Joe Caliendo passes, marks end of an era

Cross posted with permission from thePurcellChronicles: 

By Rev. J.J. Purcell

Former Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo died this morning. There is so much to say about Joe one scarcely knows where to start.

He was a family man first, the husband of Pat. He was a father and grandfather, above everything. It is the thing he worked hardest at in life: his family. He was a good man, a good union man, and Joe was not afraid of hard work. A look at his hands would tell the story if you ever glanced at them. 

I met Joe because of politics. We worked together very closely during the early 2000s to help Democrats win local offices in Middletown Township, the home he loved so dearly, and in the Bayshore Area, as a whole. I knew him well in this way and that is the Joe I can speak about with authority.

Politics is an ugly game. It is filled with people, be they Republican or Democrat, who are no better than snakes. Working with politicians to achieve community goals is as easy as working in a tiger cage with a half dozen different, untamed big cats. But, Joe knew his way around that cage very well: He was intuitive, intelligent, quick, focused and utterly dedicated to the proposition that the 'every-man' and woman deserved things in this life, and not just the rich and so-called elite. Above all else, he believed in the rights of men and women to be able to earn their daily bread for themselves and their families, and that is no little thing in this world.

I have seen people try and bribe Joe Caliendo, and he laughed it off on both occasions and gave them a good piece of his mind. He liked to laugh. But, Joe was also one of the bravest souls I have encountered. 

I have seen him threatened by the highest state offices of evil men and women, mostly Republicans, who tried to coerce Joe to stop his work getting Democrats elected in town and in the county. You had a better chance of getting a wolverine to back-up. I cannot count how many times I heard that man bark into the face of someone who thought they could push him around: "What the hell are you going to do to me? I don't have all that much time on this earth -- and sure as hell don't give a damn about what you say or do."

Not everyone is brave. People like to think they are, but mostly they aren't. Joe was brave. 

Joe Caliendo (L) with former Matawan Councilman Bud Mullaney

Joe was also tireless. He'd put up signs with fellow Democrats in any weather, deep into the night and early morning if he had to, risking sickness or anything he had to in order to come a step closer to victory. Meanwhile, no Middletown Democratic chairman has ever known as much local victory in the township, which is far and away a Republican-voting community. Yet, with Joe Caliendo at the helm of the township party, victory was always possible, sometimes even likely despite the sheer number of factors set against him and the Middletown Dems. 

Joe was a lifelong Democrat and had been in leadership in the 1960s, 70s and 2000s. I believe that simple facts attests to his convictions.

Joe was a skilled politician and party boss. He did not care about frivolity. He became involved with things he believed were right and did not care about what anyone thought. He supported the NAACP openly in a time when race hatred was very alive in Middletown. And, he was recognized by area and state NAACP leaders for his wisdom and hard work. Joe fought for union rights like a lion at every turn, and supported the working person without apology over the moneyed interests of glad-handing politicians who smiled to peoples' faced and stabbed them in the back quietly in the back rooms. Joe Caliendo spoke truth to power and there are very few human beings in this world that would actually do that.

Joe was my friend. At times in my life I was distraught, he was there without judgment or self-righteousness. I know he would not mind me throwing in there that he was also a heck of a ballplayer, who almost made the old Brooklyn Dodgers before they moved to sunny California. But, he played ball like he played life -- as hard as he could and straight on. No mental errors. If you were going to beat Joe at anything you were going to have to do it, because he wasn't going to be asleep at the switch or make mental errors. He was as sharp as an eagle. 

Joe lived and worked through all kinds of physical pain from many injuries -- but to see him you'd never know it by his face. He could handle a lot of pain and make it look easier than anyone I have known. 

Joe even converted me to being a Democrat from being an avowed Republican. He was persuasive and there was power behind his words, because he was a man of action. If he said something you could believe he meant it and was going to do something about it. 

