SHORT LEADS MIDDLETOWN TAX REVOLT

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 24, 2006

POC: Patrick Short, Middletown Democrat for Committee,
Tel: (732) 796-9574

Short takes the lead in Middletown Tax Revolt

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short has vowed that he will take the fight for township tax relief to the governing body when elected.

“On the first day in office, I will introduce three ordinances, which I call ‘Delay,’ ‘End’ and ‘Ban,’” Short said.

He explained that he intends on delaying the planned property revaluation in Middletown. He will also end pensions for elected and appointed officials who work part-time. And, he will ban any contractor who works for the town from holding an appointed or elected office.

“It is time for us to get serious and I am willing to take the necessary action to control our out of control spending here in Middletown,” Short said.

Short, 52, is a retired lieutenant colonel from the United States Army. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1977. In addition, he holds three master’s degrees in management and human relations, contract management and strategic studies and decision-making, respectively.

“I am a highly sought after project manager who manages multi-million dollar projects to cost and schedule. That is how I make my living and that is what I am bringing to Town Hall in my hometown,” Short said.

According to Short, his 30-day plan when he is elected includes: restricting the amount of credit debt that the committee can authorize; elimination of health benefits for elected and appointed officials who work part-time; elimination of “tacking,” where officials hold multiple positions to boost their retirement packages; and implement best business practices to pare down government and fully implement shared services with other agencies.

Short said he also intends on fighting for fair and equitable distribution of state funding for school and community grants.

“It has been time for change,” Short said, “our community has been dealing with a need to re-look how Middletown is spending money, where it is spent and what course we will collectively chart for the future.”

Short concludes that the time for change to finally take place in Middletown is this year, this election and in this race. “This tax revolt is not some public relations stunt, nor some campaign trick…this is about bringing sound management principles to this town this year and every year in the future,” he said. “This is sorely needed and it is time.”

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DOWD & REILLY GIVES $1,000 TO SODON CAMPAIGN

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 23, 2006

POC" Joe Caliendo, Chairman, Middletown Democrats
Cell: 732-299-6470/Email: joe_caliendo@yahoo.com/ Web site: www.democratscalling.blogspot.com

SODON ACCEPTS $1,000 FROM TWSP.
ATTORNEY'S FIRM IN MIDDLETOWN

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): According to Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo, Middletown Republican candidate for Township Committee Tim Sodon has accepted $1,000 from the law firm of Dowd & Reilly for his campaign.

The campaign contribution was made by Dowd & Reilly, Red Bank, during May this year. Perhaps the most prominent problem with this, Caliendo said, is that Bernard Reilly is the long-serving township attorney for the committee where Sodon wants to gain a seat.

Last week, Caliendo reported that Sodon had also accepted $2,600 for his campaign during May from the township's engineering company, T&M. Caliendo said, "I keep hearing about 'Fresh Faces,' but all it is looking like to me is more of the same by way of political patronage and pay-to-play for the Middletown Republican Party."

As well as accepting money from township vendors, Sodon is also the majority owner of a company, Sodon Electric, Middletown, which received $92,000 from the township during a 9-month period. Sodon's company does municipal work for the township Parks Department and the Road Department. In addition, Sodon's company has performed work on the "ill-fated, over-budget and absolute money pit known as the Banfield Cultural Arts Center," according to Caliendo.

Adding to all of this is the fact that Sodon also sits on the Recreation Advisory Board in town, as its chair. Caliendo said this board influences business decisions made by the Recreation Department, which influences the work Sodon's firm also receives from the township.

"There used to be a time in the township's history when members of the governing body used to choose whether they were going to be a vendor, contractor or elected official, but I guess that sensibility is gone these days with the Republican Party," Caliendo said. "Mr. Sodon measures the ethics of being a contractor for the township while sitting on the governing body that approves his bills by whether or not he can be in violation of the law by doing so. Is that what ethics means these days? What is right and moral is whatever one cannot get arrested or indicted for?"

According to Caliendo, the only real ethical choice this year for Middletown voters is Democrat Patrick Short. "Patrick is the only candidate in the race who is not a vendor, a contractor or ever plans to be one," Caliendo concluded. "That gives him a lot more credibility in this race than Sodon has."

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Patrick reads letter to the committee

Open Letter to Middletown Township Committee 13 October 2006
To: Mayor, Middletown Township
From: Patrick Short

Subject: Middletown Township Committee Must Address Appearance of Conflict of Interest Issue

I was surprised to find and disappointed to learn that the “Good ‘O Boy” and even Pay for Play may still be active and taking place in Middletown. Despite steps taken to remove this type of conduct in Monmouth County and in Middletown, I do not understand why the Township Committee would permit the appearance of this unacceptable practice to take place.

The relationship between the Parks and Recreation Department and Sodon Electric Inc. may be an example of this impropriety. In the past 10 months, the town has paid Sodon Electric Inc. a total of $92,072.26 for services’ performed from December 2005 through September 2006. This has occurred while the principal partner of Sodon Electric Inc., Mr. Timothy Sodon, is the Republican Party Candidate seeking a seat on the Township Committee; the same committee that approves payment to Sodon Electric Inc. as a contractor in our town. Mr. Sodon is also the chairman of the Recreation Advisory Board; a board that influences projects performed for the Parks and Recreation Department. Any electrical maintenance service that is performed, it is done by Sodon Electric Inc. Most troubling is the fact that payment to Sodon Electric Inc for services performed has more than tripled since Mr. Sodon became the Republican Party candidate and a member and chairman of the Recreation Advisory Board.

Mr. Sodon will have to decide whether he wants to remain a contractor who provides a service to the town or whether he wants to be Committee member, if elected, who approves contractors and the work that they perform within the town. Doing both promotes the appearance of a conflict.

However, it is the responsibility of the Township Committee to ensure that conflict of interest or the appearance thereof does not take place. And if it does, action should immediately be taken to remedy the situation. Our town ought to be viewed as a town that treats all contractors/vendors fairly, impartially, and in the best interest of the tax payer. Our town ought not to be viewed as a town that selects a contractor/vendor off a “Good O Boy” list or because it is an insider to the Republican Party.

I would hope that the Township Committee would view this situation from the eyes of the other twenty-seven (27) electric companies in our town that may want to do business in Middletown. These electrical companies must have confidence that they will not be excluded from doing work in Middletown if they do not subscribe to political patronage. Rather, they subscribe to a high ethical standard and provide quality of service at a cost that is in the best interest of the Middletown taxpayer.

To demonstrate that the Township Committee embraces these principles, I recommend the Township Committee remedy this situation by taking the following steps:
1. Establish a policy to prohibit any elected and/or appointed official from performing contractual work in the township and any contractor/vendor from being an elected and/or appointed official.
2. Replace Mr. Sodon as a member/chairperson of the Recreation Advisory Board.
3. Place an immediate “Stop Work” on all work currently being performed by Sodon Electric Inc.
4. Re-Issue a Request for Proposal Competitive Bid for electrical maintenance services performed in the Township of Middletown.


Respectfully,

Patrick Short

SODON RECEIVED T&M MONEY FOR ELECTION

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 19, 2006

POC: Joe Caliendo, Middletown Democratic CHairman
Tel: 732-299-6470/Email: joe_caliendo@yahoo.com / Web site: www.democratscalling.blogspot.com

SODON ACCEPTED $2,600 FROM T&M ENGINEERING

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): According to Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo, the Middletown Republican candidate for Township Committee, Tim Sodon, accepted $2,600 from the township's engineering firm, T&M, during May this year in campaign contributions.

This comes after Caliendo and Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short have already been critical about Sodon's status as a township contractor. As well as being a contractor and candidate for the governing body that approves his company's bills, Sodon also chairs the Recreation Advisory Board in town, which influences the work that his company does in the township.

"This would be funny if it wasn't so serious," Caliendo said. "I do not know what kind of ethical compass Mr. Sodon or the Republican Party leadership in this town has but it is obviosuly off course."

According to Caliendo, if Sodon had accepted this $2,600 from T&M had he already been elected then it would be something that would have had to receive law enforcement attention, but because he is not elected this act of the town engineering contributing to his campaign is not illegal -- just incredibly unethical.

"Is this the kind of leadership that Middletown deserves and can expect from Mr. Sodon?" Caliendo questioned.

During a 9-month period, Sodon's company, Sodon Electric, has earned $92,000 from the township. His firm works for the Roads Department in town, not to mention the Parks Department and even works on the Banfield Cultural Center project.

"Mr. Sodon does not deny the work his firm does and has primarily worked in this election to rationalize him wanting to be a committeeman whose company is on the township payroll, Caliendo said. "He cannot deny the T&M contribution either and I am very interested to hear his rationalization for this too."

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Highlands GOP press release about vandalism

I think what happened to the Highlands Republicans' signs is wrong. But I do not think anyone should rush to judgment about blaming the Democrats over there. I do not know what happened, and neither does anyone else. This is a weird time of year and people do strange things, in both parties.

I know for a fact that both Mr. Caizza and Mr. Urbanski have a lot better things to do with their time than shimmy up a sign and put a moustache on anyone. Yet it is clear someone did have that kind of time and that bad intention. So, I think whoever they are did something very distracting to the campaign there and the police should find them.

CALIENDO CRITICIZES SODON FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

October 14, 2006

POC: Joe Caliendo
Chairman, Middletown Democrats
Tel: (732) 299-6470
Email: joe_caliendo@yahoo.com
Blog: www.democratscalling.blogspot.com

CALIENDO CALLS SODON'S SEAT ON REC ADVISORY COMMITTEE A CONFLICT

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Middletown Democrat Chairman Joe Caliendo says that the fact that Middletown Township Republican Committee Candidate Tim Sodon sits on the Recreation Committee's Advisory Council, influencing the Recreation Department in town in its financial decisions, is a conflict of interest given the fact that Mr. Sodon's company is paid for work it does in township parks.

"There is no way for this Republican Township Administration to make the case that someone who sits on this advisory committee for Recreation, and then turns around and his company does the work on township recreation sites, is not conflicted," Caliendo said. "On top of everything else, the person who is conflicted, Tim Sodon, is then made a candidate for Township Committee by the Republicans and presents even more of a conflict of interest."

Caliendo said that there is no way to say that the best person for the job of Township Committee is someone who is already a contractor for the township, who sits on a committee already that indirectly influences the work his company receives from the township he works for, and profits from government. "Well, it's plain to see that Sodon Electric is making a pretty good dollar off of the taxpayers in Middletown already and this idea of Tim Sodon being a committeeman is another 'Good Old Boys' special from the Middletown GOP," Caliendo said.

The veteran Middletown Democratic chairman said that "nepotism, political patronage and political favoritism runs Middletown right now and it is time for this nonsense to stop," Caliendo said. "This is taxpayer money we're talking about here and the budget isn't supposed to be a slush fund for Republican friends and supporters, even though that's what it's starting to look like right now."

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GIBADLO WANTS MANAGERS HELD ACCOUNTABLE

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 13, 2006

POC: Greg Gibadlo, Democrat for Freeholder
Email: gibadloforfreeholder@hotmail.com/ Tel: (732) 671-4181

GIBADLO WANTS MANAGERS HELD ACCOUNTABLE

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Monmouth County Democrat for Freeholder Greg Gibadlo said that holding managers accountable for their departmental budgets is a priority that is not as emphasized as it could be right now in Freehold.

According to Gibadlo, “I am not saying that the current Board of Chosen Freeholders are losing money in every department. But, just because the county saves some money in one department does not give it license to go over budget in another department. That strategy doesn’t make sense.”

Gibadlo said that, in some areas, the Board of Chosen Freeholders have done well. When it comes to purchasing fuel, the county has done a strong job, Gibadlo said. “This is not about bashing incumbents, that isn’t going to solve the county’s problems. But in the same vein, a county government isn’t about hiding long-term systemic fiscal issues either and I think it is time that a strong review, department by department, in a collaborative working manner be conducted,” Gibadlo said.

