Something’s Rotten in N.J.’s Passaic County
Let me begin by apologizing to my national and international readers. We have some local garbage that we have to clean up today. If you’re going to read today’s blog, make sure you spray your monitor and keyboard with disinfectant!
George W. Bush wouldn’t set foot in New Jersey. Glenn Beck laughs at us on television. We’re billed as the most politically-corrupt (as opposed to politically correct) state in the union. New Jersey political body is badly in need of deodorant and no district is more in need of some ultra-strong remedy than District 40, home of Paterson, Wayne, Montclair, Totowa, Little Falls, Pompton Lakes (of the Pompton Dam and DuPont fame), and the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission (PVSC).
Some PVSC notables include: Carmelo Scangarello; Anthony Ardis former congressional aide and one-time PVSC commissioner; Kevin Keogh, a former West Orange councilman and superintendent of special services at the agency; Chester Mazza, who retired from the State Police as a detective sergeant in 1985, had ties to former Passaic County GOP Chairman Peter Murphy and had worked for the county’s utilities authority as chief of enforcement; he was hired by PVSC in 1999 as a safety officer, later becoming superintendent of safety and then assistant superintendent of special services, with a $127,276 salary that more than doubled in the past ten years.
What’s wrong with this smelly list (besides the fact that most of them have been arrested)? They all claimed to be Republicans while making donations and volunteering for Democrat candidates.
The information comes via the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization. Murphy has organized a “questionable” Republican group called “GOP Strong.” They are fielding candidates with strong ties to District 40’s U.S. Congressman (D) Bill Pascrell. The organization was formed during the 2010 campaign, masquerading as Tea Party Republicans.
Campaign workers in the Roland Straten camp who were members of PCRRO, provided hard evidence to back up the allegations, which you can find on their links and website. GOP Strong even opened up an office, Republicans for Pascrell. In response to requests from the NJRTP, the PCRRO provided a report replete with FEC campaign contribution reports, pictures, media articles, etc. While some of the information is organized using questions, you can also download the whole report at the very end.
So let’s see how much District 40 and other Passaic County voters know about their elected officials. Take the quiz and see if you can tell the difference between the Tea Party Republicans and the RINOs. You can click on the links below to see the artwork or verify the sources of the answers. The last link at the bottom, in red, is to the complete report. (You may not be able to see the links, though.).
Here’s a short quiz on the Murphy-backed slate of GOP Strong Candidates running under the slogan “Republicans For A Better Passaic County” in the primary this year:
1. Which GOP Strong candidates gave money to the Democrats recently? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Michael McLaughlin, Head of GOP Strong ticket and candidate for surrogate. McLaughlin contributed over $610 to Democrats last year according to ELEC and another $305 this year, including a donation of $125 that occurred almost three weeks after he announced his run for Surrogate on the GOP Strong line. He is employed with the Clifton P.D.
Ernesto Sesso (GOP Strong 40th District Assembly Candidate) of West Paterson.
Sesso gave $4,750 to the Congressman Pascrell campaign last year and has in the past contributed $1,000 to Sen. Menendez’s Campaign. He also contributed $1,000 to Jon Corzine in the general election against Chris Christie while at the same time contributing $1,000 to the GOP Strong Candidate.
Carmelo Scangarello, Republican Municipal Chairman of West Milford (West Milford, Totowa and North Haledon are running off the line in support of GOP Strong). Scangaerllo is one of the PVSC stinkers. He contributed $500 to the Pascrell for Congress campaign in 2004.
Giovanni D’Ambrosio (Treasurer of GOP Strong)
D’Ambrosio serves on the Passaic Valley Water Commission. He contributed $250 to Pascrell’s campaign in 2005.
Randy Colondres (Candidate for 34th District Assembly)
A GOP Strong candidate for Assembly, Colondres is a Democrat contributor and a Clifton police officer.
Steve Farrell (Candidate for 34th District Assembly)
Another GOP Strong candidate for Assembly, Farrell is also a Democrat contributor and Clifton police officer who contributed $80 to Pascrell’s campaign.
3. Which candidate gave $4,750.00 to Democrat Congressman Bill Pascrell last year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Ernesto Sesso (GOP Strong 40th District Assembly Candidate)
Last year, Sesso was the chair of Republicans for Responsible Government. He also gave $4,750 to the Congressman Pascrell campaign last year and has in the past contributed to Sen. Menendez’s campaign. He also contributed $1,000 to Jon Corzine in the general election against Chris Christie while contributing $1,000 to the GOP Strong Candidate. The omnipresent Duffy for Freeholder sign that Peter Murphy put up in Totowa were all paid for by the “Republicans for Responsible Government” or “Republicans for Duffy”, neither of which filed ELEC reports. The Treasurer of Republicans for Duffy is Brian Burns, the brother of one of Peter Murphy’s business partners and a former GOP Strong candidate.
4. Which candidate gave money to the Democrats 3 weeks after announcing he was running for Office as a “Republican” this year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said Michael McLaughlin (Head of GOP Strong County Ticket and Candidate for Surrogate) you were right!
McLaughlin contributed $610 to Democrats last year, according to the ELEC and another $305 this year, including a donation of $125 on March 24 that occurred almost three weeks after he announced his run for Surrogate on the GOP Strong line on March 5, 2011.
5. Which candidate gave $1,000 in October 2009 to Democrat Jon Corzine to try and defeat Chris Christie? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Yes. Ernesto Sesso (GOP Strong 40th District Assembly Candidate). Again.
See No. 3. Sesso for Cesspool Administrator.
6. Who recommends Vote for Bill A3796 NJ State Pension Reform and we will not re-elect you (pension reform bill), NJ Firefighters and Police Against Gov Christie's Pension Plan , New Jersey Teachers United Against Governor Chris Christie's Pay Freeze & Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr on their Facebook page? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Michael McLaughlin (Head of GOP Strong County Ticket and Candidate for Surrogate). Him again.
McLaughlin is a former union delegate and is an outspoken critic of Gov. Christie’s public employee benefit and pension reform efforts. McLaughlin, in an attempt to hide his opposition to Christie’s reforms, recently took down most of his anti-Christie rants from his Facebook page. But he remains a member of several noteworthy liberal and anti-Christie organizations including:
Vote for Bill A3796 NJ State Pension Reform and we will not re-elect you
NJ Firefighters and Police Against Gov Christie's Pension Plan
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr
New Jersey Teachers United Against Governor Chris Christie's Pay Freeze
7. Which of Murphy’s GOP Strong cronies ran campaigns against the Republican Party on the public dime? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said Mike Mecca, Carmelo Scangarello and Michael Ramaglia you were right! In 2009, it was revealed through a series of emails obtained from the Passaic Valley Sewage Authority in response to an OPRA request, that Ramaglia had been using Community Development Corporation (CDC) equipment to develop political mailers on agency time. Additionally, the emails show that he joined with Michael Mecca and Carmelo Scangarello of the PVSC in running Political campaigns on work time. Joseph Smolinski ran with Ramaglia for West Milford Town Council and is a candidate running on the GOP Strong line this year. The scan is one of numerous scans that were used in political fliers. The Scan above was done at 2:19 PM, apparently during work hours, on CDC equipment and used on a GOP Strong political mailer during the Republican Primary. Ramaglia worked for the CDC as Chief of Staff. This story was reported in the Record and in the Herald & New newspapers and covered by Chanel 12 news. Ramaglia and Smolinski were sworn in to the Township of West Milford Town Council by State Sen. (R) Joseph Pennachio.
8. How many GOP Strong Clifton County Committee had signs for democrats in their yards last year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said 18 you’re either Mike Mecca or a Terrific guesser!
