Axis Of Greed Belches Again: Patronage And Power Brokers Now Want To Make Russo Jr. A Republican To Run For Mayor In First Change Of Government Election

Asbury Park Press Calls Imminent Party Switch A “Bizarre Twist”, But Two Letters Surface That Appear To Confirm Russo Jr.’s Claim That He Tried To Reason With Moriarty, Larsen And Furey On Patronage Distribution Prior To Republi-Crat Reorganization

Dover Township: Former Sen. John Russo and his son, “Mayor” John Russo Jr., say Democrat leader Jack Moriarty would not give them a seat at the table where taxpayer-funded patronage is carved up by what was supposed to be the first Democrat-controlled township government in twenty-three years.

That is the reason given by the Russos for the deal with GOP Chairman George Gilmore and Assemblyman James  Holzapfel and two GOP committee members to make Russo Jr. “mayor” when the lame duck township committee reorganized on January 2nd.

Moriarty, Larsen, Furey Deny “Exclusion” Charge

The charge of exclusion from Democrat ranks has been vigorously denied by Moriarty, newly elected Committeeman Richard Larsen and Committeeman John Furey who Moriarty has chosen as the regular Democratic candidate for mayor in the change of government election.

Partisan candidates to represent the local party organizations will soon be chosen for the June 3rd primary election and Russo Jr. was, until a couple of days ago, expected to challenge Furey for the mayoral nomination in the Democrat primary.

Gilmore Says GOP Should “Seriously Explore”
Russo Mayoral Candidacy

But Friday, the Asbury Park Press reported in a page one article that Russo Jr. was considering a party switch for the purpose of running for mayor as a Republican, a report that was greeted with a warm and cordial response from Gilmore, who said “the Russo name is a prominent name in the community, with a proven record of electability, and if the opportunity presented itself, we should seriously explore it.”

GOP Club President Clement Has “No Comment”

GOP Club President Richard Clement, who appoints the organization’s candidate screening committee, would not comment on the Russo party switch or his potential candidacy for mayor in the township’s first change of government election, saying Russo Jr. has not sent a resume to the screening committee.

The Press noted that some GOP officials were “shocked” at the Russo Jr. party switch speculation, predicting a possible revolt and a fight in the June 3rd GOP primary election.

But other Republicans think it’s a “done deal” and they cite Russo Jr.’s reappointment of Holzapfel as the township’s $6667 a month “labor counsel” when the committee reorganized as “clear evidence that this whole arrangement was cut between Christmas and New Years by the three principals (Gilmore, Russo Sr. and Holzapfel) right after the Russos decided not to deal with local Democrats.”

Russo Jr. Killed In-House Law Department But Reappointed
Holzapfel As $6667 A Month “Labor Counsel”

Despite Russo Jr.’s claim the committee was killing the township’s in-house law department and hiring township attorneys paid $135 per hour “to save money”, he appointed Holzapfel at the same meeting to another annual “labor counsel” contract where Holzapfel’s firm is sent a township check for $6667 every month with no requirement for detailed bills.

Russo said Holzapfel has “provided service at a very attractive rate for many years.” despite the fact that the “very attractive rate” is the highest in Ocean County, and one of the highest in New Jersey.

Two Letters Appear To Back Up Russo Jr.’s Claim
That Moriarty Group Wouldn’t Talk To Him About Appointments

Russo Jr. promised after the November election to nominate Furey as the township’s last appointed “mayor”, but the arrangement apparently soured and Russo Jr. wrote letters on December 3rd and December 11th urging Furey and Larsen and “anyone else” (meaning Moriarty) to discuss reorganization day appointments. The letters set a tone of urgency and indicated Russo Jr. would “make myself available, within reason, at your convenience.”

Shortly after the letters were sent, Furey took off on a trip to South America and was not available at a critical juncture for discussions Russo Jr. claims he and Larsen wouldn’t agree to in any case.

OCPolitics will be happy to receive clarifying information from any of the principals on these issues.   3/02/03

Click here for previous article on the Law Department on OceanCountyPolitics•Com.

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