I have known many people in my life and covered many areas of the human condition as a journalist of many years, and believe me when I say few people are exceptional. I do not care how much money or celebrity they have, whether they are beautiful or athletic, elected or appointed, rich or poor -- the vast majority of people in this world are sheep. Every now and again, a true leader, a shepherd, comes along. Joe was one of those. 

Joe was not a spiritual man. He did not do right over wrong because he thought there was any reward for it in an afterlife. He just did what was right because it was right. And, if for no more than that, the God of my understanding will welcome him to his house, where he is already.

Thank You Joe Caliendo

Since he first became Democratic Municipal Chairman in 1969, Joe Caliendo has stood strong for the rights of the middle class through his deep dedication for his hometown of Middletown and his love for the Democratic Party. From Belford to Lincroft, back up to Port Monmouth, through Leonardo and across the Navesink, I join countless other Democrats in thanking Joe for his decades of service to the Democratic Party in Middletown.

Please join me in wishing Joe all the best as he retires as Democratic Municipal Chairman on July 18th.

Sincerely,

Vin Gopal
Chairman, Monmouth County Democrats

Vin Gopal Announces Democratic Leadership Slate

Vin Gopal

Vin Gopal— Chairman 


Vin Gopal has spent the last six years organizing and fundraising for Democratic campaigns throughout Monmouth County. Gopal has hosted over forty fundraisers, which helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democratic candidates for municipal and county races. Gopal’s aggressive fundraising efforts have helped the Democrats win elections in key municipalities and his grass roots organizing has led to the formation of new Democratic Clubs in Colts Neck, Neptune City, Little Silver, West Long Branch and other municipalities.


Vin Gopal's  list of candidates to lead the Monmouth County Democratic Party into the future reflects the diversity of the county and has the backing of over 70 locally elected officials, over 30 Municipal Chairs and hundreds more County Committee representatives. He is also endorsed by former Democratic Freeholders Amy Mallett, John D'Amico and John Villapiano. 

Mary Foster— Vice Chair 

Mary Foster

Mary has been a dedicated leader and a tireless worker for the Democratic Party. On the lo- cal level, Mary has served 12 years on the Executive Board of the Middletown Democrats as Corresponding Secretary. In 2009, Mary was appointed by Chairman Scudiery as a State Committeewoman to represent Monmouth Democrats at the state level. In recognition of her lifelong dedication to the Democratic Party, Mary was selected as a District Delegate to this year’s Democratic National Convention. She will go to Charlotte this summer to cast her vote in support of the Obama/Biden ticket.

 

Luis Pulido

Luis Pulido— RecordIng  Secretary 

Luis Pulido has served as Belmar Democratic Party Municipal Chairman since 2010. He served as campaign manager of Matt Doherty’s successful 2009 council campaign & 2010 mayoral campaign. Luis started as an Obama for America organizer, recruiting volunteers throughout the presidential campaign. As one of our rising stars in the Monmouth County Democratic Party, we expect to see much more from Luis in the future.

Gerry Tarantolo

Gerry Tarantolo— Corresponding Secretary 

Gerry served our country in the US Air Force and he has served as an elected official in Eatontown for almost 40 years. Gerry first served 10 years on the Eatontown School Board, then 14 years on the Borough Council, and then another 14 years as Eatontown Mayor. Gerry’s hard work and dedication have helped to keep Eatontown one of the most consis- tently Democratic-voting towns in Monmouth County.

David G. Brown II

David G. Brown II— Treasurer 

A lifelong resident of Long Branch, David is currently the Borough Administrator in Roselle. As the Chief Administrative Officer, David oversees a $36 million budget and hundreds of borough employees. David previously worked as the Director of Public Works and Urban Development in Plainfield and as the Director of Urban Enterprise Zone in Newark. David also serves as a Trustee for Second Baptist Church in Long Branch and Youth Council Advisor for the Greater Long Branch Chapter of the NAACP.

