Former Jersey City Mayor McCann targeted in local Rutherford Borough battle
By Max Pizarro | December 22nd, 2009 - 11:09am
Gerry McCann, was the Mayor of Jersey City from 1981 to 1985, and again from 1989 until his criminal conviction in 1992.
Lock the doors.
Gerry McCann's in town.
That's the message of the John Parnofiello camp, still in campaign mode in Rutherford a month and a half from election day, bearing down on a Jan. 7th court date and - they believe - handed a gift in the form of the perpetually toxic McCann.
The former Jersey City mayor said all he wanted to do was help an old pal grind through the after shock of his election and do some intelligence gathering for him that might reverse the outcome.
The politician who once declared, "I'm a simple man: You hit me, I hit you," didn't figure on a big flare-up when he volunteered to check on the absentee ballot signatures of John Parnofiello and Parnofiello's ticket mates.
But now that he's in a battle with the other side charging him with completely inappropriate tactics targeting seniors, he doesn't mind fighting back.
"Their council president committed a crime, voting for her mother for the last four years," McCann said of Councilwoman Maura Keyes, an ally of the other team's.
"I was going to give the woman a pass, but now they're trying to make it seem as though I'm the problem," fumed the former mayor. "This is a crime. This is exactly what happened when they indicted an Hispanic American freeholder in Essex County. How do you indict him, and not indict this? Thank Kleinman. Because of Kleinman, now all they got me is mad."
The Rutherford Borough Council battle between John Parnofiello and Todd Hennessy was already sufficiently pitched.
Then Hudson County got in on the action, as attorney Steve Kleinman of Hoboken and McCann lined up on either side of the fray.
For Kleinman, who represents Parnofiello gratis, McCann has become the issue in the contest, essentially by virtue of his political infamy. The former mayor of Jersey City left office disgraced and did time on 15 counts of fraud and tax evasion. Now he's surfaced as a political ally of Hennessy's.
"Maura Keyes is not named in the lawsuit," said the attorney. "She's not in the election contest. That's trying to change the subject."
Each in their respective corners as they vied for a seat on the council, Parnofiello and Hennessy went through all manner of contortions on Nov. 4th watching the machine returns come in, which showed first one of them up, then the other - then the reverse - before Parnofiello, a Democrat, finally edged his Republican rival by one vote to presumably land a seat on the 4-2 Republican-controlled governing body.
After the hand ballot count, the results stuck, with still just one vote separating Parnofiello (2,719) and Hennessy (2,718).
Contesting the election with a suit that comes to a head in Bergen County Superior Court on Jan. 7th of next year, Hennessey brought in McCann, whose power operator presence on the Rutherford streetscape and alleged subtle doorbell bully stylings prompted cries of "foul" from the Parnofiello camp.
"I am extremely disappointed in the tactics Mr. Hennessey's campaign is using to discredit the votes of hand-picked Rutherford citizens," said Parnofiello, the 24-year old employee of a media company. "...I am baffled by the involvement of someone from Jersey City taking the lead on overturning an election in Rutherford that has been properly certified twice. I ask that these efforts cease immediately and that we get on to the real issues that face our borough."
In a press release issued yesterday, Kleinman outlined McCann's movements in support of Hennessy.
"McCann visits a senior or ill Rutherford resident who voted by absentee ballot and is a member of the Democratic Party. He identifies himself as a Democrat and attempts to strike up a friendship. Once he does so, he shows the person his or her absentee ballot paperwork and tries to have the voter admit a technical mistake in filling out the ballot. McCann then expresses sympathy for the mistake and leaves the impression that he is there to help their vote to count. But the truth of the matter is is that he is secretly using that information to have that person's legitimate vote thrown out.
"...So far, Todd Hennessy has already used Mr. McCann's efforts to legally challenge the votes of an 89-year old man with health problems, a woman with bone cancer and her 87-year old mother, and an elderly woman who lives alone."
Some of the elderly people said they were so rattled by McCann that will never vote by absentee ballot again - that is if they're around to vote next year.
McCann says Hennessy and Kleinman know that McCann can prove some of the absentee ballots obtained by their allies are illegitimate and can swing the election around in Hennessy's favor by 21 votes. They just want to change the subject by invoking the boogieman clause, says the former Jersey City mayor.
But Kleinman asserts that McCann has taken the silver-haired slippery guy act a step too far as he door to doors it Rutherford.
"That will be something the judge has to deal with," said Kleinman, when asked about the supposed illegitimate votes McCann says he's uncovered. "We are looking at all the votes cast, but the point is in no way is John Parnofiello going to be doing signature matches on the elderly to see if they received assistance."
Although he's a Republican and McCann's a Democrat, Hennessy said he isn't ashamed or embarrassed to rely on McCann.
A 45-year old Hoboken food business owner, Hennessy's originally from Jersey City and goes back a lifetime with "Gerry."
As for the tactics descried by his opponent, Hennessy said, "This is a standard practice. If you think things are not done right, you have to present it to the judge. I don't think Gerry is going after older people. I think more younger people who don't live in town recorded violations. I'm looking at people who voted for John Parnofiello who don't live in town."
Now a middle and distance track coach at St. Peter's Prep and a member of the Jersey City School Board, McCann said, "I've worked 14 cases like this. You want to overturn an election, I'm your guy. Look, I've worked with Kleinman. We were on the same side when (Hoboken Councilman Carlos) Campos challenged (Hoboken Mayor Dawn) Zimmer. He didn't have a problem with me then. I know what to do and where to find people. I do it, in this case, because I want to do it."
Negative, fires back Kleinman.
"I was representing the City of Hoboken in that case," said the attorney. "I completely deny that. We were neutral. Was I friendly with Gerry McCann, sure; but we were not 'on the same side.'"
Even as they trade Hudson County barbs on Bergen soil, McCann, like Kleinman, said he is working for free.
"Zippo," he said, when asked how much Hennessy's paying him.
As for the charge that he's a big city interloper here, "I owned property in Rutherford," said McCann. "I paid taxes in Rutherford. I have a dozen relatives in Rutherford. I got married - yeah, since divorced - at St. Mary's Church in - where?
"Rutherford."
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gerry is #1 in HudCo
gerry is the most powerful political operative in hudson county. "no one would invite Gerry Mccann into their house to meet their family" -JACK SHAW
?
"the 24-year old employee of a media company."
This is what Bergen County pays John Parnofiello $35k a year to do? Does he feel there's something wrong with admitting that he's an aide to Bernadette McPherson? Curious.
At it again
Gerry McCann is at it again. Kinda funny that no matter where he goes it's always the same charges being made. He's noted for taking advantage of seniors. He's just a mean vindictive blow hard who says if you throw a rock at him, he will throw a mountain at you.
Voter Fraud
What is not told by Kleinman is that those charges about seniors or the elderly were all dismissed. The claim was false. The person who made the charge told the Judge he was tricked into signing the complaint by his own son. They sent six investigators into the nursing homes and did not find one incompetent voter who voted. The seniors were outraged that people even the Judge was misjudging them. I did the absentee ballots there for over 8 years when no one would even visit these people. This election is about the seven 30 year olds who do not live in Rutherford but voted for Parnofiello. They live in New York City, Lyndhurst, Freehold, Washington, DC. Hoboken, Hempstead, Long Island, etc. I found them all and exposed their cheating. Margaret Keyes has to explain how her mother was able to vote in this election while she was in Ireland. She has to explain why a handwriting expert will testify that it is in fact her signature on her mother's ballot. Parnofiello has to explain how he was aware of their home addresses of his friends when he knew they did not live in Rutherford. Denise Ross, a regular Democratic candidate in Rutherford and current Democratic Chairwoman will have to explain why she prepared her husband's ballot in her handwriting when her husband is not handicapped. Her defense is he is an immigrant. Apparently although he is English he cannot read English. There are over 20 illegal votes for Parnofiello in this election. Those elderly sick people are in fact over 25 year old Democratic Board workers who are trained every year in the election laws but inspite of this violated the election laws. They voluntarily admitted their violations in certifications to the Court. They obviously failed to tell the court their previous statement to the Court. So far Kleinman and Parnofiello has produced zero against Hennessey so they attack me. I will file an ethics complaint against Kleinman. He did not tell the Judge the truth. He told her part of the story but it was false. He is required as an attorney not to lie to a judge. I will do whatever I can to have him disbarred for this criminal act of lying to a judge. I used by own name in this. Kleinman and Parnofiello will regret they ever heard my name.
