9:21am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
GOT TO USE THIS SAME COMMENT ON THREE DIFFERENT ARTICLES...AND EVEN I'M GETTING TIRED OF SAYING IT!
Money, money, money, and the Dems don't have it! Look at the money spent of signage and mailers by the Repubs especially in Toms River. Most important is look at the issues. Easy to figure, when Brick had a 25% tax increase, so the Dems took over. TR stayed within the 2% cap and so the incumbents stayed. When a party has been in power, the Repubs in TR, you must then look at what, through their governance, they give to and support organized groups of voters. Seniors, veterans, and especially sports leagues always get what they want...just like girls softball. That is a very powerful system that give a large advantage. When you consider that patronage, with no tax issues, and a large political bankroll (supported by "pay to play" lucrative recycled tax payer dollars contracts), you have an automatic win. The Dems, with their two different groups within, and not enjoying the rewards of incumbency, will never win against that system.

If they both ran as independents it would have been 90% Vicari 10% Rosen.

Mrs. Rosen, you've been involved with politics for as long as Joe Vicari and most of the other non-events sitting on the GOP Board of Freeholders have been in office. In all that time, you have not been able to inspire the voters by a significant margin to vote against candidates that could be replaced by fifth graders on a class assignment. I believe the time has come for you to step back and encourage a couple of up and coming Democrats to run against the two GOP stooges running for re-election as Freeholders in 2012. The two Dems that ran against the 9th District Assembly GOP incumbents in this past election come immediately to mind. They handled themselves very well against their well-funded and well-established GOP opponents. New blood is the only hope the taxpayers have for getting their property tax bills under control. The GOP has nothing to offer in Ocean County on any level except more of the same old, same old, and that has become unforgivably expensive. The best opportunity Ocean County has for a two-party system, hence any property tax relief, is for the Dems to offer something more than their same old, same old that been offered for 20 or 30 years. After all, it's not like the county Democratic Party has anything to lose by trying a fresh approach. And the voters could certainly be inspired if they believed the candidates offered some real hope for change. We’ve been living in the uninspiring same old, same old forever. We need some fresh air.

Let's just say, IMHO, Ocean County is lucky Rosen wasnt elected, sorry but she is not freeholder material.

She needs to pay her own bills, taxes and stay out of the way of working people who get things done, not promises to do...things....later on in life...Let the young get involved in the future of OC....were has bins....2011 College grads, your up ! Pick a good mentor who has/knows how to get things done within the System ....thats half the battle...

Ms Rosen's election record rivals the Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Cubs. Give up running for elective office Michelle.....If you want to continue rattling your saber.....keep going to Freeholder meetings. Ocean County Dems....more intensive vetting is needed on potential candidates.

Both Vicari & Rosen need to take town all their signs that are still littering our roadways.

Think about it: pathetic doesn't even begin to describe the Ocean County Democrats. When someone like Michele Rosen receives their uncontested nomination, you have to wonder if they even have a vetting process. They also do a poor job at promoting their candidates or even criticize the records of their opponents - I never receive mailers from them. It's interesting enough that they are led by someone named "Wyatt Earp", and even more so that you hardly ever see his name in the press.

That said, the incumbents have done an absolutely terrible job. There really should be articles written about the deceitful practices of the Board of Chosen (by George Gilmore) Freeholders. If everyone knew about all of the no-show jobs that they take on for the sole purpose of padding their pensions, every single one of them would have been voted out years ago. There's a disappointing flock mentality among the Freeholders: they vote in unison on every single issue. Finally, how has there not been an uproar over the annual tax hikes and all the government waste that occurs on their watch (i.e. $64 million on an extension at the Ocean County Jail)?

Then there's the disappearing act of the Traditional Republicans of Ocean County. They seemed to be an organized group. They actually fared better against the incumbents than the Democrats. But this year, they failed to run a candidate against Vicari, they don't respond to their e-mails, and even their website has recently been taken down.

Bravo to Mr. O'Callahan. Clearly, he "gets it." The Republicans in Ocean County have done a despicable job of holding down costs and delivering public works and other services. Their creed "doing more with less" is just pure rubbish.

On to Ms. Rosen. Speaking with her is a venture inside the Twilight Zone. She comes off as one of the most chronically angry people I have ever met. Frankly, I do not believe she knows what sparks her anger. And the word "compromise" does not seem to exist in her vocabulary.

Call me a hypocrite, but I voted for her; yes, I did. Mr. Vicari just turns me off big-time. He milks the public payroll and delivers nothing. I make no apologies. It was simply a vote cast for what I perceive the lesser of two evils.

Facts are clear. The Republicans have a boatload of money to placard the County. The Democrats are a splintered group led by two ineffective people- - Ms. Harrison and Mr. Earp. Their track record speaks louder than I ever could.

Ocean County is one screwed-up place. There will never be cost-effective government until the Boss system is smashed.

I for one applaud Ms Rosens tenacity for attending meetings and questioning the status qou. I anxiously await the day the I see the break up of the "Mayors Club" in the county administration building.

However, if we ever want change, I suggest the Democrats filed a candidate with less baggage than Ms Rosen. We have enough officials who cannot handle government finances, why would we elect anyone that cannot handle their own personal finances?

You got to be able to manage your own personal situation before you ask to be elected to run mine!

What doesn't she understand omg lol, its over, take the broom ride back to your cave and mull over your brew .You just don't make it out in the real world of hard core reality of politics. You just don't make the grade short and simple,not the people choice!!!!!!

public misinformation is the main reason one gets in and the other doesn't. Period. Money behind a campaign does not guarantee anything. Information does. Statements carefully placed that hit the right spot. Rosen doesn't have a good track record. And thus, she should let someone else do the campaigning for her. Another candidate could potentially get in, but not her. Info, true or not, is out and she has a slim chance of winning. Vicari is, should we say, fake? He is so rehearsed and fake, he just expects to win. It's not the money. And there are PLENTY of wealthy democrats.....stop thinking just money. It's getting the word out about each other that hits first and stays with the voters. Information.....

Money spent gets the word out, "statements carefully placed that hit the right spot" or the spin "misinformation" So if the Dems ever did actually want to win, they need to pick some new with name recognition and a clean record...so why don't they? And as some one said, there are plenty of wealthy influential Dems in this county that could bring the money. Problem is, it would be their own personal money, not the recycled money funded by the taxpayers through campaign contributions from "pay to play"

...and the patronage they create / receive through taking care of their cronies and the voter groups they cater to, while being the incumbents

My word, its like the Dem's put her there on purpose knowing she has zero shot of EVER winning.How in the world can thos person even think to come back. If I were a leader in the Dem org, I would be like. Lady, you think the fat lady sung like 5 times for you, take a hike will ya!

It is clear that the democrats in Ocean County do not have many viable candidates. Dorothy Ryan of Barnegat was booted from the township committee at her reelection bid. Then, there was substantial publicity after she confessed to police that she vandalized campaign signs during Barnegat's last Board of Education election.

Ms. Rosen, aside from her acerbic personality, had (documented) legal problems concerning monies she owed.

Until and unless the democrats give themselves an honest look-see in the mirror, they will not make headway in Ocean County.

Party leaders Martha Harrison and Wyatt Earp seem ill-equipped to unite and enlarge a party that suffers from lack of funds, lack of cohesiveness, et al.

Shame. They are the republicans true benefactors.

Hey Mac, Good idea but ideological and I doubt a Citizens of Ocean County Party would work. The effort by the Good Ole Boy club to protect their interests is based on nepotism, cronyism, and patronage and their self serving interests because they are protecting their jobs. Its not about politics actually, its their lively hood at stake. What you suggest would be volunteer and without any financial incentive, other than saving on taxes which no one seems to care about. Look to any public BOE, or Council, or Freeholder meeting and see the pathetic attendance! Who would contribute to any such party, and its almost always proven independents don't stand a chance.

Yes, an Ocean County Citizens Party would be a great idea.

Mr. ?, perhaps. However, the very reasons you cite are enough in themselves to successfully make an organized assault on an established party of public parasites. At the local and county level, elephants vs. donkeys have no meaning period, outside of well-financed special interests that pay for the campaigns. A local county political party would start out only serving local interests that neither major political party has served. It wouldn't be that costly to start, but its success would depend on how well the leadership could inspire the voters to help themselves. All it takes is hitting the correct nerve at the right time with a viable solution. It's unlikely a Democratic Party is going to make a difference here. Maybe the citizens and their supporters vs. the established politicians and their supporters can change our way of life as it is now. If the best we can do is the one-party system of Ocean County, then America's best years are behind her.

I was made aware of what coffers the Stafford GOP had to run
an uncontested John Spodofora for mayor and connected Henry
Mancini, someone who has extensive connections to the Ocean County
GOP. Stafford GOP based upon a fundraising contact had over
$50,000-- to campaign. The Democrats who I occasionally supported
against the Block Team, selected Michele Rosen someone who to date
has not represented any party that I knew from years of working in
politics ... folks would certainly vote for new blood if it were ever to show
up in this region ... you need only follow the money and the jobs
many of which were selected by a well heeled party such as the OC-GOP.
Developers, Engineering and Legal firms based upon records have
made it possible to run campaigns from big bucks ... making certain
that not an independent or Traditional GOP party candidate gets near
the positions open.
Go to your township planning and committee or council meetings
and you can surely learn directly of what is going on ... the small showing
and turnout demonstrates the apathy created by what has gone on
for many many years.
As an area press official told me back in 2002, folks are fixing the problem
with their feet ... ... thereby leaving the area if not the state ...
the Soprano State comes to mind ...

Sal and Mac I agree with both of you, and its a shame...not that I agree with you, but the way it is and I feel nothing will change. Brick turned over to the Dems, but look at the issue of a 25% tax increase! Jackson may fall next as I have been told they just experienced a 16% tax increase. The voters seem satisfied with the tax rate in the County, and as Vicari just said, he will concentrate on Barnegat Bay and help seniors, both push button topics. With Ritacco, Vasil, Garvey and Malik decided not to run and were replaced by non Gilmore candidates elect. Along with that, the TR School district voters excepted a 3.6% (TR) tax increase. Little Johny's parents would otherwise have to pay for his sports, so the increase was approved, mostly by organized sports groups patronage. The Dems have a split Party, the Wyatt Earp loyalists and those who endorse Britta Wenzel. Maybe if and when Ritacco goes down and the mysterious six plus other indictments become public, will there be enough hot topic issue to bring about some change. TROOC has all but disappeared and as far as the Dems, who knows? but so far no good. Mac I like your idea of a third party, so run with it! Anybody check out the ELECT reports yet to see the who's who? And the Soprano State? I dont think Ingle would know who and where to write about next in this state! Maybe OC!

With a US Senate GOP primary next year between tea party favorite Mike Doherty and RINO Joe Kyrillos there may be an opportunity for reformers. Kyrillos will no doubt have Gilmore's blessing and will run on the organization line along with Jon Runyan and the rest of Gilmore's stooges. If the tea parties and TROOC get together and put up a full slate of candidates with Mike Doherty and Justin Murphy (who got 40% against Runyan last year) at the top of the ticket, things could get very interesting.

Rosen's got 35,961 votes, are the Democratic voters in Ocean County doing drugs? Wyatt Earp is a puppet of the Ocean County GOP. He got his political job on the Board of Elections, and now public benefits. He reminds me of the family dog that sits under the GOP table waiting for the crumbs to fall on the floor or lick the scraps off the GOP plates.
Rosen, like Barnegat Bill, Marta Harrison, and others have used Ocean County Democratic voters to cut deals with George to get their jobs in NJ MVC, Board of Elections, NJ DOT, and even judgeships.
Remember Big Al Sanatoria? Political corruption and nepotism at its best! At least when Potter was the Chairman of the OC Democrats he supported local candidates. If the GOP wants to make Rosen disappear, all they have to do is make her a full time instructor where she works OCC. lol After all, she is always complaining that she is only a part-time employee and gets no benefits.
These losers are like litigants who file frivolous law suits; they know if they run over and over again the GOP Party’s Bosses might buy them off with a job. It’s cheaper, and then they get to pull the strings.
George all she wants is a job!

Thats been done before here, if they bother you that much pay them off with a full time job.It's been done with X Mayors in TR....