DEMOCRATS TO VALENTIN: INVESTIGATE CLEARY’S ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS

By Michael Mangan | May 30th, 2008 - 2:53pm
| More
Release Date: 
May 30 2008
Teaser: 

Freeholder Candidates Amy Mallet (D-Fair Haven) and Glenn Mason (D-Hazlet) today issued a letter to Monmouth County Prosecutor Louis A. Valentin calling on him to investigate how an assistant county counsel received $165,000 in health and pension benefits he was not entitled to.  

DEMOCRATS TO VALENTIN: INVESTIGATE CLEARY’S ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS

Mallet and Mason Call for Assistant County Counsel to Be Held Accountable; Question Why County Republicans Have Failed to Protect Taxpayers 

(OCEAN, NJ) – Freeholder Candidates Amy Mallet (D-Fair Haven) and Glenn Mason (D-Hazlet) today issued a letter to Monmouth County Prosecutor Louis A. Valentin calling on him to investigate how an assistant county counsel received $165,000 in health and pension benefits he was not entitled to.  

The letter comes on the heels of an Asbury Park Press story and an editorial, which brought to light the improprieties that led to Mr. Cleary receiving $165,000 in retirement health and pension benefits. 

Mallet and Mason said they wrote the letter because they are concerned the Republican-controlled freeholder board was whitewashing the issue after Freeholder Director Lillian Burry called it “an administrative matter.” 

“We are hopeful that Mr. Valentin and his office will conduct a full and thorough investigation to ensure that Mr. Cleary is held accountable and, most importantly, that the public’s trust is restored,” said Mallet. 

Below is an excerpt from Mallet and Mason’s letter to Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin: 

“At the very least, Mr. Cleary should be held accountable if there was any criminal wrong doing for the public monies that he received from the ratepayers of WMUA and be required to issue a public apology.  We know you have a strong track record of cracking down on public corruption and abuse. Despite Director Lillian Burry dismissing the issue, we have complete confidence that this matter will be treated with the same level of importance as all your other cases.”  

“As taxpayers we expect Burry to advocate for us, but this is clearly not the case.  There are 27,000 ratepayers in Western Monmouth County who deserve answers,” said Mallet.  “It’s time for action, and that’s why we are hopeful that County Prosecutor Valentin will right this wrong.” 

“It is clear to me: Mr. Cleary needs to be held accountable to the ratepayers of the WMUA, and the Republican led county administration needs to stop defending him.” said Mason 

#  #  #

Tags:

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

Prediction: Jim Piro will be out of a job soon
As the new administration looks to reorganize the embattled Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority (PVSA), watch for at least two part-time $53,420-a-year lawyers to be on the termination short list: James Piro, a former Essex County GOP Chairman and...
Pallone's brother runs for Councilman
The brother of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has announced his candidacy for the Long Branch City Council.  John Pallone, who served as a Councilman from 1990 to 1994, said today that he would run with David Brown, the former Roselle Business...
Does anyone know whose handwriting this is?
A handwritten note left behind during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting indicates that Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) would support a plan to require all current public employees to contribute at least 1.5% of...
This is how you get re-elected
As New Jersey braces for another snowstorm, noteworthy is Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo’s website, where residents can use “Snow Plow Sal” to monitor the movements of snow plows to determine when their street will be plowed.  Hamilton also has...
Sweeney may void Codey redistricting pick
Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...
MORE >

Contributors

Robert
Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
Jeff
Michaels
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
Steve
Adubato, Jr.
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Alan
Steinberg
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
Carla
Katz
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Michael
Patrick Carroll
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
Michael
Kempner
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
Richard
J. LaRossa
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Dr.
Joseph R. Marbach
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
Joey
Novick
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
Murray
Sabrin
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
Anthony
M. Bucco
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
Julio
Tavarez
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
Rafael
Román Martel
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »