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Health & Fitness

Birdsall Scandal Redux?

With no watchdog there is no restraint.

The Asbury Park Press reported recently that the pay to play laws are apparently still not working in Monmouth and Ocean County as engineering and other service firms continue to funnel money to their political friends. These firms have reportedly increased their donations by as much as 80%. According to the report the five firms making the highest donations received $21 million in Monmouth and Ocean County public contracts.

Both counties have Republican monopolies on the Freeholder Boards and, in the report, donations to Republicans seemed to dominate. For example, two Republican Freeholders in Ocean County got more than $64,000 from engineering firm personnel and in Brick “(s)o far more than $60,000 in engineering contributions has gone to the Republican slate, while the Democrats haven’t reported any donations from engineers.”

When asked to explain the phenomena Republican politicians had Birdsall reminiscent remarks. One admitted that with plenty of Sandy Storm work available the firms were “all vying for those positions.” Another was more carefully circumspect and replied, “I don't even know who's donated and how much”.

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The report stunningly stated that “All told, engineers have contributed $307,276 in Monmouth and Ocean this year, more than a quarter of the $1.1 million in total contributions in the two counties”.

While Republican county officials typically defend themselves by saying that they subject all bids to the “Fair and Open” contracting laws, the report points out that the law provides wide discretion to define those terms and interpret those laws. This is a major loophole and that they essentially “act as their own regulator.” The report also points out efforts to close the loophole. The Monmouth County Democratic Freeholder candidates have been arguing that previous Monmouth County Democratic Freeholders pushed tougher pay to play laws which would have closed those loopholes. But Republicans later rescinded those restrictions.

Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The APP report effectively points to all of the reasons to elect the Monmouth County Democratic Freeholder Candidates (Brian Froelich and Larry Luttrell) as watchdogs on the Freeholder board.

But whatever you poliitcal persuasion, please go out and make your voice heard by voting on Tuesday.   




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