Joe Caliendo

Joe Caliendo— Sergeant-At-Arms 

Joe has been involved in the Middletown Democratic Party for 50 years as County Commit- teeman, President of the New Monmouth Democratic Club and eventually as Middletown Democratic Party Municipal Chairman. A long-time union & building trades member, Joe is a retired electrician. In 2010, Joe ran on Chairman Scudiery’s slate as the Sergeant-at- Arms and he hopes to serve in the same capacity under the leadership of Vin Gopal. Joe brings a wealth of knowledge, history, and experience to the ticket.

Middletown Democrats Announce Linda Baum As Candidate For Township Committee

For Immediate Release:
4/12/12

(MIDDLETOWN) - The Middletown Democratic Party announces Ms. Linda Baum as its candidate for Township Committee. Ms. Baum will be seeking the one seat up for a vote in this November’s election.



Linda Baum



Middletown Democratic Party Chairman Joe Caliendo stated, "Linda Baum is an exciting candidate. She is an extremely dedicated person with exceptional analytic skills. We look forward to the good work Linda will do when she is a member of the Middletown Township Committee.”

Ms. Baum holds a BS in mathematics from St. John’s University with a concentration in computer science and has obtained the designation of Chartered Property

Casualty Underwriter. She has credit for several actuarial exams and numerous years of actuarial experience in various property-casualty insurance lines. From 2003 to 2010, Ms. Baum administered the New Jersey Workers Compensation Security Fund, which provides a safety net to businesses and injured workers in the event of insurance company bankruptcy. In that role, she was the point of contact for the Fund’s claims handlers, members of the industry and public, receivers, and other guaranty associations. Currently, Ms. Baum manages the actuarial division of the Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau in Newark, NJ.

Ms. Baum is an outspoken advocate for government transparency and fiscal accountability. “Middletown has lacked financial oversight and long-term planning for many years. These things are critically needed in order to bring property taxes under control,” she said.

Ms. Baum strongly supports the formation of a Finance Committee, which she says is “the right body to fully investigate ideas for cost savings or revenue generation that may help to stabilize or even reduce our property tax burden.”

An 18-year resident and regular attendee at Township meetings, Ms. Baum has worked diligently to be knowledgeable about Township operations and programs, and has spent numerous hours speaking to residents and reviewing Township documents in order to educate herself on these matters. She has observed that there is a limited flow of information to the public and often a failure to timely inform residents about important issues affecting them. “Much greater transparency is needed,” she said.

“Many improvements are needed in Middletown’s governance. If elected, I commit to bringing greater transparency, accountability, and integrity to the Township Committee to ensure that Middletown is the Township of choice for all.”

APP: Middletown candidate to drop out of race after drug arrest, party leader says

Just as I said Friday night, but now it is made official by Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo, Alex Desevo is off the Democratic tickets a candidate in Middletown and a replacement will be soon be named.

Posted on the Asbury Park Press website just a bout 40 minutes ago:

MIDDLETOWN — A Democratic candidate for Township Committee who was arrested on June 18 on charges of possessing crack cocaine has agreed to resign from the race, a party official said.

Leaders of the Middletown Democratic Party planned to Monday, June 27, to find a replacement for Alexander DeSevo, 43, said Joseph Caliendo, who heads the party.

“Middletown voters aren’t going to want that kind of person,” Caliendo said. “I don’t know what happened with the young man. It’s between him and his conscience.”

DeSevo, a criminal defense attorney, was caught possessing crack cocaine and various drug paraphernalia at the Holmdel Motor Inn on Route 35, where he was staying with two women, police said.

Police became involved after one of the women showed up at the Holiday Inn in Hazlet, more than a half mile away, and said DeSevo had chased her from the Holmdel Motor Inn, according to authorities.

The party has until September to find a replacement for DeSevo, whose name will not appear on the November ballot, Caliendo said.

“This should not be an issue in the race,” Caliendo said. “We believe we have a good chance of winning this November, so we want to find a candidate who can really represent Middletown well.”