Available on PCRRO’s website and link are 12 photos of residences, comprising 18 County Committee members from Clifton, with Democrat signs on their lawns. They all ran on the GOP Strong line with Mecca.
9. Which of Murphy’s recently arrested cronies from the PVSC supported the Democrats last November and is supporting GOP Strong this year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you guessed Murphy’s friend Anthony Ardis, you were wrong! It was Chet Mazza.
Arrested were Anthony Ardis, 56, of Paterson a former congressional aide and one-time PVSC commissioner; Kevin Keogh, 45, a former West Orange councilman and superintendent of special services at the agency; and Chester Mazza, 69, of Totowa. Mazza, who retired from the State Police as a detective sergeant in 1985, had ties to former Passaic County GOP Chairman Peter Murphy and had worked for the county’s utilities authority as chief of enforcement. He was hired by PVSC in 1999 as a safety officer, later becoming superintendent of safety, and then assistant superintendent of special services, with a $127,276 salary that more than doubled in the past ten years. Mazza also had a Dodge Durango assigned to him - Star Ledger, Wed., Feb. 2, 2011
10. Who did the teachers union give more money to, GOP Strong or the PCRRO? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
The Passaic County Education Association (PCEA) gave $2,800 to GOP Strong/ 0 to PCRRO
Before the confrontation between the Christie Administration and the NJEA developed, the PCEA gave to various Republican and Democrat candidates, although the largest amount always went to the Democrats. About two years ago, the PCEA generally stopped giving to Republicans. At that point, the reported donations from PCEA to GOP Strong in four separate contributions totaled $2,800. GOP Strong is a PAC that they had never given to in the past.
11. What does an Administrative Archivist do at a Sewage Plant and why would one of Murphy’s cronies put him back on the public pad? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Trick Question – nobody we know has any idea what an Administrative Archivist
would do at a sewage plant, and why anyone would hire an AA in the Clerk’s Office
baffles even the Democrats (except for Duffy and LePore)
Kristen Corrado, County Clerk, ran on the Murphy/Mecca GOP Strong line in 2009 and won the primary along with three PCRRO candidates. All were elected in the General election. Corrado chose as her Deputy Clerk long-time Democrat activist and aide to Congressman William Pascrell, Peter Rendina. She also chose to give a newly-created position to Carmelo Scangarello, who was later dismissed from his job as an administrative archivist with the PVS through the efforts of Gov. Christie. According to newspaper reports, “Corrado said the state statute that governs the county clerk’s position allows her to hire a confidential assistant on an “at-will” basis, thus bypassing the state Civil Service exam and letting her write the job description.”
Bonus Question: Who tried a bait and switch routine in the primary with their endorsement of Chris Christie? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said Peter Murphy and GOP Strong you were right!
Members of GOP Strong, after endorsing Christie, then opposed him in the primary for Governor. E-mails to and from the then chairman and then treasurer of GOP Strong, secured by OPRA to the PVSC, show that when they made the endorsement they did so for momentary strategic advantage and not because of any real support. In fact they structured the endorsement so that it could be, and was, easily disavowed.
This information was provided and paid for by the Passaic County Regular Republican organization. Glenn Beck said to show courage. In making public this information, we all stand at great risk of a) having stop signs put through our windshields (at the very least); b) getting tickets in Clifton c) having our garbage dumped on our lawns; d) waking up our neighbors to the dangers of not paying attention; e) winning the 2011 state election on a conservative, tea party-supported, hi-we’re-your-neighbors agenda.
New Jersey politics really stink, as you can see (especially in Passaic County and District 40). The North Jersey Regional Tea Party has stocked up on rubber gloves, garbage bags, and disinfectant for this campaign.
Somebody’s got to clean up Passaic County so Glenn Beck will come visit (before he leaves the New York area). We want to show him Federal Hill and the Iron Door.
