31 Important Questions Kelly Yaede Should've Answered before Election Day

We realize that Ms Yaede’s opponents have asked her a lot of questions. But we seem unable to find answers to any of those questions, with the slight exception of the answers that were on Yaede’s note cards at the 3 debates/forums. So despite the obvious rhetorical nature of this exercise we thought we would share some questions that we wished had been answered so a voter could have been more informed about Ms. Yaede, her thoughts, policies and visions for the future of Hamilton.

Is Fred Yaede retired from his inspections job in Hamilton Township?  If so why has he reportedly been walking about the Hamilton Municipal Building with such great frequency?

Is Fred Yaede on the ballot today or does a vote for Kelly get us Fred and Kelly Yaede running Hamilton Township?

The Township Public Safety Commission Ordinance is available online and plainly states its purpose as an advisory Board only to the Mayor. So why did Yaede misrepresent its purpose and attempt to pit her accusers against the police?

How in the world could Yaede vote to for the formation of the Public Safety Advisory Commission and each of its members and then actively obstruct its meetings?  Is the sense of power that corrupting?

Does Yaede in her wildest dreams believe that she is even remotely qualified to be the Public Safety Director of a town as large as Hamilton?  Hamilton is not a farm community.  It has 90,000 residents, 169 police officers with various levels of specialized training, all of whom are trained to carry weapons to protect and serve Hamiltonians.  What talent has Ms Yaede hidden from us that qualifies her to manage the 169 officers and to protect and serve us?

Why is it that we keep hearing reports of Yaede showing up at police calls and crime scenes when a civilian Public Safety Director is clearly prohibited from meddling at police crime scenes or police operations?

How much did that specially outfitted SUV cost the taxpayer?

Why does Yaede have police equipment in her SUV when it too, is clearly prohibited for civilian Public Safety directors?

If Yaede was insistent on playing Public Safety Director shouldn’t she at least have followed the Faulkner Act and the state statutes outlined therein and formally nominated herself, subjecting the nomination to public comment and Council approval as is required for all Director’s positions?

The 10 meetings of the PSAC actually brought up many serious issues, thoughts and ideas. How could Yaede put the safety of Policemen, Firemen and Hamiltonians at risk by ignoring and not acting on those issues?

What is the total number of Police vehicles that are inoperable or non functional and why have they been hidden behind the Police Station for months if not years?

Why were the residents of Golden Crest not notified of the wave of home invasions in their neighborhood until well after many of the crimes had been committed?

Why was the Township reverse 911 system not used to inform the Golden Crest residents of the ongoing crime spree in their Neighborhood?

Why were Ms Yaede and Chief Collins both absent from the neighborhood crime meeting held after the home invasions in Golden Crest? Perhaps there was just a little too much heat in the kitchen.

Why is it that Yaede disputes a gang problem in Hamilton, yet her own government applied for a grant to fight gang related crime and the Public Safety Commission expressed its concerns about gangs in Hamilton at 3 meetings?

When will Yaede address the rampant increase in violent crime in Hamilton, particularly the armed robberies, assaults and 13 shootings?

Why is it so difficult for Yaede to admit that her 2013 Budget is filled with 4.5 million of one time non repeatable revenues; or gimmicks as her opponents have called them?  Can’t she just speak and tell the truth.  The document is one that is on the website and the budget clearly outlines the one time fixes. Stop insulting the voters; some of us can read a budget!

When, if ever will Kelly talk about taxes in terms of her entire tenure on Council rather then the insulting 5 year repeating record? Give the folks all the facts and let them decide if the huge tax increase in 2008 that she voted for, was necessary.

Why did Yaede promise to disclose all of her contributions when asked a donation question by a reporter this past summer and not follow up by doing so?  It leaves inquiring minds to assume that the $20k plus that was transferred into her account was either from the 2 big illegal contributors, Birdsall or Marliese Ljuba.

Does Yaede truly believe it is appropriate to accept a $1k contribution from a waste company that is awarded a $13 Million dollar contract just 2 months later?

Did Ms Yaede think she could be perceived as an impartial arbiter of the Italian American Club development plan submitted by Sharbell when she accepted a $1,000 contribution from the developer both before and after her decision?

If Yaede is such a beacon for ethics how could she not act upon the sworn testimony of Marliese Ljuba saying she gave Councilmen Kenny and Pone over $10k in cash? Ask them to either take a polygraph or resign if they failed or refused to do so.

In the Trentonian online debate the candidates were asked about the perceived massive capital improvements needed in Hamilton’s schools and its infrastructure and whether they would support school improvements. Yaede’s answer was it depends on the curriculum. What does curriculum have to do with crumbling old buildings and the need to keep our children safe?

Does Yaede really believe that the Morrison firm that has audited both the Town and BOE books for years qualifies as an independent auditor? Did she really expect him to announce his own mistakes?  Independent to most of us seems to suggest at a minimum a fresh set of eyes.

The entire Township understands that there were some financial irregularities regarding Mayor Bencivengo and his accounts.  So why did Yaede support bringing Benci’s campaign treasurer, Rich Sereni, out of retirement and place him back in the Township finance office?

There is a perception that most of the new businesses in Hamilton are small businesses that will bring insufficient ratables to offset the businesses that have closed or left town. Rather then throwing random numbers about business openings, why did Yaede not provide documentation of the NET business growth or reduction and what value it will translate to in future tax revenues for the Budget?

If Ms Yaede believes in an open door government why was she unable during her 6 years on Council and 1 year as Mayor to ever get the Council meetings televised so residents could see their government at work?

Why does it take nearly 4 months to get Council meeting minutes up on the Township website and why are some meeting minutes selectively missing?

Why doesn’t Ms Yaede consult with one of her 2 full-time Township attorney’s about the application of Township Ordinances and be reminded that her temporary executive position does not permit her to ignore at her whim their application.  Hold meetings for all approved Township Commissions!

What has Kelly Yaede ever done?  We are aware of her finally crafted image.  She loves Hamilton, went to Nottingham HS; praises the Azalea Festival & Septemberfest and smiles and wishes people happy birthday. But, can anyone actually articulate a single accomplishment of hers?

Has Ms. Yaede ever had an original idea? She always seems to be riding the coat tails of someone but never presents any original thoughts. 

Does Kelly Yaede ever speak a contemporaneous phrase or sentence? She seems to always require her little note cards to remember anything?

If in fact Ms Yaede is under some sort of FBI Gag Order and unable to talk to any residents, the media or respond to taxpayer concerns, then we apologize for our expressed frustration at the silence that has pervaded when a question has been posed to her. 

