This is why the Monmouth County Republican Freeholders wouldn’t tell us if they received any money from Birdsall- because they did!
The Star Ledger reported today that “all of the current Ocean and Monmouth (Republican) county freeholders” received money from the indicted Birdsall organization. The records show that Monmouth politicians got over $66 thousand dollars and Birdsall received over $4 million in contracts.
The paper goes on to say;
Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“In Monmouth County, Birdsall’s home, records show the five current freeholders received $18,200 from 2008 to early 2012, including $5,700 to Burry, $5,370 to John Curley, $3,750 to Thomas Arnone, $2,100 to Rich Sr., and $1,280 to Serena DiMaso. Another $600 went to Clerk Claire French, records show. The freeholders said in a joint statement they "fully support and take care to comply" with all election and campaign finance laws.”
(Note; Sheriff Golden and various Monmouth Republican organizations also received Birdsall funds. Arnone and DiMaso also received donations when serving as municipal officials.)
Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“now that the company has pleaded guilty, campaign finance experts said anyone who received Birdsall’s money should cough it up. ‘The money is an ill-gotten gain,’ said former state Sen. Bill Schluter, a Republican who advocates for campaign finance reform and was chairman of the State Ethics Commission….(some) officials said the money — used to pay for everything from campaign mailers and lawn signs to meals and office space — had been spent and was long gone… sources said the message..(from the fundraisers).. was clear: If you want to work, you better pay up.”
“In November 2011, at a fundraiser hosted by Birdsall, the company wrote Monmouth County Freeholders Gary Rich Sr. and Lillian Burry corporate checks for $300 each, then gave Burry another $1,200 and Rich $900 in secret checks, records show.”
“Secret donations flowed every year like free wine from Birdsall.”
A former Birdsall official was quoted as saying that the secret contributions "regularly won contracts" for the company.
Interestingly, Birdsall also gave substantial donations to Manalapan Committeeman and former Mayor Andrew Lucas who was involved in a recent controversy with the Freeholders who awarded him over $1 million for some land preservation rights. That transaction was widely and highly criticized.