FOR THE MORE OF TRUTH ABOUT GOP STRONG CLICK HERE
paid for by the Passaic County Regular Republican org
George W. Bush wouldn’t set foot in New Jersey. Glenn Beck laughs at us on television. We’re billed as the most politically-corrupt (as opposed to politically correct) state in the union. New Jersey political body is badly in need of deodorant and no district is more in need of some ultra-strong remedy than District 40, home of Paterson, Wayne, Montclair, Totowa, Little Falls, Pompton Lakes (of the Pompton Dam and DuPont fame), and the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission (PVSC).
Some PVSC notables include: Carmelo Scangarello; Anthony Ardis former congressional aide and one-time PVSC commissioner; Kevin Keogh, a former West Orange councilman and superintendent of special services at the agency; Chester Mazza, who retired from the State Police as a detective sergeant in 1985, had ties to former Passaic County GOP Chairman Peter Murphy and had worked for the county’s utilities authority as chief of enforcement; he was hired by PVSC in 1999 as a safety officer, later becoming superintendent of safety and then assistant superintendent of special services, with a $127,276 salary that more than doubled in the past ten years.
What’s wrong with this smelly list (besides the fact that most of them have been arrested)? They all claimed to be Republicans while making donations and volunteering for Democrat candidates.
The information comes via the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization. Murphy has organized a “questionable” Republican group called “GOP Strong.” They are fielding candidates with strong ties to District 40’s U.S. Congressman (D) Bill Pascrell. The organization was formed during the 2010 campaign, masquerading as Tea Party Republicans.
Campaign workers in the Roland Straten camp who were members of PCRRO, provided hard evidence to back up the allegations, which you can find on their links and website. GOP Strong even opened up an office, Republicans for Pascrell. In response to requests from the NJRTP, the PCRRO provided a report replete with FEC campaign contribution reports, pictures, media articles, etc. While some of the information is organized using questions, you can also download the whole report at the very end.
So let’s see how much District 40 and other Passaic County voters know about their elected officials. Take the quiz and see if you can tell the difference between the Tea Party Republicans and the RINOs. You can click on the links below to see the artwork or verify the sources of the answers. The last link at the bottom, in red, is to the complete report. (You may not be able to see the links, though.).
Here’s a short quiz on the Murphy-backed slate of GOP Strong Candidates running under the slogan “Republicans For A Better Passaic County” in the primary this year:
1. Which GOP Strong candidates gave money to the Democrats recently? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Michael McLaughlin, Head of GOP Strong ticket and candidate for surrogate. McLaughlin contributed over $610 to Democrats last year according to ELEC and another $305 this year, including a donation of $125 that occurred almost three weeks after he announced his run for Surrogate on the GOP Strong line. He is employed with the Clifton P.D.
Ernesto Sesso (GOP Strong 40th District Assembly Candidate) of West Paterson.
Sesso gave $4,750 to the Congressman Pascrell campaign last year and has in the past contributed $1,000 to Sen. Menendez’s Campaign. He also contributed $1,000 to Jon Corzine in the general election against Chris Christie while at the same time contributing $1,000 to the GOP Strong Candidate.
Carmelo Scangarello, Republican Municipal Chairman of West Milford (West Milford, Totowa and North Haledon are running off the line in support of GOP Strong). Scangaerllo is one of the PVSC stinkers. He contributed $500 to the Pascrell for Congress campaign in 2004.
Giovanni D’Ambrosio (Treasurer of GOP Strong)
D’Ambrosio serves on the Passaic Valley Water Commission. He contributed $250 to Pascrell’s campaign in 2005.
Randy Colondres (Candidate for 34th District Assembly)
A GOP Strong candidate for Assembly, Colondres is a Democrat contributor and a Clifton police officer.
Steve Farrell (Candidate for 34th District Assembly)
Another GOP Strong candidate for Assembly, Farrell is also a Democrat contributor and Clifton police officer who contributed $80 to Pascrell’s campaign.
3. Which candidate gave $4,750.00 to Democrat Congressman Bill Pascrell last year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Ernesto Sesso (GOP Strong 40th District Assembly Candidate)
Last year, Sesso was the chair of Republicans for Responsible Government. He also gave $4,750 to the Congressman Pascrell campaign last year and has in the past contributed to Sen. Menendez’s campaign. He also contributed $1,000 to Jon Corzine in the general election against Chris Christie while contributing $1,000 to the GOP Strong Candidate. The omnipresent Duffy for Freeholder sign that Peter Murphy put up in Totowa were all paid for by the “Republicans for Responsible Government” or “Republicans for Duffy”, neither of which filed ELEC reports. The Treasurer of Republicans for Duffy is Brian Burns, the brother of one of Peter Murphy’s business partners and a former GOP Strong candidate.
4. Which candidate gave money to the Democrats 3 weeks after announcing he was running for Office as a “Republican” this year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said Michael McLaughlin (Head of GOP Strong County Ticket and Candidate for Surrogate) you were right!
McLaughlin contributed $610 to Democrats last year, according to the ELEC and another $305 this year, including a donation of $125 on March 24 that occurred almost three weeks after he announced his run for Surrogate on the GOP Strong line on March 5, 2011.
5. Which candidate gave $1,000 in October 2009 to Democrat Jon Corzine to try and defeat Chris Christie? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Yes. Ernesto Sesso (GOP Strong 40th District Assembly Candidate). Again.
See No. 3. Sesso for Cesspool Administrator.
6. Who recommends Vote for Bill A3796 NJ State Pension Reform and we will not re-elect you (pension reform bill), NJ Firefighters and Police Against Gov Christie's Pension Plan , New Jersey Teachers United Against Governor Chris Christie's Pay Freeze & Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr on their Facebook page? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Michael McLaughlin (Head of GOP Strong County Ticket and Candidate for Surrogate). Him again.
McLaughlin is a former union delegate and is an outspoken critic of Gov. Christie’s public employee benefit and pension reform efforts. McLaughlin, in an attempt to hide his opposition to Christie’s reforms, recently took down most of his anti-Christie rants from his Facebook page. But he remains a member of several noteworthy liberal and anti-Christie organizations including:
Vote for Bill A3796 NJ State Pension Reform and we will not re-elect you
NJ Firefighters and Police Against Gov Christie's Pension Plan
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr
New Jersey Teachers United Against Governor Chris Christie's Pay Freeze
7. Which of Murphy’s GOP Strong cronies ran campaigns against the Republican Party on the public dime? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said Mike Mecca, Carmelo Scangarello and Michael Ramaglia you were right! In 2009, it was revealed through a series of emails obtained from the Passaic Valley Sewage Authority in response to an OPRA request, that Ramaglia had been using Community Development Corporation (CDC) equipment to develop political mailers on agency time. Additionally, the emails show that he joined with Michael Mecca and Carmelo Scangarello of the PVSC in running Political campaigns on work time. Joseph Smolinski ran with Ramaglia for West Milford Town Council and is a candidate running on the GOP Strong line this year. The scan is one of numerous scans that were used in political fliers. The Scan above was done at 2:19 PM, apparently during work hours, on CDC equipment and used on a GOP Strong political mailer during the Republican Primary. Ramaglia worked for the CDC as Chief of Staff. This story was reported in the Record and in the Herald & New newspapers and covered by Chanel 12 news. Ramaglia and Smolinski were sworn in to the Township of West Milford Town Council by State Sen. (R) Joseph Pennachio.
8. How many GOP Strong Clifton County Committee had signs for democrats in their yards last year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said 18 you’re either Mike Mecca or a Terrific guesser!
Available on PCRRO’s website and link are 12 photos of residences, comprising 18 County Committee members from Clifton, with Democrat signs on their lawns. They all ran on the GOP Strong line with Mecca.
