THE RENEGADES UNVEIL THEIR "CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING"

THE RENEGADES UNVEIL THEIR "CAMPAIGN ABOUT NOTHING"

SHEPPARD, SHEVELEW & SARCONE MARCH OUT THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS

            Right choice?  Or wrong choice?  That is the question after the Republican Renegade team of Sheppard, Shevelew & Sarcone, the self-proclaimed "Right Choice Candidates," today presented their five-point plan for improving County government.

            Burlington County's Regular Republican Party-endorsed slated of Gary Woodend for County Clerk, and Freeholders Aubrey Fenton and Stacey Jordan, today responded to the renegades' plan as a ploy to hide their own tax and spend records.

            "They talk about being more visible and more transparent, they talk about municipal affairs and special interests, but it's what they avoid talking about the most that counts, and that's taxes," said Freeholder Director Fenton.  "We've reduced the amount of money needed to run County government this year, and they can't handle it."

            Fenton said the team's lone reference to taxes in their "attack" on him and his running mates is "nothing more than smoke and mirrors." 

            "Why don't they like to talk about taxes?  Because former Mount Holly Councilwoman Sheppard has raised them, Evesham Councilwoman Sarcone has raised them, and Shamong Mayor Shevelew will be raising them too - as soon as the primary election is over when nobody notices," Fenton added.

            According to published reports, the average Shamong homeowner could be paying as much as $86 in taxes this year under Shevelew's pending budget, and Sarcone's vote on Evesham's 2006 spending plan pumped the bottom line up an average of $98.

            While it's been more than decade since Sheppard held local office, a look into the archives will show her record replete with votes for increasing taxes.

            But even the other "planks" in their badly-worded platform need to be nailed down a little better, said Woodend, Fenton and Jordan.

            For example, the renegades want to be "more visible" in municipalities, and create a Municipal Affairs Commission to better understand the towns' needs.  Yet, under current Republican leadership, including Fenton and Jordan, Burlington County continues to enjoy a reputation as a statewide leader in providing shared services to the towns. 

            Burlington County is also highly regarded statewide for its multi-town smart growth planning initiatives that have attracted more businesses and jobs.

            Another example:  they want stricter rules regarding the disbursement of county contracts.  Yet, they ignore the fact that Burlington County was the first government entity in the State to implement the pay-to-play rules regulating such contract awards (one year ahead of State mandate).

            "Interestingly," noted Jordan, "Councilwoman Sarcone voted against pay-to-play when it was put before Evesham's Council.  She thought it was too restrictive.  I'd say that Councilwoman Sarcone is already suffering from the transparency of her actions."

            Woodend summed it up for all, saying, "Comedian Jerry Seinfeld wrote a sitcom about ‘nothing,' and now our opponents have written a campaign plan that our voters and residents will recognize for the same quality."

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