Victor Scudiery

Would you believe this is Victor Scudiery?

PolitickerNJ.com strongly stands by our report that State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) and Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) are involved with a legal defense fund for Union County Democratic Chair Charlotte DeFilippo, despite denials by Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery.

"I've known Charlotte for years. She's a friend of mine. She called and asked me to help her and I agreed. I don't know where the Lesniak and Cryan stuff is coming from," Scudiery, the Treasurer for the legal defense fund, told the editor of moremonmouthmusings.com, a political web site. "Charlotte sends me the checks and when there are bills to pay I pay them out of the fund."

It's possible, according to sources familiar with the fund, that Scudiery doesn't know who is raising the money to pay DeFilippo's legal bills. 

UnionCountyDems.org

Union County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo

Some prominent Democrats have set up a trust to pay the legal expenses of Union County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo, who is under investigation by the State Attorney General's Office.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth), Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) and Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery are organizing and administering the fund, according to two sources.

In November, 2007, The Star-Ledger reported that the Attorney General's office subpoenaed documents relating to DeFilippo's "public and private business dealings" - including documents from the Union County Improvement Authority, which she heads; information on her duties as a legislative aide to former Assemblyman Neil Cohen, who has since been indicted on child pornography charges; documents relating to the Union County Democrats' involvement in the 2006 Roselle primary; and a client list a financial records from Camelot Title Agency, in which DeFilippo and Cryan hold minority stakes.

Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow, left, is honored by County Chairman Victor Scudiery and Freeholder Amy Mallet

RED BANK - Retiring Freeholder Director Barbara McMorrow received a standing ovation here at the local union hall and gifts from Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor Scudiery.

She's not running for reelection this year, as she must contend with a serious illness. Hoping to succeed her, Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes and fomer Pallone State Director Mike Beson of Ocean (a former Neptune Mayor) will wage a contest for the county committee's backing today to run against Republican John Curley of Middletown.

For the moment, it was all McMorrow.

"As they say in Spamelot, I'm not dead yet," she told the packed hall. "I know in time, I'll be feeling well. The best medicine is being with all of you, because we're family."

"I am closing the door right now," she added. "I'm not locking it and throwing away the key. I intend to continue to serve on the Board of Chosen Freeholders through the year."

Democrats Amy Mallet and Glenn Mason: Politicker photo 

RED BANK/ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS - If Monmouth County Democrats don’t believe in trickle down economics they definitely don’t have a problem with getting some top down love from the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).

The Democratic presidential nominee appears to be on cruise control in New Jersey, receiving a boost on Sunday from an unlikely source in this battleground county where the number of registered Dems grew considerably since last year’s primary. 

"The Asbury Park Press endorsed Barack Obama," announced Democratic County Chairman Vic Scudiery, who sported a tie pin in the shape of the state of New Jersey with an Obama logo emblazoned in the center. 

"Obama has the intellect needed to comprehend the complexities of the times and the ability to articulate his positions clearly and eloquently," the paper’s Sunday editorial read in part. "He can inspire, and we believe he will be able to bring out the best in the American people at a time when our best will be needed...

Josh Zeitz appeals to Monmouth County Democrats. 

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS - After giving standing ovations to U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12) and U.S. Rep Frank Pallone (D-6) at the Shore Casino on Saturday, Monmouth County Democrats greeted their young contender in the 4th congressional district with a polite pitter-patter of hands.

Of the 4th, "I don’t know if its going to be contested or not but we do have someone here," Party Chairman Victor Scudiery said in his introduction of Zeitz, a 34-year old American History professor at Rutgers University from Bordentown who has taken a leave of absence this year to challenge the formidable U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4).

Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Victor ScudieryATLANTIC HIGHLANDS - Just one day after the 2007 general election, Monmouth County GOP Chairman Adam Puharic posted the results on his party’s website and noted gleefully that the Republicans had sumo tossed the Democrats out of the circle in every non-municipal contest - with the exception of one: a freeholder match between Democrat John D'Amico and Republican Jeffrey Cantor.

At that point, D'Amico-Cantor was undecided, and Puharic mused about the possibility of humiliating the Democrats with a shutout. But post provisional and absentee ballots, D'Amico squeaked out a victory and became the second Democrat in as many years to win a seat on the Monmouth County Freeholder Board, in a traditionally Republican stronghold.

Freeholder Barbara McMorrow, left, stands with fellow Democrats, candidates Amy Mallet and Glen Mason. 

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS - Monmouth County Democrats today backed Fair Haven businesswoman Amy Mallet and retired Hazlet police detective Glen Mason to run for two seats on the freeholder board.

Anxious for a majority after they picked up two seats in the last two years -- Republicans now have a 3-2 edge -- the Democrats unveiled Mallet and Mason as "change" candidates.

"We're one seat away from a majority," said Mallet. "With you're help, we are going for a super-majority."

Yes, Monmouth County has traditionally been Republican.
But it’s been a fickle place in recent times, which went for Al Gore for President in 2000 the same year it gave Jon Corzine a thumbs down in his U.S. Senate bid, where the state’s second biggest paper, the Asbury Park Press, turned in disgruntlement from the two major parties in the last gubernatorial election and endorsed the Green Party candidate.

STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN VICTORY SCUDIERY 

Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman Victor Scudiery today issued the following statement: