Gilmore And McGuckin
Wanted “Justice” For Karen Paden Who Lost By One Vote In November;
And They Got It On Tuesday When Carla Kearney Won By 147 Votes, A
Landslide In South Toms River
Republican County Boss George Gilmore and GOP Pay-To-Play Lawyer
Gregory McGuckin are so smart they outsmarted themselves, and they
cost South Toms River taxpayers more than $10,000 for the special
election they demanded because they didn’t like the results of the
November election in the “Little Town With A Big Heart.”
Kearney Beats Paden By 147 Votes
Councilwoman Carla Kearney, who won by just one vote in November,
will not have to endure a court hearing this time as she beat former
Councilwoman Karen Paden by 147 votes in the March 13th special
election.
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Boss Gilmore
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McGuckin Esq.
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Gilmore And McGuckin Profited
From 7-0 GOP Control
Gilmore and McGuckin have no-bid contracts as lawyers for the
Borough. They also have political payoff contracts with many other
public agencies and a history with the 7-0 GOP Junta that controlled
the local government for the last four years.
They have not demanded a recount this time.
Record Turnout For March 13th Special Election;
Voters Reject 58% GOP Tax Increase
Voters turned out in record numbers for a special election, with the
turnout equaling some general elections in South Toms River. The
voters reacted to the three year 58% local tax increase enacted by
the 7-0 Republican monopoly.
They also reacted to clear evidence that the 7-0 GOP administration
was responsible for the worst planning anywhere, and failure to take
advantage of available grant money.
Kearney, Keene & Tafaro Won '06 Primary By Write-In Vote
Democrats did not run candidates in South Toms River in 2005, and no
candidates were filed in the 2006 primary election. Kearney, Michael
Keene and Anthony Tafaro became Democratic candidates by writing in
their own names in last year’s June Democratic primary election.
The county bosses underestimated the challenge, and when the smoke
had cleared in the November election, all three Democrats were
elected. Mayor Michael Keene and Council members Tony Tafaro and
Carla Kearney were sworn in January 1st, in the middle of the court
challenge of Kearney’s one vote margin initiated by Boss Gilmore and
McGuckin.
Mrs. Kearney To Be Sworn In Again On Monday At 6pm
Gilmore ruthlessly used his power as Chairman of the County Election
Board, and got a North Jersey lawyer to persuade the court to order
a new election.
Mrs. Kearney, encouraged by her landslide victory on Tuesday, will
be sworn in again on Monday at 6pm at borough hall. Refreshments
will be served.
She thanked the voters for their support, and promised to provide
loyal opposition to the Republicans, who still control the governing
body 4-2.
Democrats Now Have Modest Advantage For November
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C. Bertram Plante |
The special election win will give the Democrats a modest built-in
advantage in this November’s election when the two long-time
Republican council incumbents, Oscar Cradle and C. Bertram Plante,
may seek re-election.
Plante contradicted his own Republican budgets and said the 58% tax
increase noted by the Democrats did not exist. Cradle said the 58%
Republican tax increase was only 16%. It is not clear whether Mr.
Plante owns a calculator.
This article prepared for publication on March 15, 2007.
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