9. Which of Murphy’s recently arrested cronies from the PVSC supported the Democrats last November and is supporting GOP Strong this year? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you guessed Murphy’s friend Anthony Ardis, you were wrong! It was Chet Mazza.
Arrested were Anthony Ardis, 56, of Paterson a former congressional aide and one-time PVSC commissioner; Kevin Keogh, 45, a former West Orange councilman and superintendent of special services at the agency; and Chester Mazza, 69, of Totowa. Mazza, who retired from the State Police as a detective sergeant in 1985, had ties to former Passaic County GOP Chairman Peter Murphy and had worked for the county’s utilities authority as chief of enforcement. He was hired by PVSC in 1999 as a safety officer, later becoming superintendent of safety, and then assistant superintendent of special services, with a $127,276 salary that more than doubled in the past ten years. Mazza also had a Dodge Durango assigned to him - Star Ledger, Wed., Feb. 2, 2011
10. Who did the teachers union give more money to, GOP Strong or the PCRRO? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
The Passaic County Education Association (PCEA) gave $2,800 to GOP Strong/ 0 to PCRRO
Before the confrontation between the Christie Administration and the NJEA developed, the PCEA gave to various Republican and Democrat candidates, although the largest amount always went to the Democrats. About two years ago, the PCEA generally stopped giving to Republicans. At that point, the reported donations from PCEA to GOP Strong in four separate contributions totaled $2,800. GOP Strong is a PAC that they had never given to in the past.
11. What does an Administrative Archivist do at a Sewage Plant and why would one of Murphy’s cronies put him back on the public pad? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
Trick Question – nobody we know has any idea what an Administrative Archivist
would do at a sewage plant, and why anyone would hire an AA in the Clerk’s Office
baffles even the Democrats (except for Duffy and LePore)
Kristen Corrado, County Clerk, ran on the Murphy/Mecca GOP Strong line in 2009 and won the primary along with three PCRRO candidates. All were elected in the General election. Corrado chose as her Deputy Clerk long-time Democrat activist and aide to Congressman William Pascrell, Peter Rendina. She also chose to give a newly-created position to Carmelo Scangarello, who was later dismissed from his job as an administrative archivist with the PVS through the efforts of Gov. Christie. According to newspaper reports, “Corrado said the state statute that governs the county clerk’s position allows her to hire a confidential assistant on an “at-will” basis, thus bypassing the state Civil Service exam and letting her write the job description.”
Bonus Question: Who tried a bait and switch routine in the primary with their endorsement of Chris Christie? CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER
If you said Peter Murphy and GOP Strong you were right!
Members of GOP Strong, after endorsing Christie, then opposed him in the primary for Governor. E-mails to and from the then chairman and then treasurer of GOP Strong, secured by OPRA to the PVSC, show that when they made the endorsement they did so for momentary strategic advantage and not because of any real support. In fact they structured the endorsement so that it could be, and was, easily disavowed.
This information was provided and paid for by the Passaic County Regular Republican organization. Glenn Beck said to show courage. In making public this information, we all stand at great risk of a) having stop signs put through our windshields (at the very least); b) getting tickets in Clifton c) having our garbage dumped on our lawns; d) waking up our neighbors to the dangers of not paying attention; e) winning the 2011 state election on a conservative, tea party-supported, hi-we’re-your-neighbors agenda.
New Jersey politics really stink, as you can see (especially in Passaic County and District 40). The North Jersey Regional Tea Party has stocked up on rubber gloves, garbage bags, and disinfectant for this campaign.
Somebody’s got to clean up Passaic County so Glenn Beck will come visit (before he leaves the New York area). We want to show him Federal Hill and the Iron Door.
FOR THE MORE OF TRUTH ABOUT GOP STRONG CLICK HERE
paid for by the Passaic County Regular Republican org
posted by Belle | 8:43 PM
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