DEMS "BATTING .1000"

With the recent controversy about Democratic Monmouth County Tax Board Commissioner Annie W. Grant's sense of entitlement about her publicly-funded junkets, we must take a look at the County Democrats and their attitudes towards public service.
There are several incidents that are, I believe, telling.
Let's first go back to Operation Bid-Rig. A number of elected and appointed officials of both parties were busted for various corrupt activities. Then - GOP County Chairman Frederick P. Niemann immediately called for the resignations of the corrupt officials. This blog has been critical of Niemann, but he got that one right. If a Republican falls into corruption, the initial reaction of the rank and file may be shock and disbelief; that is swiftly followed by outrage and revulsion that such an individual was among us.
What did County Democratic Boss Victor Scudiery do? Rather than express outrage at the blatant betrayal of the public trust, Ol' Vic accused the office of U. S. Attorney Christopher Christie of entrapment! Typically, the Dems will circle the wagons.
This happened recently with the indictment of Sen. Wayne R. Bryant (D - Camden). Long a poster child for the corrupt culture of bottom - feeders in Trenton, Bryant's indictment touched off a firestorm of accusations of partisanship against Christie by several liberal Jersey bloggers. Circling the wagons.
Back to the Tax Board.
John E. Westlake, another Democratic appointee on the Board, pleaded guilty last September to failure to declare $350,000.00 on his federal taxes. He's gone away. And Grant has her junketeering problem. She should go away.
The Tax Board is a gubernatorial appointment. For you Democrats, that means the governor makes the appointment. The Board is to be divided between Democrats and Republicans. As is customary, appointees are recommended by their respective county chairman. That means that Scudiery would have had to recommend both Westlake and Grant. Grant was also an unsuccessful candidate for Monmouth County Clerk.
The Democrats do not have many appointments available to them here in Monmouth County. One would think that they would make every effort not to screw up. With two (So far!) such appointees on one important board, this should give pause to every taxpayer and voter in Monmouth County. Is this the type of individual that the Democrats would appoint should they take control of the Board of Chosen Freeholders? Well? Is it?

WESTLAKE'S GOING, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER

Convicted tax cheat and Monmouth County Tax Board President John E. Westlake will be resigning from office as of Friday, according to the Asbury Park Press. If he fails to resign, the State Attorney General's office is prepared to file the necessary briefs to have him removed.

As Westlake is a Democratic appointee, it is not the place of this blog to say that he never should have been on the board in the first place, but that would still have been an excellent idea, regardless of any Republicans that may have liked him. He will finally be off the board, another board member will become President (Maybe Wayne Pomanowski?), and the Democrats will get another bite at the apple regarding the appointment.

Since the Democrats do not control many appointments in Monmouth County, we here at the Monmouth County Republican Blog are going to be nice and make a suggestion to County Democratic boss Victor Scudiery: Think it through, Vic. Don't screw this one up. You may have let it go by in the past and not objected to Westlake's reappointment. So you have nothing to complain about there. Fine, that's water under the bridge. Go forward. Nominate a good person to the post.

The Monmouth County Republican Blog recommends that the State Legislature look closely at this matter. It should not have had to come to Westlake being asked to resign. Upon conviction, he should have forfeited his office. Period. Amend the law so this doesn't happen in the future.

UPDATE

It's official. He's gone.

LYNCH PINCHED

"Our team is not done. Put this on the billboard: 97 and 0, and counting."
...Leslie Weiser, Special FBI Agent in Charge of the Newark Office.

Middlesex County Democratic Boss John A. Lynch, Jr. pleaded guilty in Federal Court yesterday to accepting $25,000.00 in bribes and failing to declare $150,000.00 on his federal taxes. He could get up to 41 months in prison.

Lynch's PAC, New Directions Through Responsible Leadership, funded many Democratic campaigns throughout New Jersey, including here in Monmouth County.

In a very related matter, Lynch associate John E. Westlake, a Democratic member of the Monmouth County Tax Board, pleaded guilty to failing to declare $350,000.00 on his federal taxes.

And two more corrupt politicians bite the dust. Sentencing will be December 19th. Merry Christmas.