Gibadlo believes there is too much emphasis right now on making things “look great” to media and the outside world. In fact there is work to do and too much emphasis on how things look as opposed to how things operate.

A structured review process is what Gibadlo is calling for that involves leaders and managers throughout the county administration on a regular basis, with a focus of economic savings.

“Managers have to be held accountable for production,” Gibadlo said. “This is a fundamental practice in any good business organization.”

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GIBADLO SAYS MONMOUTH COUNTY NEEDS TO CHANGE

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 14, 2006

POC: Greg Gibadlo, Democrat for Freeholder
Email: gibadloforfreeholder@hotmail.com/ Tel: (732) 671-4181

GIBADLO SAYS MONMOUTH COUNTY NEEDS TO CHANGE

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): According to Monmouth County Democrat for Freeholder Greg Gibadlo, “Monmouth County Republicans paint a blissful picture of the county that does not hide the aura of corruption that this county has become well known for in this state and in this country.”

Gibadlo said there is an evident need for change in the county, especially on the county level. “This has been made clear by several prominent symptoms of dysfunction in this county,” Gibadlo said.

Specifically, Gibadlo pointed to the emerging gang problems in Asbury Park, pockets of economic depression and joblessness in the county and the recent stream of Operation Bid Rig officials from both political parties netted by the FBI in the county.

“There are Crips and Bloods that have set up shop in our county and that is a real concern when it comes to our youth,” Gibadlo said. “This is something that has to be addressed even when that means restructuring our priorities.”

Gibadlo said the most important thing someone can give someone else is hope and dignity. “But when it comes to families and their health, that starts with fathers and mothers having jobs that can pay the bills that give their children a better life. Monmouth County can do better than it is right now, by encouraging small business people, creating tax incentives for corporations to come here and giving working people such basic support as sound public transportation,” Gibadlo said.

But when the subject turns to government helping others, Gibadlo said that government couldn’t do that if it is riddled with corruption. “People are fallible and no one should forget that. With that said, government officials have got to be held to a higher standard and accountable for their actions,” Gibadlo said.

Gibadlo said he knows that some residents in Monmouth have been disappointed by some of their leaders. He knows that there is voter apathy in some corners because of that disappointment. But, he said that he “also knows that all it takes for that apathy to start to change is hope borne of hard work, action out of honesty and communication with integrity.”

Gibadlo said he does not want to chastise anyone for creating a condition that has allowed gangs to take root in Asbury Park, or punish leaders for creating conditions that led to economic hopelessness by some in this county, or even revel in officials being led away to prison. “I think there isn’t enough time for that,” Gibadlo said. “I think there’s only enough time to change these things by changing the priorities of this county government to address the issues that exist today and stop allowing partisan county government to try and dictate what is and is not happening in Monmouth.”

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SODON SHOULD CHOOSE EITHER BEING A CONTRACTOR OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

POC: JOE CALIENDO
Chairman, Middletown Democrats
Cell: (732) 299-6470/EMAIL: joe_caliendo@yahoo.com
Web site: www.democratscalling.blogspot.com

SODON SHOULD CHOOSE EITHER BEING A CONTRACTOR OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Sodon Electric, the Middletown company primarily owned by Township Republican Candidate Tim Sodon, made $92,077.26 from the town last year, according to Joe Caliendo, Chairman of the Middletown Democrats.

“So now what?” Caliendo asked. “Mr. Sodon owns an electrical company doing business with Middletown and he is going to become yet another vendor who wants to be elected in this town?”

Caliendo said, “This practice is not right and is not ethical no matter how many times this Township Committee or this Republican leadership says it is. Ethically and morally this practice flies in the face of any common sense where it regards someone putting himself up for elected position.”

Whether it is bond work for the township being done by the Newark law firm of the Middletown Republican Boss, Peter Carton (who also sits on the Sewer Authority) or the same law firm who employs Brian Nelson (an attorney for the bond firm who also sits as an appointed member of the Sewer Authority), this practice is not something that in any way helps or is in the interests of the taxpayers in Middletown, Caliendo said.

“How many hundreds of thousands of dollars from Middletown taxpayers every year are being wasted on pensions and benefits on people who either should only be making some minimal figure or volunteering their time?” Caliendo said. “The Republican Administration is actively working to get their top appointments a living off of the backs of Middletown taxpayers.”

According to Caliendo, the appointed positions on the Sewer Authority, Planning Board and other posts should not be garnering pensions and health benefits. The attorneys and other professionals employed by the township should not be making a pension from Middletown, as Township Attorney Bernie Reilly will (because of special arrangements made by this all-Republican Township Committee), Caliendo said. And the number of attorneys, Caliendo said, is too many.

The veteran Middletown Democratic chairman said the only alternative to corruption in Middletown this year is the election of Democrat for Middletown Committee Patrick Short, who will end the free ride for partisan professionals and begin the process of finally relieving taxpayers in this township of excessive and unnecessary burdens.

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CARTON CAN'T MAKE THE CASE THAT THERE AREN'T PLENTY OF QUALIFIED WOMEN IN THE GOP

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 6, 2006

POC: PAT WALSH
Member, Middletown Democrats
Phone 732-747-0688

CARTON CAN'T MAKE THE CASE THAT THERE AREN'T PLENTY OF QUALIFIED WOMEN IN THE GOP

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): According to Middletown Democrat Pat Walsh, "It seems that GOP Chairman Mr. Peter Carton has yet arrive in the twenty-first century, where women now commonly fill leadership positions in business, industry and politics. The Vice Chairman of the Middletown Republican Party is Clifford Raisch, while the chairman of the group is Peter Carton. It is common protocol that these leadership positions are normally held by two persons of opposite gender."

Walsh asked, "Why is there a complete void of a woman in such a key leadership position in the party, Middletown Democrat Pat Walsh said. Does the party chairman have something against women as leaders?"

While there are times when, for some extraordinary reasons in a community, there may be only two Republicans or Democrats in a given place who are active, and there should be an exception to the general rule in that case, this is not the situation in Middletown.

"By there being a male chairman and vice chairman in Middletown that is the Middletown Republican Party saying there is no woman either interested enough or qualified enough to hold the vice chair seat," Walsh said. "I think the fact of this situation is absolutely wrong given the number of talented and enthusiastic Republican women who live with our community."

Walsh, a former Middletown Republican, said she does not know if Carton's decision to go with a male vice chair marks any other decisions he has made about women holding office in behind-the-scenes party politics. "But, it sure isn't the best sign of the state of affairs in the Middletown Republican Party," she said.

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Sodon shouldn't be town vendor and elected official

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

October 3, 2006

POC: Joe Caliendo, Chairman, Middletown Democrats
Tel: (732) 299-6470/Email: joe_caliendo@yahoo.com and
Web site: www.democratscalling.blogspot.com.

CALIENDO CALLS SODON ON TOWNSHIP WORK

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): The chairman of the Middletown Democratic Party, Joe Caliendo, is criticizing the fact that the Republican candidate for Committee this year, Tim Sodon, is a municipal contractor.

“In Middletown, it has become a practice for vendors here, people whose businesses make money from the town, to hold office as elected officials,” Caliendo said. “This is despite the fact that this practice is inherently flawed and dangerous to the taxpayers.”

Sodon Electric, whose owner is Tim Sodon, does municipal work not only at the Banfield Cultural Arts Center, but also works for the township’s Roads Department.

“No candidate and no elected official in this township should own a firm that does business with this township,” Caliendo said. “The practice of electing and appointing vendors to office has left Middletown with a party boss, Peter Carton, who is in-charge of bond work for his company and that company has the bond work in Middletown. Mr. Carton also sits on the Sewer Authority, drawing pay and benefits (including retirement benefits), and he selects the Republican candidates for office and they become the committee people. As if this wasn’t bad enough, Mr. Carton even has one of the lawyers at his law firm, Brian Nelson, sitting on the Sewer Authority.”

Caliendo said, “How far is this going to go? Mr. Sodon will not debate in public. He has not said he will give up the township work. At what point will the Republican Party here in Middletown stop playing the ‘Good Ol’ Boys’ game?”

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