Margaret Keyes
As Council President and former Finance Committee Chair will have to explain why over $700,000 of city funds were in non interest bearing accounts of politically connected Democratic banks while the Borough was paying interest on the bond issue. They will also have to explain to the public why the CFO of Rutherford was not aware of these funds. Where was this money going or to whom?
crooked mccann
mccann is a moron and as corrupt as the day is long. he has been intimidating voters all of his life. you are going to file an ethics complaint against kleinman? you should still be in prison... kleinman is one of the best lawyers in the state, and you, not being a lawyer yourself have no idea how ethics complaints work. he won't even come close to being disbarred you felon... looks to me like parnofiello and kleinman have found quite a few illegal republican votes and i hear the Judge sided with them and barred your tactics from here on out. head back to jersey city and ride off into the sunset where you belong before someone indicts you for something else.
Kleinman
You have to be him by stating he is one of the best in the state. I doubt he can spell state. When I file the complaint then talk all you want in the meantime the Judge admonished Kleinman for his entire false charges. I am free to continue to find all of the cheaters you are covering up. You are probably his wife or his girlfriend. Didn't Mayor Zimmer just fire him in Hoboken? He was previously associated with Ferriola and Cammarano. Now that's a pair. Kleinman is the one intimidated. Judge De la Cruz did not fall for his lies and deceptive practices. He has no skill as a lawyer as far as I can see. He was dumbfounded at the hearings at the Board of Elections and did not even know what to do.
You cannot even reveal who you are but I will find out when I file my defamation suit against you. The New Jersey Supreme Court already determined that I did nothing corrupt. You are going to be sued. See you in court fool.
Filing a knowingly false certification before a Judge can disbar you. He knew it was false and he knew his statements to the Judge were false. All of that is discoverable by the Bar Association.
What is funny?
You didn't challenge anything I said because you know it is true. The Democrats cheated and got caught. It is that simple. They do not have even one Republican illegal voter. They did not even file a countersuit. They are going into the court hearing on January 7th with NOTHING.
Don't You Work
at the McPherson law firm?
Speaking of lawyers
Look at my comments about the missing Rutherford money. Guess what bank had it according to the Bergen Record - TD Bank
You will never guess who represents TD Bank.
His initials begin with David McPherson, the husband of the former Mayor.
The plot thickens!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas
Some of you are getting subpoenas in your stocking.
I Apologize to the English
I went to visit Al Ross, today, the husband of Denise Ross at 1:30 PM. I thought that he was an English immigrant like she told me. He is Iranian. He did understand English after I told him how he and his wife violated the New Jersey statutes concerning elections. He told me his wife handles that. For any lawyers reading in the statutes are; 19:63-13, 19:63-28, et al.
Denise prepared her husband's absentee ballot application without disclosing it, she used an application provided by Arthur Warner of Wall Township (she did not know who he was - he is a representative of the NJEA who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat Republicans), she filled out his ballot flap even though he is not handicapped without disclosing it on the flap in complete violation of election laws, she continued that assistance by filling out the return address on his return envelope again undisclosed as to that assistance in violation of election laws, according to her husband she took the ballot after he signed it (guess again what that violates). She did disclose that she returned the ballot to the Board of Elections. She finally did something correct. She should let him read the instructions in the future. He probably is better at it than her. He invited me back next week.
McCann Threats?
Aren't these the same kind of threats McCann made when he was on trial for corruption and told the newspapers when he would get through with the then NJ US Attorney General Michael Chertoff he would ruin him, but don't worry, Mayor McCann would give him a job on one of the city's garbage trucks after he was ruined.
Funny, when McCann got out of jail, he was working at the Jersey City Incinerator Authority looking through a Jersey City Councilman's garbage barrels.
There is a reason why people from Jersey City call McCann "Nutsy".
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