Middletown Democratic Candidate Busted for Possession; Desevo To Be Replaced Soon

Shocking is all I have to say about the news that broke earlier today concerning Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee, Alex Desevo, who was busted last weekend at the Holmdel Motor Lodge for the possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

I was sitting in the Hazlet movie theater when I received an email with a link to an Asbury Park Press online article about how Desevo was arrested by Holmdel police at 4:54 in the morning on Saturday, June 18, after one of two women he was spending the night with ran out of the room and found her way to the Hazlet Holiday Inn and called police about something that happened while at the Holmdel Motor Lodge. I was in disbelief at the news and started texting and sending emails of my own to a few people in order to get the bottom of it.

What I found out was both sad and tragic, and because I know Alex Desevo personally, and know that despite this incident, he is a very honest and straight forward guy that would do anything for anyone, I wont air his dirty laundry here other than to say that he was having difficulties at home and that was the main reason why he was staying at the motor lodge.

In the face of this situation I want to commend him for not hiding or shirking away from this embarrassing and life altering situation, it's a testament to his personal fortitude and character in realizing that what he had done was a mistake that he wants to meet head-on and make amends for.

In an article posted on Middletown Patch about Desevo's troubles, Patch columnist and Editor Elaine Van Develde, was able to track him down for a comment.

Alex confirmed for Van Develde that he was indeed, the same Alex Desevo that was arrested on June 18th and opted not to comment other than to say,"I prefer not to comment at this time on a personal tragedy, I have been a good person all my life." while noting that he wished to protect his family at this time.

Whatever Alex's demons are at this time, I can only wish him well and hope that he gets the treatment that he so obviously needs to overcome this sad and tragic personal time in his life.

This is not a time to criticize or ridicule him for letting down those that believed in him as a candidate for office, it's a time to support him and understand that he is human, like the rest of us, and as such, can succumb to temptations in moments of personal weakness.

The Middletown Democrats will survive and have another candidate to fill Desevo's place on the ballot very soon I was told by Chairman Joe Caliendo.

Middletown residents have too many other important issues affecting their quality of life for them to care about or fret about, the personal troubles of a candidate that will not be on the ballot come November.

Be well Alex

Letter: Middletown's Scharfenberger is good at the blame game

Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger is good at the blame game. For four years, he pointed to the policies of Gov. Jon S. Corzine and the state Legislature as the causes of record property tax increases in our community. Now, with a Republican occupying the front office in Trenton, he's turned to teachers and public employees as his latest scapegoat.

As the mayor knows, Middletown did not get into its fiscal mess overnight. Instead, decades of bad decisions by Scharfenberger and his Republican colleagues led us to this dangerous point.

For all their talk of fiscal responsibility, it was the GOP majority that agreed to the very same public employee contracts they now bemoan.

It was the GOP majority that consented to defeated school budget after defeated school budget. And it was the GOP majority that recklessly took out bond after bond, mortgaging the present on the backs of future taxpayers.

With the chickens coming home to roost, now they are attacking their own record of irresponsibility and hoping we don't notice.

In contrast, Committeeman Sean Byrnes is calling for tough action to solve the long-term structural problems in the municipal budget. He advocates greater transparency in the process, allowing residents the opportunity to offer suggestions and feedback throughout the budget process, not only when it is presented for a vote.

Byrnes also is leading the fight to reduce our oppressive tax burden. He wants to establish a permanent finance committee and create a shared-services commission to aggressively pursue opportunities for Middletown to pool its resources with surrounding towns and save taxpayer dollars.

A Democrat, Byrnes believes it's time we stopped hiding from our problems and started to address the serious challenges facing our community.

Instead of playing the blame game, Mayor Scharfenberger would be wise to do the same.

Joseph Caliendo

CHAIRMAN, MIDDLETOWN DEMOCRATS

MIDDLETOWN

Letter: Middletown needs Patrick Short and a Democratic majority too

I have resided in Middletown my whole life, which amounts to 75 years, the better part of a century. I have seen Middletown transformed from a beautiful place, filled with farms and woods, changed forever by over-development. It’s been since the early 1980s that this has happened, since Republicans have ruled in town.

Today, the highways where businesses should be located are where home developments are. Somehow, in the minds of Republican leaders, this allegedly represents "class." I haven't seen a highway development yet that was what a conservative person would refer to as classy. And, it is all because of the way the Republican majority has run the town. I do not like it at all. There is a place for housing, and it isn't along a highway.

Then there is the issue of how these Republicans finance their budget that bothers me. For the past 18 years, Middletown, like many towns, has balanced their budgets through deferred taxation: a terrible financial practice really, since before the Florio administration in Trenton. The bottom line is that some of the money collected for school taxes is used by the Township Committee: the school board takes the blame and the committee takes the money.

How much money has been involved in this practice? Well, the town governments that use this means of finance for their administrations are not exactly forthcoming about exact figures but, in Middletown, it is somewhere over $55 million right now. It's a gimmick. A cheap trick. And it is the way my town has been doing business for almost 20 years. I don't like it.

Government has become too "slick" for my liking. Government at every level should be smaller, but it will not get that way by adding an army of overpriced lawyers, or appointing political bosses into office, such as is in the case of Middletown. GibbonsLaw, PC, in Newark, has the bonding work in Middletown, and has for decades – ever since the Republicans took over. They have something else too, and that is the Middletown Republican chairman, Peter Carton, as an employee.

It is not one party that is going to return Middletown to real prestige again. It is two parties that will, and Democratic Committeeman Patrick Short has already helped to stem the spending of over-priced projects on the committee. And, he has actually been concerned about flooding in the Bayshore. This is the kind of help that Middletown needs, and that is why I would like him returned to office and to see even more Democrats join him in my town.

Joe Caliendo
Chairman, Middletown Democrats

Middletown Republicans Put Politics Front and Center, Adopt NJ State Republican Party Resolution Condemning Corzine Budget

Contact: Joe Caliendo, Chairman, Middletown Democrats

8 Daniel Drive, Middletown, NJ 07748
Tel: 732-299-6470

Press Release

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ: Middletown committeemen Sean Byrnes and Patrick Short decided not to cooperate with the politics of parties over people at the April 20th session of that governing body.

The Middletown Committee's Republican Majority adopted, by a vote of 3 to 2, a resolution they received from the New Jersey Assembly's Republican Office that did not constructively criticize the governor's spending plan – the resolution was just politics as usual.

"I'm not a fan of the governor's budget, but this resolution was created for clearly political reasons," said Byrnes, who is also running for a 3-year seat on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders this year.

Byrnes noted that the proclamation adopted by the Middletown Committee did not offer any actual recommendations. Instead, it sought no tax increases, program cuts, personnel cuts or any other belt-tightening measures. In addition, the document was filled with partisan references geared to an election season instead of the kind of work government should be accomplishing when convened. "I expected a comment about a magic wand somewhere," Byrnes said.

Byrnes faulted Gov. Corzine for not making the tough choices that should have been made in the spending plan this year, especially in the current economic environment. Some of the ways that Byrnes recommended should have been explored on the state level included: reigning in high-paying salaries for top state officials, examining ways to fundamentally revisit the organization of state government and the way it offers services, and exploring consolidation of services.

Otherwise, without this kind of thoughtful approach to critiquing the state budget, complaints about the spending plan lack real seriousness where it involves a subject that warrants it.

Short similarly criticized the language of the resolution, noting that state spending has to be examined in the context of the plan and government spending has to be reined in realistically. He stressed that much more work could be to improve the lot of state taxpayers, but noted that political posturing isn't the way to achieve it.

Rather than engage this line of discussion, committee Republicans offered criticism without anything constructive in their arguments. Republican Committeeman Anthony Fiore criticized the financial subsidies that cities like Camden, Newark and Jersey City receive. He offered that more of an emphasis should be placed on suburban towns by the state.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger defended adopting the Assembly GOP resolution through his criticism of universal preschool in New Jersey.

Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo noted, "If Republicans either in Trenton or Middletown want to make a change to give taxpayers a better break, they are going to need to have actual ideas of their own – not just criticisms. Democrats do not need to change parties to say what they think – because party lines aren't what is going to change things for the better."

Caliendo explained that it is not enough for Scharfenberger or anyone else to point to Trenton and say that the state government is the sole problem with what is wrong in Middletown. "When someone is usually wrong they look to shift blame from themselves. The Middletown Committee has been Republican controlled for 28 years and if there is a problem in this town with the budget and its oversight it isn't Trenton's fault. It is the fault of the people in charge of the town, and they happen to be Republicans," Caliendo said.

He added that, where it involves Trenton, it was not Jon Corzine that created the state's fiscal crisis. Rather, Caliendo noted that it was former Gov. Christine Todd-Whitman who did more to place the Garden State into the red than all of New Jersey's governor's combined, and she happened to be Republican. "If the Republican Party could stop lying, then Democrats wouldn't have to keep telling the truth about them. There are things that could have been done better in this year's state budget but it takes real recommendations to make changes and not just posturing by the GOP," Caliendo concluded.

Byrnes Picks Up Key Support For Freeholder

Press Release

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ) – Middletown Democratic Chairman Joseph Caliendo has endorsed Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes for the upcoming freeholder candidate selection contest at the Monmouth County Democratic Mini-Convention, to be held this Saturday.

“Sean Byrnes has the best chance of winning in November from among those who have expressed an interest to do so,” Caliendo said.

Caliendo said Byrnes is eminently qualified to become a freeholder. Byrnes is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve commander, who operates a private practice law firm in Red Bank. Since he was sworn into office in January 2008, Byrnes has spearheaded the formation of Middletown’s Strategic Planning Committee, blocked Republican Party attempts at undoing the revaluation in Middletown, and fought to create more fiscal oversight of the township’s budget, among other accomplishments.

During his tenure in the military, Byrnes worked in a legal and financial oversight capacity, involved with budgetary and procurement activities, among others.

Among his other accomplishments, Byrnes is also a former Red Bank Board of Education member, according to Caliendo.

“I read that Rep. Frank Pallone has endorsed former Neptune Mayor Mike Beson for the freeholder spot. While Mr. Beson has impressive credentials, he is not a better candidate to defeat the Republican Party in November than Sean Byrnes,” Caliendo said.

The veteran Democratic chairman said Byrnes has already garnered strong grassroots support from Monmouth Democrats where it involves the upcoming freeholder contest.

“In this important upcoming county race, it is vital that Monmouth Democrats put up the best candidate they can to win in November,” Caliendo said. “The best person for the job is Sean Byrnes, without a doubt. If you can win in Middletown as a Democrat, you can win anywhere.”

Caliendo concluded that, because of the large number of voters that turnout from Middletown, the township plays an important role during county elections. Caliendo said he believes Byrnes will resonate with voters throughout the county, and especially in Middletown.

Middletown Republicans Turning Voter Trust Into A Joke

By Joe Caliendo

The Republican Majority on the Middletown Committee hasn't told the truth about what it is doing to township residents, their trust or their money for quite some time.

In Middletown, Republican Chairman Peter Carton sits in the back of the committee chambers sometimes and holds court while the show that is the committee meeting goes on in the front of the room. Peter Carton picks the candidates that become elected officials in town, he then turns around and works for those people when they appoint his Newark Law firm as the bond counsel for the township. How can that be a good thing? It can't.

He must find it quite humorous, how the township Republicans dupe people into believing they are voting for candidates from a political party when they are, in fact, voting for a law firm.

Deputy Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger would tell you that Middletown represents the best in government in this state. I suppose that would be true, if someone counted cronyism, backroom dealing, financial mismanagement, and a lack of transparency as good things.

Emboldened by their recent election win in November, the Republican Majority practically doubled the township's legal budget. While there is a new township attorney, Brian Nelson, the committee decided it would keep the old township attorney, Bernard Reilly, around for awhile, and pay him about what they paid him when he was the township attorney last year. It's being said that Mr. Reilly is cleaning up cases. Well, he sure can buy a big mop.

Brian Nelson isn't a new face for people in politics. He was the Republican Party executive director for the state organization under Sen. Joe Kyrillos when he was state chairman. Then Mr. Nelson went to Mr. Carton's Newark law firm, and worked there while he was an oft-used campaign staffer for Monmouth County Republicans. Mr. Nelson was even involved with Middletown Republican campaigns. It's funny how I've always thought about lawyers – it was always my view that lawyers are supposed to get jobs by being good at practicing law. I don't see how Mr. Nelson had time for such a thing with all of his political work.

The PolitickerNJ.com, this political website, has even given Mr. Nelson the title "Republican insider." As a resident and taxpayer of Middletown, I would prefer to have a good lawyer representing the township rather than some ridiculous political "insider."

Middletown voters pulling the lever for Peter Carton's Republican Party are being used. But they don't have to take my word for it – they could always go to a meeting of their committee for themselves once and see what they put into office. They might even catch an appearance by the great man himself, Mr. Carton, while he swaggers in the back of the committee chambers mocking the township foolish enough to buy his election season scam.

Art Gallagher is a Partisan Hack and I Have the Audio to Prove it

"Hey Mrs... Walsh I'm uhm, not really in charge of the layout of the website or uhm, you know, necessarily if I can make any changes once I summit it.."

The following audio clip is a message left on the voice mail of Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee, Patricia Walsh's answering machine a few weeks ago.

This rambling and often incoherent message was left by JJ Sullivan, the supposedly impartial reporter who was hired by Art Gallagher of the MoreMonmouthMussings blog to cover the goings on in Middletown and Keyport.

Out of all the towns in Monmouth County and the bayshore in particular, why would Gallagher feel that it was so important to cover Middletown and Keyport? The answer, Revenge.

Revenge against Jim Purcell and the Courier newspaper for dropping his column in the wake of his infamous "N" word controversy and Middletown Democratic Party leader Joe Caliendo, who Gallagher feels organized his firing from the paper and his censorship from the Middletown Human Rights Commission.

In his misguided angry and angst, Gallagher has allowed himself to become a tool of the Middletown GOP and his once insightful and at times thought provoking blog has been turned into a clearing house for lies and falsehoods about Jim Purcell and his friends, as well as the Middletown Democrats, in particularly Patricia Walsh.

You see, Walsh and her running mate Jim Grenafege are on the verge of becoming the latest democrats elected to the Middletown Township Committee. The Middletown Democrats need only win one seat to gain the majority on the committee for the first time in over twenty years, but to win both seats and a super majority that would mean that they would control
bonding and all that goes along with it (good-bye Mr. Carton), and the Middletown Republicans can't let that happen no matter what. So, the Middletown GOP entered into some sort of unholy alliance with Art Gallagher, an alliance that I am sure will come back to bite him right in the ass.

The Republicans provided to Gallagher an ancient deposition from a law suit that was brought against Patricia Walsh 10 years ago and settled in 2001. In this deposition Walsh admitted that her legal bills where mounting and that she borrowed money from a friend to help cover her legal expenses. This loan, which has been paid back, has been turned into some kind of "dirty deed" by Gallagher and the Middletown Republicans.

In his attempts to discredit Walsh and the Middletown Democrats, Gallagher hired a reporter, JJ Sullivan, to cover the non-story for his MoreMonmouthMussings blog.

Gallagher handed over to his reporter, the information that was provided to him by officials in the Middletown GOP (Mayor Scharfenberger?), and told Sullivan to make the story happen.

The following audio clip I am told is the one and only attempt by Gallagher's reporter to contact Patricia Walsh for a comment. While you are listening, please note that Sullivan does not explain why he is calling for a comment or what he will be writing about, just that he wants to talk to her about some allegations. He tells Walsh that she would be able to call him over the weekend, but he had to have the story submitted by Friday night and he didn't know whether or not he would be able to make any changes to it once it was submitted, which would lead one to conclude that JJ was afraid that Art Gallagher would have editing control over what was finally published.