Three Releases from 11th District R's

(Send any Bayshore area campaign releases to jcorley @ gmail.com and I'll post 'em.)

Looks like Assemblymen Corodemus and Kean have the pedal to the metal in this post-labor day election season. These are releases from yesterday and today:

For Immediate Release

September 8, 2005
Steven J. Corodemus (732) 744 - 1998
Sean T. Kean (732) 241 - 9718
Info@CorodemusKean.com

RECORDS SHOW REILLY TOOK $2,000 IN CAMPAIGN CASH FROM ETHICALLY-CHALLENGED FORMER U.S. SENATOR BOB TORRICELLI

Atlantic Highlands & Wall Township, NJ: Eleventh Legislative District Democrat Assembly candidate Jim Reilly took $2,000 in campaign contributions from the political action committee of former U.S. Senator Bob Torricelli months after revelations that Torricelli had taken illegal gifts.

Reports filed by Torricelli with the IRS and by Reilly with the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) show Reilly accepted a Torch PAC, Inc. check for $1,000 on August 25, 2001. Reilly accepted a second $1,000 from Torricelli on November 3, 2001.

Torricelli was forced to resign from the U.S. Senate in 2002 after he was forced to admit he took gifts from friends and associates including a Rolex watch, Italian-made suits and a big screen TV from a businessman who sought contracts with the U.S. government.

Torricelli’s acceptance of those gifts became public in February 2001.

Federal law and congressional ethics rules prohibit lawmakers from accepting gifts worth $50 or more.

Reilly was a legislative aide to Torricelli in 1998 and 1999.

“We need to judge Jim Reilly by what he does, not what he says. Reilly says he’s for higher ethics, yet he took $2,000 from Torricelli after Torricelli’s acceptance of illegal gifts had become public,” Assemblyman Steve Corodemus said.

“Reilly and Doherty have no credibility on claims to be ethics or campaign finance reformers. As far back as 2001, they were taking campaign cash from people and companies they knew, or should have known, had violated the public trust,” Assemblyman Sean Kean added.

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For Immediate Release
September 9, 2005
Steven J. Corodemus (732) 744 - 1998
Sean T. Kean (732) 241 - 9718
Info@CorodemusKean.com

CORODEMUS AND KEAN SAY EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS MUST BE USED RESPONSIBLY IN REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

WARN THAT PROPERTY TAXES ALSO THREATEN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND RENEW CALL FOR PROPERTY TAX SPECIAL SESSION

Atlantic Highlands & Wall Township, NJ: Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean today said that eminent domain can be a useful redevelopment tool in the Eleventh District if it is exercised responsibly, property owners are fairly compensated and there are parameters for what areas are subject to this power.

"The recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion on eminent domain has raised legitimate concerns about government’s power to seize private property," said Assemblyman Sean Kean. "In our district, eminent domain has the potential to have a positive impact on some communities – if it is used properly."

"We need to create a formula that fairly compensates property owners not just for the price of their land, but for the burden caused by the loss of that property," Assemblyman Steve Corodemus said. "If we do that, and statutorily limit this power to areas that are clearly in need of redevelopment, this tool can be used without threatening property rights."

Kean and Corodemus pointed out that Democrat mayors in at least two Eleventh District towns – Asbury Park and Long Branch – are using eminent domain as a key part of redevelopment efforts, and that any effort to limit the scope of that power must be carefully constructed not to jeopardize those vital projects.

They noted the irony of Matt Doherty and Jim Reilly expressing concerns that people will lose homes through eminent domain while their Democrat allies have blocked Republican efforts to consider a property tax relief plan and have refused to schedule a special session to deal with that important issue.

"If our opponents really care about residents losing their homes, their party should stop blocking our efforts to provide guaranteed property tax relief," said Corodemus. "People are being forced out of their homes by skyrocketing property taxes and the Democrat Party doesn’t even care enough about that issue to schedule a legislative session to deal with the problem."

"Steve and I agree that there needs to be protections for homeowners against intrusive seizure of property by government, but how will people in the 11th be able be afford to live in their homes if taxes keep rising?” Kean asked. “The Doherty / Reilly Democrats continue to block a special session of the legislature on property tax reform.”

Questioning the sincerity of their opponents on the eminent domain issue, they challenge Doherty and Reilly to put people ahead of profits and condemn efforts by their fellow Democrats to use eminent domain to reward campaign contributors.

Recent newspaper stories highlighted efforts by some Democrat Party leaders to seize privately owned land in Linden to make way for a project to be managed by private developer, Joseph Morris, who has donated $120,000 to Democrats in the past four years. “Far too often in recent years we have heard Democrats spout all the right rhetoric, but then do the wrong thing”, Corodemus said. “Actions mean more than words and the Democrats in Trenton have failed to act on this issue – just as they have on many others.”

“If our opponents can’t stand up to their party’s leaders now, why would we expect them to when they get to Trenton?” Kean asked. “We are taking action by standing up and offering solutions to problems like eminent domain and property taxes. All our opponents and their party have offered is empty rhetoric.”

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For Immediate Release
September 9, 2005
Steven J. Corodemus (848) 466 - 0366
Sean T. Kean (732) 241 - 9718
Info@CorodemusKean.com

DOES REILLY NOW ADMIT HOMELAND SECURITY PROCESS HIS PARTY CONTROLLED WAS ABUSED FOR PARTISAN PURPOSES? IF SO, HOW DOES HE KNOW?

AFTER DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROCESS, CAMPAIGN ACKNOWLEDGES PARTISAN POLITICS WAS INVOLVED

Atlantic Highlands & Wall Township, NJ: So did Jim Reilly’s Democrat Party bosses manipulate New Jersey’s homeland security dollars for political purposes or not? The answer, it appears, depends on when you ask him and who he wants to blame.

When asked about Reilly’s own role in the process in the August 25 edition of the The Coast Star, Reilly’s spokesperson said that Mr. Reilly had no knowledge of how those funds were distributed.

Later, in the very same story, Reilly’s spokesperson contended partisan politics probably entered into the attorney general’s decision-making process. So it was the attorney general’s fault?

Last year $7.8 million of the $8.3 million in homeland security grants distributed by the state went to Democrat legislative districts. Over the past three years 93 percent of the funds went to Democrat districts. None of the money went to the 11th District.

Reilly, who staffed the Assembly Homeland Security & State Preparedness Committee for the Assembly Democrats, has said that despite his role on that committee he knew nothing about how these homeland security grants were distributed.

Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean said that as it has become apparent Reilly’s party bosses used this fund as a pot of political pork, they believe he is seeking to find a scapegoat.

"First our opponent denies any knowledge of the process, now he wants to cast blame elsewhere," said Assemblyman Steve Corodemus. "It is clear that he has no desire to put the blame where it obviously belongs, on the Governor and the Democrat leadership for whom he worked in the Legislature."

"The residents of the 11th District were cheated by this process and their safety was put at risk," said Assemblyman Sean Kean. "A real leader would demand answers and take steps to correct this problem as Steve and I have done, instead of trying to provide cover for their party bosses."

Kean and Corodemus noted that the lack of homeland security aid also has forced Eleventh District municipalities to shoulder more of their own public safety costs at local taxpayer expense. Just one more way Reilly and his Democrat bosses have contributed to the property tax problem.

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