story is online at http://watchdog.org/226723/christie-hides-truths/

NJ Watchdog fights for Guadagno pension probe records in appeals court

For immediate release:


The mystery of what happened in a criminal investigation of an alleged $245,000 pension fraud implicating Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno may finally be solved in a New Jersey appeals court.

A New Jersey Watchdog reporter is appealing a lower court’s decision not to release three key documents that include the findings of a probe by the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice.

“In spite of what appears to be a clear case of high-ranking government officials aiding or participating in a pension double-dip scheme, the DCJ closed the investigation without any charges being filed,” the reporter’s attorney, Donald M. Doherty Jr., argued in a brief submitted last week in Superior Court Appellate Division.

“The lieutenant governor was the Monmouth County sheriff during the questionable activities; she is also a former deputy director of DCJ, the investigating agency,” continued Doherty. “The public should be able to learn how DCJ came to its decision and whether it even considered the culpability of the lieutenant governor.”

Guadagno would become governor if Chris Christie steps down to run for president in the 2016 election. Release of the DCJ files could lead to greater scrutiny of why Christie did not use his constitutional authority to appoint a special prosecutor or investigator and avoid the inherent conflict-of-interest.

DCJ lawyers contend that disclosing the records would undermine the agency’s ability to conduct investigations of public corruption.

“How ironic is it to have public officials making secret deals and then contending that revealing the investigation needs to be secret to preserve public confidence?” Doherty asked the court. “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.”

The controversy known as “Doublegate” began when Guadagno was Monmouth County sheriff in 2008 – the year before she first ran for lieutenant governor as Christie's running mate.

As sheriff, Guadagno made false and conflicting statements that enabled her chief officer, Michael Donovan, to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary, as first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010.

The full story is now online at http://watchdog.org/173842/guadagno-pension-probe-2/. The brief can be viewed or downloaded at http://watchdog.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/09/ML-v-DCJ-appeal.pdf.

Christie 'blacklists' NJ Watchdog

For immediate release:

To fight selective government secrecy, New Jersey Watchdog is trying to obtain news releases from Gov. Chris Christie under the state public records law.

Christie’s staff has not responded to the site’s requests to be added to the list of news outlets that receive press advisories, official announcements and daily schedules from the governor’s office. In contrast, New Jersey Watchdog is on the press lists for both the Republican and Democratic leaderships of the state Senate and Assembly.

The first Open Public Records Act request was submitted today. Under statute, the governor’s office has seven business days to respond. If the request is denied, New Jersey Watchdog can sue Christie in Superior Court for belated release of the news releases.

The governor and his staff have not offered any explanation for blacklisting New Jersey Watchdog. Being excluded from a timely flow of information from the state’s highest-ranking public official typically puts a news organization at competitive disadvantage.

Paradoxically, Christie promotes himself as a reformer who champions open government and transparency.

The Christie Administration has been a subject of numerous investigative reports by New Jersey Watchdog, including stories on double-dipping, travel, ethics and “Doublegate” – a pension scandal that implicated Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

For two consecutive years, New Jersey Watchdog has won New York Press Club awards for outstanding political coverage. Last year, it was named best independent online news site by the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The story is now online at http://watchdog.org/165534/christie-blacklists-watchdog/.

NJ WATCHDOG: Christie's ethics watchdogs fail to bark or bite

For immediate release:

When it comes to ethics, Chris Christie can talk the talk. But does the New Jersey governor walk the walk when his ethics watchdogs are actually lapdogs?

Christie’s hand-picked Ethics Advisory Panel did not take action during its first four years – a period in which Bridgegate, Doublegate and other controversies came to light.

In response to a public records request by New Jersey Watchdog, the governor’s office reported it cannot find any decision by the panel.

Created by executive order, the panel has the power to penalize and fine the governor or lieutenant governor for ethical infractions. But as governor, Christie picks the panel members – and he retains the power to rescind any executive order anytime he chooses.

The existence of the Ethics Advisory Panel did not prevent the conflict of interest faced by the governor and his administration in Doublegate – a pension controversy implicating Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

A state pension board requested a criminal investigation of alleged pension fraud in May 2011. The case was assigned to the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice – even though Guadagno was DCJ’s former deputy director.

Faced with a choice, Christie did not use his constitutional power to appoint a special prosecutor or investigator to handle a probe likely to involve his lieutenant governor. The Ethics Advisory Panel had the authority to review the matter at its own discretion and issue a public determination.

But that never happened.

The story is now online at http://watchdog.org/163209/christie-ethics-watchdogs/.

Lt. Governor Bill Siginig July 10th - at Middletown VFW Hall

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will be in Port Monmouth tomorrow to sign a bill designating the month of May as Military Appreciation Month. If you have nothing going on during the morning  head on over to the Middletown VFW post in Port Monmouth and say hello.

Below is the announcement that I received via email earlier today:

Please join us at 9:45am on Thursday, July 10th for the Lieutenant Governor’s bill signing at the

Middletown VFW Hall, located at 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth, New Jersey.

The Acting Governor will be signing a bill

designating May of each year as Military Appreciation Month.

Please RSVP to Samantha Steinberg at Samantha.steinberg@gov.state.nj.us or call 609-777-2495. We look forward to seeing you at the Bill Signing!

Best,

Samantha Steinberg

Office of the Governor

NJ WATCHDOG: Double trouble for Christie

For immediate release:

BRIDGEGATE AND DOUBLEGATE SPELL DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR CHRISTIE

Long before Bridgegate, Gov. Chris Christie and his administration have quietly tried to escape Doublegate – an alleged $245,000 pension fraud involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

New Jersey Watchdog revealed last week that an investigation by the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice was virtually non-existent, producing only a secret five-page report following a 13-month probe.

Today, NJ Spotlight followed up with a comprehensive report by Mark Magyar.

Bridgegate and Doublegate spell double trouble for the Christie and company. While Bridgegate has gained national fame, the details of Doublegate are still not widely known. Here is a summary comparing the two scandals:

Bridgegate is an investigation into whether the Christie Administration closed traffic lanes at the George Washington Bridge as retribution against the mayor of Fort Lee, who refused to endorse Christie in the 2013 election.

Doublegate began as an investigation into alleged pension fraud involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. It now focuses on whether the Christie Administration effectively sabotaged the investigation.

Bridgegate was investigated by an outside law firm hired by the governor. The inquiry was headed by attorney Randy Mastro.

Doublegate was investigated by the attorney general’s Division of Criminal Justice. Despite an apparent conflict of interest – Guadagno is a former deputy director of DCJ – Christie did not appoint a special investigator or prosecutor.

The Bridgegate report by Mastro is 360 pages. It was publicly released and posted on the Internet at http://gdcreport.com/.

The Doublegate report by DCJ is five pages. It remains a secret document, despite a public records lawsuit by a New Jersey Watchdog reporter.

During the Bridgegate probe, Mastro and his associates interviewed 75 witnesses during a two-month period

During the Doublegate probe, there is no record that DCJ contacted, interviewed or took statements from anyone during a 13-month investigation.

Christie held two press conferences to discuss Bridgegate – a two-hour marathon in January and another one in March after the Mastro report was released.

Christie and Guadagno have repeatedly refused to answer questions about Doublegate.

The Democrat-controlled State Legislature has aggressively pursued an investigation of Bridgegate that has dimmed Christie’s chances of pursuing the White House in 2016.

The State Legislature has essentially ignored Doublegate, which could bring the pension abuses of both Democrats and Republicans into the public spotlight.

New Jersey Watchdog’s latest update on Doublegate is online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/06/02/christie-guadagno-investigation-2/.

NJ WATCHDOG: Christie dumps pension promises to plug budget

For immediate release:


Add Chris Christie’s name to the list of New Jersey governors who reneged on state pension promises.

Faced with an $800 million budget deficit and falling revenue projections, Christie slashed $900 million from a $1.6 billion pension contribution the state is required to make by June 30 under state statute.

“Our problem is we’ve made promises to people that we cannot keep,” Christie admitted in a press conference Tuesday.

In addition, Christie plans to chop nearly $1.6 billion off next year’s scheduled pension payment of $2.25 billion.

“I’ve made the decision we’re not going to blindside our students, blindside our seniors, higher education or those who rely on the safety net the state provides in order to balance the budget,” said the governor.

Instead, Christie is diverting the funds away from a public pension system that already faces a shortfall of $51 billion, according to state Treasury figures.

Christie’s override of state statute with an executive order is a conflict likely to wind up in court. Meanwhile, the governor intends to get his way.

Christie acknowledged his vaunted pension reform of 2011 – which he once called his “biggest governmental victory” – is “not making a significant enough dent.”

Within the next month, Christie said he would propose a new round of cuts to pension and health benefits received by public workers and retirees.

During the press conference, the governor tried to absolve himself of any blame for the crisis.