We believe residents and taxpayers disserve these answers and the opportunity to hear the Mayor’s thoughts and not those of her surrogates.!!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Top 10 Reasons to REJECT ED GORE'S Candidacy

Mr. Gore distinguishes himself a bit over his colleagues Kenny and Pone.  Gore apparently did not take any recordable $$$ from Mar Ljuba nor was he accused of being bribed in Bencivengo’s federal corruption trial. Gore did take Birdsall money, but he was the least of the offenders, only taking $250 of the illegal contributions. Also, it must be said that Gore finally saw the light about granting contracts to Birdsall after the scandal broke and the firm was indicted. He voted against the last Birdsall contract, unlike Messrs Kenny and Pone.  Unlike Mr. Pone, Gore is generally a gentleman when addressing the public. He seems to give honest reflection to matters before him. Yet he possesses one consistent huge character flaw. Mr. Gore fails is in his ability to be truthful and forthright about the difficult issues.

1.  Ethics violation. Mr. Gore previously served on the Hamilton Board of Education, yet Gore rarely mentions his BOE tenure.  Mr. Gore was the subject of a formal Complaint to the NJ School Ethics Commission regarding his official behavior, while a member of the Board. The School Ethics Commission determined that Gore while a member of the Hamilton BOE had violated NJSA 18-A:12-24b of the School Ethics Act, and he was ordered to be publicly CENSURED.  Gore’s ethical failings were egregious. He used his position on the Board to secure the home addresses of district employees and used that information for his own personal political purposes. Gore sent employees a letter under his signature as the BOE vice president, threatening their jobs if they did not vote for the Board candidates Gore had endorsed.

2. Continued Denial.  People make mistakes. If Gore had acknowledged his mistake, apologized to the victims and sought forgiveness we also may have been in a forgiving mode. Rather than admitting his error and apologizing for his acts, Mr. Gore continued to deny that he had committed any impropriety and appealed the decision to the Commissioner of Education and the State School Board.  Both parties rejected Gore's analysis and strongly affirmed the ethical failings and Ordered that Gore be Censured. (See the links to Gore’s Censure at the top left of our site).

3. Refusal to tell truth. At the HHW debate Gore said he was a little fuzzy about his public censure and that he thought his actions to help some people were misinterpreted. Once again he avoided an opportunity to tell the truth. Mr. Gore breached the public trust when he advanced his own personal political agenda.  Gore’s ethical failure, his continued refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of his wrongdoing and apologize for his actions, renders him unfit for any public office.

4. According the Newark Star Ledger database of Birdsall engineering’s illegal campaign donations, Gore received $250 of illegal donations for one event. http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/secret_list_birdsall_donations.html

5.  Publicly available ELEC filings do not show that Mr. Gore has returned or donated the ill begotten gains from the illegal donations. http://www.elec.state.nj.us/publicinformation/viewreports.htm

6.  When asked directly about the Birdsall $$, Gore gave a half hearted answer saying he did not remember who contributed to his campaign. An apparent effort to avoid the truth.  If he had been honest, frankly we could have given him a pass. Trentonian 6/24/13
 

7.  Like his compatriots Kenny and Pone, Gore regularly voted to give Birdsall and other questionable engineering contracts to 2 other contributors totaling nearly $1 million dollars, even after his campaign and those of his colleagues had received the illegal funds. Trentonian 1/14/13.  Examine Hamilton Council Minutes from 2009 -2012.  http://www.hamiltonnj.com/content/83868/83968/85141/default.aspx

8.  Gore like Kenny, Pone and yes Ms. Yaede participated in a non public meeting of the full Hamilton Council on Nov 15, 2013   for the purpose of discussing and plotting the selection of Hamilton’s next Mayor, even before Bencivengo was convicted.  Councilman Meara was present at the meeting and said it violated the NJ Sunshine Act. (Trentonian 12/1/2012).  Former Councilman Capodanno filed a State Ethics Complaint because of the Sunshine violation. (Trentonian 2/25/2013) Public officials should conduct the people’s business in the light of day at properly advertised meetings rather then in private back rooms.

9.  Gore like Kenny, Pone and Yaede ran away from the Hamilton corruption scandal when he voted to disband the Township Local Ethics Board at a time when the Board should have been empowered to hear resident’s complaints about municipal corruption, conflicts of interest, illegal campaign donations, OPRA, Sunshine Act violations and pay-to-play contracts in Hamilton. Hamilton Council Minutes page 15, March 19, 2013, (Trentonian 3/5/13 and 3/19/13).

10. Mayor Bencivengo is in jail.  Former Hamilton Director, Rob Warney is in jail. Former Mercer GOP Chair and Hamilton Director of Recreation, Cathy Tramontana was fired. Gore received $250 of illegal campaign contributions directed by another former Mercer County GOP Chairman and indicted engineering firm.  Disbanding the Local Ethics Board in the midst of the largest scandal in Hamilton history and the unacknowledged serious ethical breach are serious errors. THE STENCH of the CLOUD OF CORRUPTION must be completely swept out of the Hamilton Township and the people’s Municipal Building.

 

 

Top Ten + 1 Reasons to Reject Dennis Pone’s Candidacy

1. Did Marliese Ljuba funnel over $10k in cash to the Pone Kenny campaign?  She says she did and she said it under oath in a Federal Courthouse while under the threat of perjury.

2. Pone like Kenny says he never took $$$ from Ljuba, but his June 22, 2009 ELEC filing says otherwise.  Why would Mr. Pone hide or misrepresent the apparent Ljuba donation?

3. According the Newark Star Ledger database of Birdsall engineering’s illegal campaign donations, Pone benefitted from $2,500 of illegal donations over the course of 4 separate events. http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/secret_list_birdsall_donations.html

4.  Publicly available ELEC filings do not show that Mr. Pone has returned or donated the ill begotten gains from the illegal donations. http://www.elec.state.nj.us/publicinformation/viewreports.htm

5.  Dennis Pone still has not been honest with Hamilton Voters and acknowledged his receipt of the dirty Birdsall money!

6.  Like his compatriot Kenny, Pone repeatedly voted to give Birdsall over $300,000 in Township contracts, even after his campaign had received the illegal funds. Examine Hamilton Council Minutes from 2009 -2012. http://www.hamiltonnj.com/content/83868/83968/85141/default.aspx

7.  Even after the Birdsall scandal was disclosed by statewide media reports and after Birdsall and its executives were indicted...Dennis Pone steadfastly supported his campaign contributor by voting yet again for another Birdsall contract. Hamilton Council Minutes page 15, Dec 4, 2012

8.  Pone like Kenny participated in a non public meeting of the full Hamilton Council on Nov 15, 2013   for the purpose of discussing and plotting the selection of Hamilton’s next Mayor even before Bencivengo was convicted.  Councilman Meara was present at the meeting and said it violated the NJ Sunshine Act. (Trentonian 12/1/2012).  Former Councilman Capodanno filed a State Ethics Complaint because of the Sunshine violation. (Trentonian 2/25/2013) Public officials should conduct the people’s business in the light of day at properly advertised meetings rather then in private back rooms.

9. Pone like Kenny ran away from the Hamilton corruption scandal when he voted to disband the Township Local Ethics Board at a time when the Board should have been empowered to hear resident’s complaints about municipal corruption, conflicts of interest, illegal campaign donations, OPRA, Sunshine Act violations and pay-to-play contracts in Hamilton. Hamilton Council Minutes page 15, March 19, 2013, (Trentonian 3/5/13 and 3/19/13).

10. Mr. Pone is often snide and some would say down right arrogant with his commentary on Council.  His behavior is never more apparent then when he has heard enough from a resident questioning the Mayor or Council.  His arrogance however spilled over at several Council meetings when he chastised and belittled the impassioned pleas from residents opposed to the proposed development of the Italian American Sportsman’s Club. His refusal to acknowledge the clear conflict of the Township soliciting an “impartial” opinion about the site from a member of the same IASC was incredible.  To berate the Council President’s brother, who resides in that neighborhood, during the process left us stunned.  Elected officials must be respectful of those they serve at all times, regardless of the differences in opinions.  Mr. Pone was also quoted in a periodical as believing that Hamilton is not representative of a democracy, rather he views it as a republic empowering him to govern as he sees fit.  Mr. Pone is wrong and has failed the test of being a representative to the people.

11. Mayor Bencivengo is in jail.  Former Hamilton Director, Rob Warney is in jail. Former Mercer GOP Chair and Hamilton Director of Recreation, Cathy Tramontana was fired.  $2,500 of Illegal campaign contributions directed by another former Mercer County GOP Chairman and indicted engineering firm.  Disbanding the Local Ethics Board in the midst of the largest scandal in Hamilton history and the insensitivity to those he serves. Allegations of a bag of cash from a government witness.  Sunshine Act Complaints. THE STENCH of the CLOUD OF CORRUPTION must be completely swept out of the Hamilton Township and the people’s Municipal Building.

Yaede's - Ljuba's - Pone - Kenny & Bencivengo Picture Gallery

Pictures of our GOP elected officials from days gone bye. But they hardly new each other!

Marliese Ljuba, Kelly Yaede & Fred Yaede
on stage at GOP event

Marliese Ljuba & Councilman Pone yucking it up
at Hamilton Twp Republican Club function!

                            
                  Benci & Council in celebration mode when
                  they were all fast friends running Hamilton

                         Benci & Pone in happier times - pre FBI
                         & Dennis forgetting John's name   


                           

!

 

Marliese Ljuba’s Evolution in Hamilton & the Friends She Acquired Over 17 Years

By all accounts Marliese Ljuba arrived in Hamilton in 1996 when she 1^st received a contract with the Hamilton BOE.  It’s been rumored that she was introduced to the power brokers in Hamilton, as well as to the Board of Education by current School Board candidate Tony Celentano who was also a member of the BOE in 1996. Ljuba was employed by Madison Consulting Group in 1996.

On Jan 31, 1996 Ms Ljuba’s company was approved as the insurance broker to service the Hamilton Board in the areas of health insurance and prescription benefits. Ironically, the motion to approve Madison and Ljuba was moved by Joe Tramontana, who is currently the suspended Business Administrator for the Hamilton BOE, likely in no small part because of his relationship with Ljuba 16 years later.  Interestingly the 2^nd on the motion was cast by none other then current councilman, Ed Gore. That maneuver was just 9 months before Gore became embroiled in his own ethics scandal as a Hamilton Board member. Gore was eventually Censured by the School Ethics Commission, the Commissioner of Education and the State School Board. See our link at the top left of this Blog.  Surprisingly, Tramontana, voted against Ljuba’s appointment but Gore and Celentano voted aye.

So 17 years later the chairs on the deck have been shuffled, but literally the names remain the same.  Even Ms. Yaede approved several of Ljuba’s initial jobs with the Board of Education during her 3 year tenure as a Board member. Marliese Ljuba, Ed Gore, Cathy and Joe Tramontana, Kelly Yaede and Tony Celentano all have known each other for the better part of 17 years.  Yet, most of them could not run away from the Ljuba association fast enough when the water was rising.

Through the years Ms. Ljuba embedded herself in Hamilton Republican politics. She changed jobs several times but the Hamilton BOE always hired her firm as its broker. Councilman Kevin Meara was quoted in a May 2012 Times story saying Ljuba was involved in Bencivengo’s 2007 campaign and helped organize the republican victory party. Ljuba made herself a player in local politics through regular attendance at various Hamilton Republican political events and through her consistent financial contributions and Yaede confirmed that Ljuba attended Bencivengo’s last mayor’s Ball.  Times 5/3/12.   NJ ELEC reports confirm and various media outlets have reported that through the years Ljuba contributed substantial sums to Bencivengo, the Hamilton Republican Committee and the Mercer County Republican Committee.

When John Bencivengo and Kelly Yaede celebrated their election in 2011, Marliese Ljuba joined them on stage at the victory celebration.  Times 5/2/13.  It is now more then just a little unbelievable to imagine that Ms. Yaede, and Messrs Kenny, Pone and Gore hardly knew Hamilton’s former GOP starlet.  The relationships Ljuba built during her 17 years in Hamilton, not only made her well know, it made her a star in GOP circles.  Now that the star has fallen this year’s republican slate would like us to forget the Hamilton corruption scandal and their cozy relationship with the Government’s star witness.

Top Ten + 1 reasons to Reject Dave Kenny’s Candidacy

1. Did Marliese Ljuba funnel over $10k in cash to the Kenny campaign?  She says she did and she said it under oath in a Federal Courthouse under the threat of perjury. 

 

2. Kenny says he never took $$$ from Ljuba, but his June 22, 2009 ELEC filing says otherwise.  Why would Kenny hide or misrepresent the apparent Ljuba donation?

 

3. According the Newark Star Ledger database of Birdsall engineering’s illegal campaign donations, Kenny’s campaign was the recipient of $2,200 of illegal donations over the course of 3 separate events. . http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/secret_list_birdsall_donations.html

 4.  Publicly available ELEC filings do not show that Kenny has returned or donated the ill begotten gains from the illegal donations. http://www.elec.state.nj.us/publicinformation/viewreports.htm

5.  Kenny still has not been honest with Hamilton Voters and acknowledged his receipt of the dirty Birdsall money!

6.  Kenny repeatedly voted to give Birdsall over $300,000 in Township contracts, even after his campaign had received the illegal funds. Examine Hamilton Council Minutes from 2009 -2012. http://www.hamiltonnj.com/content/83868/83968/85141/default.aspx

7.  Even after the Birdsall scandal was disclosed by statewide media reports and after Birdsall and its executives were indicted...Kenny voted yet again for another Birdsall contract. Hamilton Council Minutes page 15, Dec 4, 2012

8.  Kenny participated in a non public meeting of the full Hamilton Council on Nov 15, 2013   for the purpose of discussing and plotting the selection of Hamilton’s next Mayor even before Bencivengo was convicted.  Councilman Meara was present at the meeting and said it violated the NJ Sunshine Act. (Trentonian 12/1/2012).  Former Councilman Capodanno filed a State Ethics Complaint because of the Sunshine violation. (Trentonian 2/25/2013) Public officials should conduct the people’s business in the light of day at properly advertised meetings rather then in private back rooms.

9. Kenny voted to disband the Township Local Ethics Board at a time when the Board should have been empowered to hear resident’s complaints about municipal corruption, conflicts of interest, illegal campaign donations, OPRA, Sunshine Act violations and pay-to-play contracts in Hamilton. Hamilton Council Minutes page 15, March 19, 2013, (Trentonian 3/5/13 and 3/19/13).

10. Our sources tell us that Kenny, an attorney, has asked that his name be submitted for a Judgeship.  That process is apparently currently underway.  This means that if Mr. Kenny were to get his judge position, he would not serve out his term, even if elected. Politicians should be honest with the voters and tell them if they do not intend to complete the term they seek.  In this case Kenny has failed the test.

11. Mayor Bencivengo is in jail.  Former Hamilton Director, Rob Warney is in jail. Former Mercer GOP Chair and Hamilton Director of Recreation, Cathy Tramontana was fired.  Receipt of Illegal campaign contributions directed by another former Mercer County GOP Chairman and indicted engineering firm.  Disbanding the Local Ethics Board in the midst of the largest scandal in Hamilton history. Allegations of a bag of cash from a government witness.  Sunshine Act Complaints. THE CLOUD OF CORRUPTION must be completely swept out of the Hamilton Township and the people’s Municipal Building.

Hamilton's Public Safety Advisory Commission - The Rest of the Story - Shocking!

Fred Yaede, or the suppression of any mention of Gangs in Hamilton, may be the most important public safety issues in Hamilton Township! Sounds, strange, but as you read on sadly you are sure to understand.

The Public Safety Advisory Commission was unanimously approved by Hamilton Council on May 6. 2008. Ms Yaede moved the motion for approval which was unanimously approved by Council, including Messrs Kenny and Pone. The record of this vote appears on page 40 of the Council minutes of that date. Thereafter, Ms, Yaede voted yes for the appointment of each and every member of the PSAC that was brought before her.

The Ordinance establishing the PSAC, Ord. No. 08-026, states its purpose is to “act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and make recommendations for the development of policies and procedures in general to improve the state of public safety of the community.” Any statement or representation by Ms. Yaede, Chief Collins or any of their surrogates alleging this Commission’s purpose is “public oversight over the police department” is just an unequivocal, purposeful misrepresentation or as it is called on the street, a big LIE, or horse manure. 

The Public Safety Advisory Commission ordinance can be found at Sec 2-820.36 in Hamilton’s Code of Ordinances. The Commission per the ordinance “shall meet monthly at a time and place determined by the membership.” These meetings are not optional.  An approved ordinance is the law until modified or revoked and is not to be selectively enforced at the whim of any elected official. When information was previously requested regarding the Commission, incomplete records were provided by the Township with numerous meeting minutes missing. It begs the question, are they covering something up?  Have the records been removed or destroyed?

The PSAC met 10 times. It did serious work and made meaningful recommendations to Mayor Bencivengo.  Just a portion of the minutes show it addressed the police computer system; workload and manpower efficiency; the necessity to replace the radio system by 2013; problems with the TKR radio tower; and radio interoperability problems. It wasn’t until the Commission breached four hot button issues that it got serious push back and effectively shut down.

The critical issues that apparently offended our elected officials or at least one of them, Ms Yaede:  the repeated mention of gangs in Hamilton during meetings 4-6;  a series of problems within the Fire Districts and the mention of the “consolidation”; an admission by Business Administrator, John Ricci that there is no accounting of the Fire District tax monies collected  by the Township; and finally perhaps most important to our newly appointed Mayor, the possible mention of  Fred Yaede.

With the serious nature of all the issues mentioned in the prior paragraphs you likely think we jest when we mention Fred Yaede.  Sadly, we are not jesting. Just the poor, pitiful truth that a sitting member of Council would demand to know if the Township’s Public Safety Advisory Commission “discussed her father at October’s meeting”.  See email dated Wed. Nov 10, 2010 regarding PSAC October minutes addressed to PSAC members. Apparently, with all the issues mentioned by the PSAC, with all the crime in Hamilton, with a documented gang problem, the most important issue for our Mayor is nepotism and protecting her father’s position as a paid Fire Commissioner.

Pitiful, selfish, juvenile, immature, misguided, inappropriate, are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when describing Ms. Yaede’s apparent motivations. Is Fred Yaede, the mention of gangs in Hamilton or breaching the possible consolidation of Fire Districts really more important then all of the PSAC's recommendations?  Is Kelly Yaede really qualified to be the Mayor and leader of New Jersey’s 8^th largest town?

