WHERE THERE’S SUBPOENAS, THERE’S FIRE

Wildes for Senate

Zisa and Wilson for Assembly 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DATE: 3/8/2007

CONTACT: Jennifer Chirco

PHONE: 201-954-0424

Hackensack – Today Mayor Michael Wildes (D-Englewood), Charles “Ken� Zisa (D-Hackensack) and Cid Wilson (D-Leonia) called on Loretta Weinberg, Gordon Johnson and Valerie Huttle to come clean on their dealings with former Englewood Democratic Municipal Chair Violet Cherry in light of the subpoenas Cherry received this morning from United States District Attorney Christopher Christie. 

“You’re known by the company you keep,� said Wildes. “And Loretta has been working hand in hand with Ms. Cherry for years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has opened a probe into Ms. Cherry’s actions and it’s high time Loretta walked the walk for all the talk of open government that she’s known for.�

The subpoenas, delivered to Cherry this morning, order that she deliver personal documents and materials pertaining to a host of subjects including the Englewood Health Department, the Englewood Municipal Democratic Committee, the Englewood Democratic Club. 

“Where there’s subpoenas, there’s fire,� Zisa said. “Mr. Christie is known for treading carefully and deliberately. After months of denials, Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle will now have to contend with a full throttle federal probe of their most full throated supporter.�

Also among the materials that Cherry has been ordered to produce are any records pertaining to the Bergen Performing Arts Center, or Bergen PAC. Bergen PAC, previously known as the John Harms Center has figured prominently into the political fortunes of Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle.  

As a freeholder in 2003, Huttle cast the pivotal vote to deliver $1.9 million in taxpayers’ money into the hands of Bergen PAC’s new president, her husband Frank Huttle. Additionally, in 2006 Huttle, along with Johnson, chose to back Robert Stern in his independent bid for Mayor of Englewood, even though it was Stern who ran the Harms Center into the ground under $2.3 million in debt.

 

“It’s time that Weinberg and her running mates come clean,� said Wilson. “If they are as serious about honest and open government as they claim to be, they need to make public all of their dealings with Ms. Cherry including any written correspondence, telephone and e-mail communications with her.�

 

The 37th District legislators and their allies have a long history of support for Cherry:

 

Cherry has been able to deliver votes for Democrats, a key factor in the elections Gordon Johnson, Valerie Huttle, and Loretta Weinberg. “[Cherry] had the most-organized, well-oiled political machine in the county,� said Rocco Mazza, top aide to Huttle. “She was very intimidating.� [Record 6/9/06]

 

Johnson said in 2005 that he did not understand the allegations against Violet Cherry, calling her “a highly esteemed, professional and proficient public health administrator.� [Bergen Record 11/15/05]. Johnson also called the disciplinary hearings regarding Violet Cherry a “politically motivated� vendetta. [Bergen Record 6/2/06]

 

During a public session, more than a dozen audience members vented anger and frustration . None spoke in favor of the suspension. “It’s not politics, ladies and gentlemen, this is public health,� said Huttle. “Listen to the public, and rescind or reconsider your vote.� [Record 11/15/05]

 

“As a resident of Englewood, I am proud to boast one of the most active and effective local health departments in the region, thanks to Violet Cherry. Whatever you think of her politics, Ms. Cherry is a model of professionalism.� [Record, 11/27/05]

 

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