“I am not going to pay for the sins of my predecessors,” declared Christie, still eyeing a run for the presidency in 2016.

To be fair, pension funds were shortchanged by a succession of previous New Jersey governors – including Jim Florio, Christine Todd Whitman, James McGreevey, Richard Codey and Jon Corzine.

Yet Christie, a self-proclaimed reformer, has done little to curb pension abuses within his office and administration. New Jersey Watchdog investigations have found:

• Louis Goetting, Christie's deputy chief of staff, rakes in $228,860 a year – $140,000 in salary plus $88,860 in pension as a retired state employee.
• Of 60 double-dippers in the executive branch, 19 were hired under Christie, New Jersey Watchdog reported in 2012.
• A subsequent New Jersey Watchdog investigation last year identified 80 State Police retirees who returned to the state payroll full-time as double-dippers.
• Adam Heck, the governor's associate legal counsel, gets a $44,818 a year state disability pension in addition to his $110,000 salary.
• Heck is one of 18 "disabled" state employees who collect salaries for working plus disability pensions because they supposedly can no longer work, New Jersey Watchdog discovered.

Perhaps the most notable pension indiscretion involves Christie’s running mate, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

Guadagno, as Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, made false and misleading statements that enabled her top aide to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary. The story was first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in October 2010.

The story is online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org. The direct link is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/05/20/christie-pension-promises/.

NJ WATCHDOG: Last chance for NJ to keep Doublegate secrets

For immediate release:


A judge is giving the state’s Division of Criminal Justice one final chance to argue why an index of records from a hush-hush criminal investigation involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno should not be released to a New Jersey Watchdog reporter.

“I frankly don’t see why it should be kept confidential,” said Judge Mary C. Jacobson during a hearing in Mercer County Superior Court. “It’s highly unusual to keep a Vaughn index confidential.”

The 96-page Vaughn index lists 779 pages of documents gathered by DCJ during a probe requested in May 2011 by the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System board of trustees.

One allegation is Guadagno, as Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, made false and misleading statements that enabled her top aide to improperly collect an $85,000 a year pension in addition to his $87,500 salary. The facts were first reported by New Jersey Watchdog in October 2010.

Two months ago, the PFRS board learned the investigation was closed. But DCJ has refused to disclose the result of the Doublegate probe or any details.

“What the state overlooks is that the investigation itself is highly suspect,” argued the reporter’s attorney, Donald M. Doherty Jr., in court briefs. “It smacks of a dirty deal and the use of the investigative exemption to avoid exposing a sordid situation.”

Guadagno is a former deputy director of DCJ. Faced with conflict-of-interest concerns, Gov. Chris Christie did not exercise his constitutional power to appoint an independent investigator or prosecutor for a case involving his second-in-command.

Spokespersons for Christie, Guadagno and DCJ have declined comment on the case.

The full story is now online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org. The direct link is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/04/14/doublegate-secrets-guadagno/.

NJ Watchdog: Judge orders release of Guadagno pension probe records

For Immediate Release:


A New Jersey Watchdog reporter has won the latest round in a three-year battle for public records surrounding the state's hush-hush investigation of an alleged pension scheme implicating Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

Administrative Law Judge Linda M. Kassekert ordered the state Treasury to release 25 of 26 documents the Christie Administration has fought hard to keep secret. The parties have a Feb. 11 deadline to appeal the decision.

Guadagno would become acting governor of New Jersey if an embattled Gov. Chris Christie does not serve his full term.

The controversy focuses on an alleged pension scheme and false statements by Guadagno when she was Monmouth County sheriff.

Treasury officials gathered the documents during an inquiry of whether Guadagno's chief officer, Michael W. Donovan Jr., improperly collected nearly $85,000 a year in state retirement pay in addition to his $87,500 annual salary.

The story is now online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org. The direct link is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/02/06/guadagno-pension-probe/.

NJ WATCHDOG: Before Bridgegate & Hoboken, There Was 'DoubleGate'

For Immediate Release:



Long before the Bridgegate and Hoboken scandals, the Christie Administration has been ducking a $245,000 pension probe that implicates Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

In its ongoing investigation of "Doublegate" that began in October 2010, New Jersey Watchdog has reported:

· As a county sheriff, Guadagno made false and contradictory statements that enabled her top aide to collect pension checks in addition to public salary. The subterfuge cost a state pension fund $245,000.
· Based on available evidence – including records showing Guadagno's involvement – a state pension board asked authorities in May 2011 to begin a criminal investigation.
· Christie failed to appoint a special prosecutor to conduct the probe. Instead, a conflict-riddled investigation fell to the attorney general's Division of Criminal Justice, where Guadagno had previously served as deputy director.
· Thirty-two months later, the results of the probe remain a state secret. The Christie entourage has stonewalled inquiries, even refusing to acknowledge whether the investigation is ongoing or completed.

A New Jersey Watchdog reporter is suing DCJ for records in Mercer County Superior Court. State lawyers are arguing to keep all information about the probe confidential indefinitely.

For the full story, links to all 20 New Jersey Watchdog reports on Doublegate are online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2014/01/21/before-bridgegate-and-hoboken-scandals-there-was-doublegate/

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer: Christie Camp Withheld Sandy Aid Over Rockefeller Land Development Deal

If you missed this morning's episode of Up w/ Steve Kornacki earlier today you missed a startling, detailed account of alleged corruption within the Christie administration.

Democratic Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer (a Christiecrat), alleged that Chris Christie and his administration withheld much needed Hurricane Sandy relief aid from the city because she refused to support "a lucrative redevelopment plan favored by the governor".

Zimmer stated that Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Richard Constable, Christie’s community affairs commissioner, delivered messages on the governor's behalf saying that if she did not support a land redevelopment deal between the Rockefeller Group and the City of Hoboken then Sandy relief aid would not be forthcoming.

You have to watch it all to fully appreciate what Kornacki was reporting this morning and understand why now this may be much bigger news and more damaging to Chris Christie and his political future than anything that may be unearth in the still unfolding Bridgegate scandal.

NJ WATCHDOG: Court orders NJ to reveal pension probe secrets

For Immediate Release:

COURT ORDERS CHRISTIE ADMIN TO REVEAL PENSION PROBE SECRETS

A New Jersey court may force Gov. Chris Christie's administration to reveal information about a hush-hush state pension probe involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and a quarter-million dollar double-dipping scheme.

Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson ordered the attorney general's Division of Criminal Justice to submit an index of its investigatory records for release to a New Jersey Watchdog reporter.

The stakes are high for Christie, who eyes a 2016 campaign for the presidency, and Guadagno, who could become governor if her boss quits to run for the White House.

Jacobson's decision was a stunning setback for the state, which sought an order entirely dismissing the reporter's public records lawsuit.  The attorney general argued that all of its 770-plus pages of records should be exempt from disclosure.

Instead, the judge will require DCJ to argue its need for secrecy on a document-by-document basis.  Release of the index opens the door for specific arguments on whether the public interest in release of the records outweighs the state's interest in keeping the information confidential.

"The public has an indisputable and overriding interest in knowing about the integrity of government and the conduct of elected officials in their governance," stated the reporter in a certification filed with the court. 

DCJ began its criminal investigation in May 2011 at the behest of a pension board, according to a certification by a state pension official. Christie, Guadagno and DCJ officials have declined comment. In court papers, the state refused to acknowledge whether the case is open or closed.

The controversy began with an investigative report by New Jersey Watchdog in 2010 detailing how false statements by Guadagno enabled one of her top aides to improperly collect $227,000 in pension checks from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System.

The story is online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org. 

NJ's 'secret' public records

For Immediate Release:

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS RECORDS OF PUBLIC RECORDS ARE SECRET

Is a government's record of how it keeps public records a public record?

Not in New Jersey, state officials claim. Especially if that record might prove embarrassing to the administration of Gov. Chris Christie.

The Treasury denied a New Jersey Watchdog reporter's request for details on how its payroll and pension databases are kept. The indexes, known as record layouts, would show whether the agency collects data that would enable it to easily track state employees who collect both salaries and pensions – a widespread practice in New Jersey known as "double-dipping."

The reporter filed a lawsuit against Treasury with Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton. A hearing date has yet to be scheduled.

The reporter requested the record layouts in July under the Open Public Records Act, which requires governmental agencies to respond within seven business days. Instead, Treasury took 64 business days to decide, including six extensions for extra time.

Then after nearly three months of delays, Treasury declared its records of records were "not government records" under state law, denying the request in its entirety. 

Two years ago, Treasury informed the State Legislature it had "no estimate" of the extent or cost of double-dipping. The lingering question is whether Christie's bean counters were lazy, less than forthcoming, politically motivated or all of the above.

The story is now online at http://newjersey.watchdog.org.  The direct link is http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/11/18/9451/.