 

YAEDE'S Dubious $$$ -Contracts-Conflicts of Interest

Ms. Yaede has been bragging about her tough stance on ethics in Hamilton.  But, there are multiple examples of Yaede’s questionable ethics that make us a bit squeamish.  Yaede has a clear pattern of rewarding large contributors with Township contracts and then skirting the Hamilton pay-to play laws and ignoring conflicts of interest.  Examine the contributions below from Yaede's ELEC reports:

August 31, 2011 – Sean’s Landscaping- $2,500 – to Yaede for Council

March 27, 2013 – Sean’s Landscaping - $2,500 – to Yaede for Council
March 25, 2013 – Central Jersey Waste - $1,000 –to Yaede for Mayor
March 25, 2013 –Rusling Hose Company- $400- to Yaede for Mayor
June 29, 2011 –   Sharbell Building Co. - $1,000 to Yaede for Council
April 4, 2013 -    Sharbell Building Co.-   $1,000 to Yaede for Mayor
April 13, 2013 – Brenda Hoffman -           $200 – to Yaede for Mayor
April 13, 2013–  Chief James W. Collins-  $200 -to Yaede for Mayor

Sean’s Landscaping was given a $40,000 Township contract on November 11, 2012.  Kelly Yaede voted for the contract benefiting her campaign donor rather than to disqualify herself; then Sean's donated another $2,500 to Yaede's Mayor campaign.  Central Jersey Waste was awarded a 5 year - $13.8 Million dollar contract on June 18, 2013, less then 2 months after donating $1,000 to the Mayor’s campaign.

Hamilton Fire Companies raise funds via a fire tax on its residents. Is it appropriate for Yaede to collect partisan political contributions from a public entity supported by your tax dollars? Brenda Hoffman is the wife of Hamilton Township Chief Municipal Judge, R. Douglas Hoffman. Should Yaede be accepting donations from the wife of the Chief Judge whose appointment is made by the Mayor? Hamilton’s website says the Hamilton Municipal Court is an “independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the fair and just resolution of disputes”. Than why is Yaede accepting monetary contributions from the Judge’s family. Chief James Collins is the highest ranking police office in Hamilton. He is entrusted with leading a police force to protect and serve all Hamilton residents. Is it appropriate for the interim Mayor to solicit or accept political donations from the Chief of Police?

Yaede was appointed to a Council sub-committee in 2012 by Council president Meara, to investigate the complexities and irregularities perceived by residents with the proposed Sharbell development of the Italian American Sportsmen Club. She accepted the appointment and co-authored a report beneficial to the developer. Sharbell had already donated $1,000 to Yaede’s campaign and after the report donated another $1,000 to her Mayoral campaign.  Shouldn’t Ms. Yaede have declined to participate in an investigation of her contributor?

Why is it that Ms. Yaede cannot seem to comprehend what a conflict of interest is?  Why does she consistently cast votes for and exercise judgments for her political contributors? If Yaede’s actions were acceptable to our current leaders; Hamilton’s Ethics rules and its pay- to play laws need to have a few more teeth put into them!!!!!!!!!

Kenny, Pone & Marliese Ljuba-Truth or Consequences

Dave Kenny is an attorney who has served on Hamilton’s Council since 2006 with his running mate Dennis Pone. Marliese Ljuba was the US government’s star witness in the corruption trial that resulted in the convictions of Mayor John Bencivengo and Hamilton Director, Rob Warney. Kenny and Pone were on Council during Bencivengo’s entire tenure as Mayor. They would have Hamilton voters believe that they never saw anything improper and were unaware of any of the illegalities relating to Ms. Ljuba’s bribery scheme that took down 3 Hamilton officials. Kenny and Pone have stated repeatedly that they never received any funds from Marliese Ljuba and were never influenced by any campaign donations from Birdsall Engineering.

Public records show that the Kenny, Pone 2009 campaign received $2200 of Illegal campaign donations funneled through Birdsall Engineering.  Despite their assertions to the contrary, NJ ELEC reports show the Kenny, Pone campaign received funds from Ljuba or someone residing in her home. A June 22, 2009 post primary filing by the Kenny, Pone campaign lists an April 2009 contribution received from a Bear Delaware address, the same address reported to Ljuba on numerous other ELEC filings. It is most interesting that the Ljuba name was omitted from the ELEC filing.

Ljuba testified under oath during the Bencivengo trail that she funneled $11,000 to Kenny and Pone in a bag of cash. The Trenton Times reported on February 27, 2013, that Ljuba had entered into a Consent Order with the State of New Jersey wherein she admitted to wrongdoing and surrendered her insurance broker’s license. The Times reported that “In the consent order and during Bencivengo’s trial Ljuba said she funnelled $11,000 to the 2006 campaign of Councilmen Dennis Pone, Dave Kenny”.

Both Kenny and Pone have denied Ljuba’s testimony is true.  Why would a sworn witness, under the penalty of perjury lie about funneling cash to 2 Councilmen who were not even the subject of the government’s investigation?  If any of you were falsely accused of corrupt behavior wouldn’t you attempt to prove your innocence?  Would you sue the person making the allegation, particularly if you were a seasoned trial attorney?  If you were a public official like Kenny and Pone, perhaps you would even submit to a lie detector test to clear your name. To the best of our knowledge the Kenny, Pone response was to just shout loudly that they had never received money from Ljuba. At a minimum, the NJ ELEC records their campaign filed suggest they are wrong!

 

 

 

 

Yaede-Christie & Hamilton Police Manpower-Overtime

Governor Christie made a campaign stop in Hamilton Wednesday night doing a meet and greet at Jo Jo’s Tavern. So it begs the question why did Mayor Yaede order 15 Hamilton Township Police officers to work overtime from 6 -9 pm?  Our sources confirm that 15 Hamilton officers in 15 separate police vehicles were ordered to be in the Mercerville area during the period of the Govs Hamilton visit. The last time I checked the NJ State Police were responsible for the Governor’s security and by all accounts Christie’s security detail is quite able and competent.

Several important questions come to mind. Why were an additional 15 officers and vehicles required to be present for the duration of the Governors visit?  What was the cost to the Hamilton Taxpayers for paying 15 officers 3 hours of overtime pay?  Who directed the redistribution of police manpower? Is it appropriate to direct any taxpayer funded assets to benefit a partisan political function?  Finally, if Ms Yaede requested/demanded the extra police presence does she even have the authority to make such a decision as the Mayor and as a civilian Public Safety Director?  For this answer take a peek at our prior post as well as some of the authorities it references. http://hamiltonintegrity.blogspot.com/2013/10/yaedes-police-equipped-suv.html

In these tight budgetary times, less than a week before the election, should our appointed Mayor be wasting thousands of the taxpayer’s hard earned dollars for a political event?  We do not think so.  If Hamilton was spending overtime dollars to increase the police presence, might the manpower and funds have been better spent for township wide safety on mischief night and Halloween?  They could have been distributed to the South Broad St. and Park Ave area where there have been 2 armed robberies in 2 weeks.  Perhaps the extra police could have been placed in the Bromley area where there has been a wave of shootings in the past 6 weeks.  Or maybe the funds could’ve been used to fix the malfunctioning surveillance cameras in the Bromley area.  Our sources suggest that law enforcement may have had video of several of the Bromley shooters and hard evidence of those crimes, if those Bromley cameras were operating properly at the time of the shootings.

Ms Yaede, tell the truth to Hamiltonians about the rising violent crime and end your silence regarding the shootings, armed robberies, assaults and gangs in Hamilton. If, you are insistent on playing Public Safety Director, then lead, instead of being a mime in a silent film.


Ms Yaede, stop the partisan politics on the taxpayer’s dime!  Stop playing cop when you do not possess an ounce of law enforcement experience or police training and stop interfering in police operations.

 

 

 

 

ED GORE Ethical Failings & Censure- Part II

In Part I of our post regarding Ed Gore’s ETHICAL failings we highlighted the decision to publicly censure him for his actions as a member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education. In his appeal of the State Ethics Commission decision, Gore expressed concern about the Censure sullying his reputation in the Hamilton community.  He used every procedural ploy, twice filing appeals to delay the decisions for nearly 8 months. It shocks the conscience that Mr. Gore never grasped the nature and magnitude of his purposeful acts. Gore ever apologized for his actions and the negative impact his intimidating actions had on Hamilton BOE employees. Instead, Gore argued that the addresses of Board employees were public information and his 1^st Amendment right to free speech permitted him to send the intimidating letter in an attempt to sway votes and influence the election outcome.

The State School Board was so shocked by Gore’s behavior they said the following:

Gore obtained the information solely for his own political purposes....the inappropriateness of his conduct is aptly demonstrated by the fact that the letter was constructed so as to convey the initial impression that it related to official Board business and was sent out...over Mr. Gore’s signature as Vice President of the Hamilton Board of Education. The sanction is for using his position as a member of the district board of education to obtain the home address of vulnerable employees in order to send them a targeted letter to solicit votes for the candidates he supported.

Mr. Gore... has not yet acknowledged the impropriety of his conduct or comprehended its seriousness. It is critical that members of district boards recognize the importance of maintaining public confidence in them. Central to this is the ability and desire to conform their conduct to the standards set forth in the School Ethics Act. There is no question that Mr. Gore failed to do so in this instance and that the imposition of a sanction is necessary in order to impress upon him the seriousness of this failure.

Yet, at a recent debate, we are told that Mr. Gore said he was a little fuzzy about his public censure and that he thought his actions to help some people were misinterpreted. Are you kidding? That response was intentionally evasive and disingenuous. Can any reasonable, honest person misinterpret the scalding language of the sanction? Then the Hamilton Republicans have the nerve to have Gore speak about ETHICS in their online commercial!

Mr. Gore breached the public trust placed in him when he advanced his own personal political agenda. Mr. Gore, admit the TRUTH! Acknowledge your bad act!! And apologize to the victims of your actions & the voters of Hamilton!!!  Otherwise, you are not worthy of any public office!!!! Mr. Gore’s ethical failures, his refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of his wrongdoing and apologize for his actions, should render him unfit for any public office.

View the State Board of Education Gore decision by clicking the link below:

http://www.nj.gov/education/legal/sboe/1997/gore2.pdf

 

HAMILTON TAXES – Facts & Fictions

Throughout the campaign season there has been much discussion about the taxes in Hamilton, how they became so high, and where Ms Yaede and her Council friends project them to be in the not so distant future. Yaede, Kenny and Pone are fond of touting what they call the “tax stability” they have brought Hamilton residents over the past 5 years. A brief look back at history reminds us that in 2007 former Mayor Bencivengo, and Kelly Yaede were elected and Yaede joined Councilman Kenny and Pone on an all Republican Hamilton Council. That was 6 years ago.  So why do Yaede and her is designated spokesmen only refer to her 5 year record on taxes?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  So here is the picture that will answer the 5 year question. 

In their first year of all republican control, Yaede, Kenny and Pone (Gore was not elected until 2010) raised your taxes by 46%!

The above chart is based upon the documented historical Hamilton Tax Rates.  You would think these rates would be available online at the Township website  http://www.hamiltonnj.com/, but no such luck.  The only rates posted by the appointed Mayor and her rubber stamping running mates are the 2010-2012 tax rates. Not even the current tax rate is available in this election year. I imagine the posted tax rates fit their 5 year argument better than if they provided us with all of the information.

The Bencivengo/Yaede/Kenny/Pone 2008 tax hike yielded the township over $13 Million in additional tax revenues. Mr. Joe Zannoni recently pointed out in his letter to the editor in The Times (see our previous post), the republican crew in our Municipal Building has accrued huge tax revenues on the back of Hamilton residents since the 2008 tax increase. The actual figure of $104,349,231 in budget revenues raised through higher taxation is astounding, particularly after hearing the Hamilton Republican campaign rhetoric of stable taxation.  REALLY?

 

Do Ms. Yaede, and her surrogates really believe Hamilton residents cannot count back 6 years?  We are still feeling the pain of the last major tax increase!!!

 

Hamilton Republicans have a pattern of delivering the bad news after their elections. After each of the past 2 Mayoral elections the Hamilton Republicans raised your taxes; 46% in 2008; 1.87% in 2012.  Will they raise your taxes again next year?  We will have more tomorrow on Yaede’s future tax plans for 2014 and 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamilton Can’t Afford Republican Budgets

The following is a letter to the Trenton Times - Published October 26, 2013

I am struggling to comprehend the logic of the argument that the Republican politicians and supporters in Hamilton Township are making that they have held the line on property taxes. Republicans took control of local government in the 2007 election, based primarily on a claim that there was a $6 million budget shortfall in an $80 million budget. We were told that this 7.5 percent budget gap was caused by a $4 million increase in expenses and a $2 million shortfall in revenue. The Republican administration then raised the tax rate from 0.81 to 1.185. This tax increase resulted in a net inflow of an additional $13 million in tax revenue, an increase of 16.25 percent.

It seems quite disingenuous to now claim that the Republicans held the line on taxes since taking office, when the 2008 tax increase has generated somewhere between $70 million and $100 million in additional tax revenue in the past six years and a proposed $98 million 2014 operating budget. Reducing taxes by $1 million next year seems a rather weak accomplishment, given the budget is now $19 million greater than when they took office.

