CALIENDO ANSWERS CARTON, APP

For Democrats in Middletown, all I have to say is that it is that time of year again. The Fall is coming, as well as the campaign, and again the APP is lining up with the Middletown Republican Party to try and make it another Republican year.

This time not only was I not called but there wasn't any problem whatsoever with our ELEC account. So, once again, the APP has let Peter Carton have a lot of fun at the expense of the Middletown Democratic Party, only this time it was as much a surprise to me as all of you.

In the meantime, this is what I have sent out to everyone and their brother, in this state, in other states, in the academic community and throughout the Legislature on both sides of the aisle because if this party cannot be heard the same way as the Republican Party then we are just going to have to make our own trails to make sure we are heard.

Here's what I said...

CALIENDO ANSWERS CHARGE BY MIDDLETOWN GOP BOSS, APP

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): In response
to a public allegation made by Middletown Republican
Boss Peter Carton regarding campaign contributions to Democrat for Middletown Committee Patrick Short,
Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo refutes
any allegation of any wrongdoing or error.

“This is more of the same for Peter Carton,” Caliendo
said. “Every year, he makes it an institution to say
there is some problem with our ELEC accountability
when there isn’t. The only reason he does it is for
quick headlines in the Asbury Park Press and every
year he gets it without there being anything to it.
So, there’s no problem with our ELEC account but the
newspaper prints the allegation without printing the
fact that there’s nothing there later on. And, at this
point, there isn’t even a complaint to ELEC. So, why
was there a story about something that wasn’t a
complaint and why wasn’t I contacted about anything by
the APP before they printed in the newspaper on August
11th?”

In the Aug. 11 edition, reporter Alison Herget printed
a story about this entitled “Were Campaign Funds
Reported?” on the cover of the “Our Towns” section.

“The funds are reported because it was from our reports from ELEC that Carton is making his baseless
and ridiculous public claim,” Caliendo said. “There is
nothing wrong with our ELEC reporting, now or ever.”

“Why the APP reported this without my side in the
first place is absolutely absurd,” Caliendo said.
“This is especially true given the fact it is not the
Middletown Democrats who had someone: A. convicted of
federal corruption charges by the FBI and US
Attorney’s Office from their party; B. sued civilly
for sexual harassment charges by a former town clerk
from their party; or C. a present mayor who lied to
every resident in Lincroft about the fact the
committee was going ahead with a sports complex in
their backyard and didn’t bother to tell anyone until
it was almost too late."

“Peter Carton knows this is the year he loses,”
Caliendo said. “He’s scared about losing control
because this year — this year — there will be a
Middletown Democrat elected who will be watching the
store,” Caliendo said. “No more free passes on all the
bonding he wants. He’s already bonded this township up
to its neck in $85 million in debt or 23 percent of
our tax dollar here.”

Caliendo explained that Carton and his law firm
currently represent the township as its bond counsel
and, when Patrick Short wins in November, “the free
ride is over for Mr. Carton and his firm.”

“Now, I want to go back to that part in the article
where Carton said his allegations are
‘non-political,’” Caliendo said. “Are you kidding me?”