As an engaged, independent and concerned citizen, I have met and spent time with Democratic mayoral candidate Barbara Plumeri and I am convinced that she and her team are what Hamilton needs to bring honesty, transparency, accountability and integrity back to our local government. Ms. Plumeri owes no favors, is not a career politician and is dedicated to leading Hamilton into the future.

-- Joseph Zannoni,
Hamilton

 

HAMILTON POLS - I See Nothing!!!!

It is well documented that the FBI initiated an investigation into former Mayor Bencivengo, former Director of Engineering and Planning, Rob Warney and the bribes paid out by the government’s star witness and disgraced insurance broker, Marliese Ljuba.  That investigation led to the conviction and incarceration of Bencivengo and Warney, the firing of former Mercer County Republican Chairwoman and Hamilton Director of Recreation, Cathy Tramontana.

Literally, as our newly appointed Mayor was being sworn into office on November 30, 2012, cell phones were beeping with the news that another former Mercer County Republican Chairman, Hamilton Partnership member, Birdsall engineering executive, and nephew to Hamilton’s current Director Michael Angarone; Phil Angarone Jr. had pled guilty for a scheme to funnel illegal campaign donations  to elected officials.

With 3 prominent Hamilton Republicans marching off to jail; 2 former Mercer County Republican Chairs fired or jailed; one would assume that our remaining elected officials would be toeing the line and would be making every effort to appear squeaky clean and avoid any appearance of impropriety.  Well you know what they say happens when you assume?

We have now learned that Yaede, Kenny, Pone and Gore all were beneficiaries of Mr. Angarone and Birdsall engineering’s largesse.  Yaede’s 2011 campaign received $600 of illegal contributions. Pone’s personal campaign fund received $300 and the joint fund for Kenny and Pone received $2200 in illegal donations in 2009. Mr. Gore was not quite as popular, as he only received $250 in illegal Birdsall campaign contributions. The Hamilton Republican Committee was the big winner, receiving $16,750 in illegal donations.

Now put yourself in our stars’ shoes.  With 2 of your former colleagues currently occupying federal prison cells and the former county GOP chairman, veteran Hamilton Republican power broker, Phil Angarone Jr. awaiting his own state reservation; would it be time to fess up; admit to receiving the dirty money; maybe even return it or donate it to some charitable cause? Or would you just remain silent, do nothing and pray that the November 5^th election would hurry up and get here? 

 

What did the Sgt Schultz say?  “I see nothing”!  At least Hogan’s Heroes was a comedy.  This, I am afraid, is a tragedy for Hamilton and all of its residents that have watched the reputation of their hometown be severely besmirched. 

Verify the illegal donations to your Hamilton politicians by clicking on the Star Ledger Chart link to the left, under the heading Birdsall Illegal Contributions.  We will give you more of the story tomorrow.  Stay tuned!!

 

 

The YAEDE CIRCUS-When Will the Ringmaster Speak?

This week, Ms. Yaede has paraded her usual suspects before the online world to attempt to defend an indefensible record. Yet there still have been no responses to pressing township issues by anyone in the Yaede administration. The first mouthpiece to step up, former Councilman and your current Economic Development Director, Michael Angarone.  As noted in a prior post Mr. Angarone has quite a history in Hamilton Republican circles and a well documented proclivity for attacking those with alternative views to his business as usual mantra. It is actually somewhat surprising that he would choose to enter any spirited discussion on the ethical, honest, good government practices of the current administration.  Mr. Angarone was on the Hamilton Partnership with his nephew, former Mercer County Republican Chairman and recently convicted Birdsall executive, Phil Angarone Jr.  Yes, the same Phil Angarone that the NJ Attorney General says spread over $20,000 dollars of illegal campaign contributions to the Hamilton Republican Committee, Ms. Yaede and Messrs Kenny, Pone and Gore.

Just a thought for Mike Angarone, before he sanctimoniously lectures anyone on anything regarding Hamilton government; perhaps he should help the rest of our tight lipped officials find the illegal campaign contributions they received from Mr. Angarone’s Birdsall firm. I am sure all the Birdsall cash had nothing to do with the hundreds of thousands in township contracts our elected officials handed out to Birdsall. For extra credit they could begin to look for the contributions the star witness in the Bencivengo corruption trial, Ms. Ljuba, says she gave to Messrs Kenny and Pone.

Mr. Pone, surrogate #2, ditto for you!  The Hamilton is awaiting your Ljuba disclosure and an answer as to what you did with the $2,500 Birdsall illegally funneled into your 2009 campaign coffers.

Cashel Schmittinger Darvas, a good friend of Ms. Yaede’s, a former campaign aide, and campaign manager for Councilman Gore, now also weighs in as a Yaede surrogate.  I am sure the taxpayers are reassured that the Mayor’s secretary is articulating Township policy.  Not only has Ms Darvas been rewarded with a Township job so has her husband Bruce Darvas.  Mr. Darvas, who to date has not weighed in on behalf of his boss, was formerly a part-time Assistant Township Attorney.  Ms. Yaede saw fit to support his promotion to become the Township’s 2^nd full-time attorney after he also ran Councilman Gore’s campaign.  Just how much of the taxpayer dollars have been delved out to Yaede friends?

Perhaps we would all be better off asking the Mayor’s surrogates, or even her dad, former Township employee Fred Yaede, for our long sought answers.  They all seem to be readily available and slightly more inclined to speak.

 

 

THE YAEDE DELUSION & ILLUSION ON TAXES

Kelly Yaede is suffering from something when it comes to her representations regarding Hamilton Township Taxes. Hopefully, she is just unable to remember that she along with Mr. Pone and Mr. Kenny voted for the LARGEST TAX INCREASE in the history of Hamilton.  Ms Yaede continually refers to taxes over the past 5 years. Perhaps her memory only runs to 2009.  More likely, however, she is intentionally creating the illusion for voters that her tax record is that of a councilwoman that never voted for a tax increase.

In point of fact Yaede has supported 3 tax increases during the past 6 years. Granted the increases for 2012 (1.87%) and 2013 (.7%) were minimal. But, that is only because the 2008 Tax Increase was such a whopper – a 46.29% increase.  The 2008 increase yielded $13,324,000 in additional revenue for the township (see page 11 of the 2008 Budget that is conveniently not online at your Township website). Since 2008 Hamilton has accrued an additional $104,349,231 in tax revenues, on the back of Hamilton residents because it never returned the tax rate to 2007 levels.

Mr. Joe Zannoni submitted a letter to the editor recently pointing out the Hamilton Republican hypocrisy on taxes. Low and behold the Zannoni letter elicited a response from 2 Yaede administration officials. No response from our appointed Mayor, but from 2 of her attack dogs; former Councilman and Director of Economic Development, Mike Angarone, and current Councilman Dennis Pone. Both of Ms Yaede’s mouth pieces continue the effort to confuse the taxpayers. The fictional story continues! Now, according to Pone and Angarone, even though the all republican Council passed the 46% tax increase, it wasn’t their fault!  I have not seen them give it back, have you?

Well, is Ms. Yaede delusional when it comes to taxes? Is she purposely pulling the wool over Hamiltonians eyes to create her illusion? Is she just unable to form an intelligent thought on this issue without fibbing; thus her continued silence. Or, is Yaede perpetuating the big lie to benefit her election and 2 of her running mates, which also voted to raise your taxes and slam your pocketbook in 2008; the 1^st year after the GOP gained control of Hamilton’s government?

By the way, Yaede’s own projections for 2014 and 2015 call for an additional $5.8 Million in tax revenue (see numbered page 1 in the proposed 2013 Budget in the link to the right).  I wonder where she proposes to get that money.  I hope all of your backs can bear even more of the tax burden if the republicans continue to run Hamilton!

 

YAEDE’S SILENCE ON CRIME – SHAMEFUL

Hamilton has had a well publicized rash of crime in recent months. Over 30 home invasions in the Golden Crest section; Ms. Yaede's response - NONE!  A string of armed robberies on  South Broad St.; the un-elected Mayor's response... NOTHING!! A tragic murder in the Deutzville area; Yaede's response - SILENCE!!! 13 shootings in Hamilton since Yaede was appointed Mayor;  the Yaede rsponse..."crime is down in Hamilton"; "Hamilton only has a gang presence not a gang problem".  Really Ms. Yaede??????

I know you are up for election and this time of year is often called the "silly season", but Hamilton residents do not think this is a comedy!  What in the world is a "GANG PRESENCE”?  If you really think that there is a difference between a GANG PRESENCE and a GANG PROBLEM, that alone causes me to question your competence to lead.  A gang presence in Hamilton is ok with you?  You have got to be kidding?

Neither Yaede nor her administration even notified the residents of Golden Crest that there were a rash of break ins in Golden Crest until more than 30 had occurred. Golden Crest residents were justifiably outraged!!  Why weren't flyers distributed in the neighborhood? Why wasn't the reverse 911 system used to notify residents of the crime and the impending danger?  A murder and 13 shootings since Yaede was appointed Mayor.  Her response has been predictable...just more SILENCE.  Shameful.

Hamiltonians are understandably outraged by the interim Mayors lack of comment and response to the crime in Hamilton.  An effective leader stands up and is heard in good times and bad. A leader inspires. A leader does not run and hide during critical moments. Kelly Yaede, you are no leader!!!  Perhaps if you spent more time fighting the crime instead of hiding the non functional Police SUV's , behind the Police Station, all of us would be better off.

 

YAEDE'S POLICE EQUIPPED SUV

Most Hamilton residents probably expect that their Mayor would be driving a township vehicle when on official township business. Would they be surprised, however, if their Mayor drove a police car? No not a marked Hamilton Township black and white, but how about a new SUV fully equipped with a police package. That’s right our newly appointed Mayor has a vehicle with a police radio and some.

Apparently, Ms. Yaede fancies herself as a Hamilton Police officer. The problem with  Yaede's illusion is she is not a sworn police officer and has zero law enforcement experience. Yaede has no training whatsoever with the FBI, NJ State Police, or even a local police academy. Kelly Yaede is a civilian who is completely unqualified to play cop. She just happens to have been appointed Hamilton’s interim Mayor by her 3 running mates, Messrs Kenny, Pone and Gore, who also approved the use of her police equipped vehicle. Ironically, Kenny, Pone, Gore and Yaede provided embattled Mayor Bencivengo with a new 2012 Chevy Tahoe just weeks after he had been arrested and charged with public corruption by the FBI.

Yaede has appointed herself as Hamilton’s Public Safety Director, following in the footsteps of her former running mate, and convicted former Mayor, John Bencivengo. NJ law appears to be abundantly clear barring civilian public safety directors, like Yaede, from having her play police car. The NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police has published a “white paper” outlining Limitations of Authority under NJ Law of Civilian Police / Public Safety Directors. That document sites NJ case law; opinions of the NJ Attorney General and NJ Statutes supporting the prohibition. N.J.S.A. 52:17B-67 specifies that a police officer is “any employee of a law enforcement unit…other than civilian heads thereof.” The Attorney Generals opinion also specifically lists many prohibitions for a civilian Police director, including operating a police vehicle or a vehicle equipped with a police radio.

 How much did our unelected mayor’s perk cost the taxpayers? Why does she insist on travelling in a vehicle prohibited by law? Remember... that absolute power corrupts absolutely!

ED GORE CENSURE by STATE ETHICS COMMISSION - Part I

Ed Gore is a Republican, Hamilton Councilman seeking his 1st full term on Council.  Prior to completing an unexpired term on Council, Mr. Gore previously served on the Hamilton Board of Education. When one reads about Mr. Gore there is little mention of his BOE tenure.  I think we have figured out why.

Mr. Gore was the subject of a formal Complaint to the NJ School Ethics Commission regarding his official behavior while a member of the Board. On November 26,1996, the Ethics Commission determined that Gore while a member of the Hamilton Bd of Ed had violated NJSA 18-A:12-24b of the School Ethics Act by using his position on the Board to secure the home addresses of district employees for the purpose of sending employees an intimidating letter advising them that their jobs could be in jeopardy if they did not vote for the Board candidates Gore had endorsed.

The Ethics Commission recommended that Gore be censured and the NJ Commissioner of Education adopted the Commissions finding & directed that Gore be publicly Censured as a school official having violated the School Ethics Act. Rather than admitting his error and apologizing for his acts, Mr. Gore continued to deny that he had committed any impropriety and appealed the decision to the Commissioner of Education and the State School Board.  Both parties rejected Gore's analysis and affirmed the ethical failings and Ordered that Mr. Gore be Censured and that the censure be read at a Hamilton Township Board of Education meeting.

Do you think Ed Gore learned from his ethical failing?  Does the extreme nature of his abuse of his public office render him unfit to serve the citizens of Hamilton?  Tune in to Part II for the rest of the story.

Here is the link to the full body of the Gore Censure decision.

http://www.nj.gov/education/legal/sboe/1997/gore2.pdf