Len Luciano is a phony. He is not in favor of wildlife having voted - without hesitation - for yet another deer slaughter. The only Freeholder who voted no was Carol Clark.
We have spent almost $1 million to date when inoculation which is approved and/or spaying would have cost us half that amount. But the Freeholders and Joe D do not care.. Joe wants the deer dead, they vote any way Joe D wants. One of the reasons we have $1.5 billion in bond debt which is excluded from Christie's 2% property tax increase.

i have almost never voted for a Republican, but I probably will for this election -- anything to put a halt to the corrupt machine that runs this county (and in lieu of a third choice, aside from the "at - large" position). Their gall is only surpassed by their mismanagement, all of which we pay for in high taxes.

And Marilynn, how come I see interviews with local freeholder candidates but have never seen one for you, either in my local (Verona) paper or on any Patches?

I find it insulting that a 30 year old who has been rewarded a patronage job as Freeholder for towing the party line is thought of in any way of understanding what I go through to live in West Essex.

I do not believe that Mr. Luciano has rented or owned any property in the district he is supposed to represent, where he continues to reside with his parents. He has no children who attend the schools here. He is a product of private schooling.

Who decided that this man could in any way represent us without knowing the pains we go through to live here? I have no personal issue with him, I just believe that his inexperience belies a truth that he is and will remain beholden to the Democrat machine that has put him in the position in the first place. I fear more a man who spent his 20's trying to become a politician as a manner of career as opposed to having experience and recognizing a problem, then looking to adjust it through getting involved. He is not looking out for me, he is looking towards Trenton and we are a means to an end.

to Martin Golan.. Sorry I forgot to mention one thing in my earlier post. There are nine seats open for the Freeholders all are up for election. All current Democrats are incumbents and vote for whatever the County Executive wants without discussion.. reason we are broke. Four at large (represent the entire County) where I am running and five districts (Luciano and Chiusolo are running against each other in District 4 which covers Verona and Cedar Grove and other towns as well.. The Freeholders approve the budgets and all spending; they are the legislative branch of County Government while Joe D or the County Executive is the Administrative branch. Just wanted to ensure you knew that.

Thank you.

m.english.

This is very interesting. Are any other candidates running who are not connected to the machine? I was active in the movement to reorganize -- or eliminate -- county govt, we won hands down in all towns, and absolutely NOTHING has been done. Everyone goes on complaining about their town govt, but they forget the anachronistic, patronage mill of county govt (which takes nearly as much in taxes).
It should be a joke! I will pass along your website to my many friends. Maybe we have a real choice.
By the way, I think Joey D. also has a "body guard," in addition to a car and driver, all on our dime of course.

Mr. Golan. The only other candidate not connected is Reuben Torres. I would like to meet with you with regard to your previous efforts and, hopefully, bring them alive again. We need to condense, cut and eliminate waste and we have so so much of it. I have petitions going to the courts this week with regard to Governmental abusive spending and having an investigation done, assuming not all the judges are in the pockets of the Demreps. If you would like to meet, please call me 973 857 3946.

Thank you M.English

so is your opponent still on the take? is there corruption in the county that is not being investigated? you made a statement and we would like to know the truth behind it!

Mrs. English was Mr. Chiusolo on the take?

I never said Mr. Chiusolo was on the take, Mr. Luciano said it at a debate. Don't know where you obtained this information. I have found abusive spending on the County level whcih is available on my website www.wethepeopleofessex.com. I was also asked who is not part of the machine and I gave my opinion. Some people running have ties to Joe D and Adubato, others have ties to Kevin O'toole. I personally don't care for any of them.

no sorry i did not mean to make it towards you i was just wondering if you agree or disagree with Lens statement and also I checked your website out lots of good information

I was not with an accounting firm, I was with JP Morgan, one of the best most respected banks in the world. I was not with JP Morgan Chase. I believe that all the banks are in bed with the politicians, in 2009 62% of all donations from Wall Street and the financial industry went to the Democrats and in 2010 it was 68% to the Republicans. I chose not to run under a major party, because I will not sell myself to the devil to win an election. IF people want change, if people want a real person representing them and not representing the special interests or the donors which is happening now by both parties, then they will vote for the Independent running on Line 5C for Freeholder at large. I promise to do everything in my power to change the makeup of the current County Government. I will certainly read each resolution and vote accordingly, but knowing me, I will find a less expensive way to do the same thing, provided we need it in the first place. I also believe that every incumbent in office now should be removed and every elected person should sign an oath and if they do not do what they claim they will do, we the people have the power to remove them without a long drawn out process. We pay their salaries, they work for us.. that is forgotten at this juncture.
M.English

@Don: You don't think that actually understanding what we go through to live here (which does not require a mortgage, as you can rent) means anything?

My point is that he is has no experience. He is a cog in the machine. He has a cake job as a library technitian so he can spend most of his time working political angles. He has never produced for a living. He has never seen a tax bill from this county. I have listened to him at council meetings, and spoken with him individually- he spits out lines that he is prompted to say. Multiple times I have witnessed him make a fool of himself, even to the point where his running-mates have told him to shut up.

He is a neophite in life, and not even remotely an independent thinker outside of the lines he is fed. Add to that he knows nothing of what it is like to live here outside of being a tenant in his parents home, that shows me he is bought and paid for, with his eyes not on helping West Essex, but helping himself to a seat at the table to pig out with the rest of the jackals.

I have lived here my whole life as well. I have also spent 14 years volunteering in this town, starting when I was 19. I moved back here after college, and really had no clue about the finances in this town and county until I went out on my own and bought a condo. Realized that as I worked to live, these politicians sucked at the teet of what I and others produced. Mr. Luciano is no different. He is not independent in life, or in thought.

So children are tenants? I don't follow your logic at all. He's doing something that I wish I could have done when I was in college. And saving a lot of money by doing it.

Do people realize that it now costs more than $20,000 a year to go to even "public colleges" in the US now, if you figure in rent? And that an MS or PhD is pretty much entry level educational level - to get your foot in the door, in the sciences you need a PhD as much as someone needed a BS 30 years ago to get an entry level job. If you dont have an MS, you don't exist. Technology is eliminating the need to work. This is the future, unskilled jobs are going away, for good. We are going to the stars, but, we can't do that if we think dinosaurs and "Adam" shared the Garden of Eden 7,000 years ago with Sarah Palin.

The US has no "right" to lead, bluntly, in WWII, we got a lucky break in many ways, because of our geography.

We were on the other side of the world from most of the fighting.

To Don.. All I am saying about Luciano is he is a typical politician, saying anything to get elected. He received $8,000 from the campaign of Joe DiVincenzo, who brought him on board to replace Cavanagh and received $8,200 from Codey. Len actually told me that he was not connected to the Democratic machine, but the donations tell me that he is. I have seen him vote at one Freeholder meeting and he votes anyway the others vote, no discussion, no studies. We need to stop spending money we don't have and we need to only spend money on what we need. If you look at my "money tree" on my website: www.wethepeopleofessex.com you will see the O'tooles and the DiVincenzos and the Adubatos all with family and friends having jobs, some multiple jobs that we are paying for in addition to the cars, gas, maintenance, cell phones, laptops, benefits and salaries. A vote for an Essex County Republican is a vote for the Democratic machine. There is a choice in the at large category which is me on line 5C. I personally prefer Chiusolo over Luciano as I believe he will listen, research and make decisions based on facts. I don't think Luciano will do that. I also like Reuben Torres, who I believe is not connected to the machine. But this is my opinion from the research I have done. All information on my webiste is confirmed through OPRA (Open public records act) requests.

M.English

Marilyn, how can this be possible? "A vote for an Essex County Republican is a vote for the Democratic machine." Are you saying that the two parties are actually one?

Nationally, sometimes I must admit it does seem that way. Unfortunately. Kind of like a bad movie, with everything scripted, and the whole good cop/ bad cop act, etc. Like with healthcare, people being stuck with either Medicaid, which bankrupts them before they are eligible, or an insurance-centric system that everybody who does not have a corporate job, and also employers, absolutely cannot afford anymore. And the newspapers aren't even allowed to talk about alternatives!

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3733

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3793

Or protests!
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4406

The country is literally being stolen out from under 95% of its people.

I personally believe that we have one political party in Essex County which I refer to as the DEMREPS. We have the wives of Kevin O'toole and Steve Adubato Sr. the North Jersey Democratic political boss on the Election Commission. The other two members are one Democrat and one Republican. There is not one non-affiliated or Independent on that commission regardless of the fact that there are almost as many registered Independents as Democrats with substantially less registered Republicans. These four people control the voting process. Kevin O'toole,is not only a State Senator, but until a few weeks ago was the Republican Chairman. Anyone running for political office had to have the approval of Kevin before he/she could run. In the past he put in people to run who were just there to fill the spot as he wanted to ensure that Joe D did not lose. I think this is a travesty on the entire voting process. Kevin's wife has County jobs, and his two sisters each had one County job. All is on my Money Tree on the website www.wethepeopleofessex.com. I have back up for all through the many OPRA documents I have accumulated over the past four years. We need to take off our party hats and vote for the person(s) most qualified and not politically connected. Things need to change. M.English

you say kevin O'toole wants Joe D to win by not putting a good candidate up against him... its kind of hard when you have urban areas that go only one way for a republican to win regardless if we had obama running as a republican he still wouldn't win in Essex county

What don't you like about Kevin O'Toole? I'm a Democrat, but he seems to be one of the better Republicans - at least compared to many. I also like the fact that he seems to care about the flood victims a great deal, and when you think about it, even though most of them are in Passaic County, we should be doing as much as we can for them. More than we are doing. Also, I think both parties need to work together more nationally. A LOT MORE. IF the Dems and the GOP here are getting together to SOLVE local problems, GREAT. Then that's one less problem to worry about. OTOH, what are their priorities? What are your priorities? Its one thing to say "lets reduce waste" and another thing to do it. Personally, I would like to see people discussing what they see as the best way to prevent huge expenditures in our towns and the county that could be much, much smaller - Some kind of sanity check mechanism. I'm a technology-oriented guy and I see many NJ businesss and local governments as not seeing ways to save money. In the cases of businesses, thats their loss and heir problem unless they want to change, nobody can ell them what to do, but since I pay taxes, I do feel as if its my right to ask the local government to consider alternatives when I see that they are pouring money somewhere where it is totally unnecessary. And like many, I wonder, is there more to the story?

Where is that sanity check mechanism we need?

What's the deal with those insecure voting machines.Am I going to vote on Tuesday and see an AVC Advantage Sequoia staring me in the face?

THAT SHOULD BE A NO BRAINER Otherwise, how can anybody trust the legitimacy of our local governments? There IS evidence of vote tampering-
Ms. English, if elected, what will you do?

Read these stories, please-
http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~appel/papers/appel-evt09.pdf

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/10/21/21867/

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~appel/voting/20111012-Gusciora-Brief-of-Appellants.pdf

https://freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/appel/appeal-filed-nj-voting-machines-lawsuit
And the most recent one..
http://articles.philly.com/2011-10-28/news/30332462_1_voting-machines-voting-machine-paper-backup

"When the returns came in for the Cumberland County Democratic Committee last summer, Cynthia Zirkle couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Only 86 votes were cast in the race to represent her district in Fairfield Township, and despite assurances from dozens of friends, Zirkle and her husband, Ernest, had managed to win just 19 votes between them.

"I can't believe that's correct," Zirkle told her husband, a retired veterinarian and the town's deputy mayor.

The couple sued the Cumberland County Board of Elections and discovered that due to a programming error, their results had been switched with those of their opponents. In a rare turn of events, a new election was ordered, which the Zirkles handily won."

To; Mill Resident. Where did you read that I care more about deer than humans? The purpose of my investigation of the deer situation was due to the fact that we were told the hunts were free. It turns out they were not. I proposed inoculation and/or spaying which is less expensive. Based on my records from four years of Open Public Records, we have spent almost $1 million killing when we could have spent less than $500,000 inoculating and/or spaying. That was the premise of my "deer kookiness". Joe DiVincenzo led people to believe I am a deer nut - which obviously you accepted without reading the facts, as he knew I was exposing his expenses and his jobs to family and friends as evident in the money tree on my website www.wethepeopleofessex.com. I have done extensive research with regard to car accidents, lyme disease, etc. Reflector lites are 99% effective yet the County has installed not one in Cedar Grove and Verona.

M.English

To Don: I don't know why Fairfield is not getting the help needed. I do plan to attend the next meeting and ask why three Nutley residents are getting $2.4 million while Fairfield is not getting bought at out this juncture. M.English

Don: What will I do if elected. Here is what I would propose with regard to the voting machines. I believe everyone should have a picture ID presented at the voting booth and a copy of their id with their absentee ballot. And they should be checked for accuracy and authenticity. If the machines are not functioning properly, we need to have them replaced immediately. If you are asking what I will do with regard to the spending if elected.. (a) I would stop the outsourcing to friends and family when we have County employees who can do the work e.g. the Parks Department and the Shauger group. (b) stop jobs to friends and family unless they are the most qualified but that is hard to determine as most current County employees were hired without benefit of a resume or application..(c)stop non-essential spending (d) do studies to determine need vs want.. these are some of my cost saving measurements.

m.english

1. eliminate outsourcing of jobs that the County

To Don again.. yes parties support their candidates campaigns, but in the current situation, we have one party working together against the majority of the people and
it is financially killing us. So I believe that voters need to education themselves on the issues and remove their party hats. We have candidates running who promise the moon and deliver nothing. Yet they keep getting elected year after year because they have a D or an R after their name

M.English.

To Don again.. You say Luciano sounds qualified.Based on what I have seen and heard I do not think he is. He ran three times for Council and lost. He was appointed to replace Cavanagh by Joe D and the Democratic Chair Thigpen. His opponent on the other hand, has won each time he ran for Cedar Grove Council. He did run for County Executive in 2006 and lost, but any candidate other than a Democratibarely gets elected. The reason Treffinger won was he had O'toole as his campaign manager and O'toole is connected to the Adubato machine.

M.English

Don: Chances are these machines were installed without any research and because someone knew someone or donated to someone's campaign. If they are not secure and not accurate, they need to be removed, plain and simple. If elected, I will do everything in my power to have them removed and if there is a contract, that will be voided. I would have to read the documents for same to determine how quickly that contract can be voided. I will not promise anything I cannot deliver.

M.English

I agree with you that being registered as an independent has its advantages. Ive been a Democrat all of my life, but I am angry at the Democrats for allowing the health insurance, drug, hospital industries to enslave Americans with no light at the end of the tunnel. We are getting Third World level healthcare at costs far more than people can afford. Buying insurance that does not adequately cover people and crappy "managed care" now costs many people thousands of dollars a month. Unfortunately, the GOP's approach - which is to ABANDON US TO THE WOLVES EVEN MORE is even WORSE. Ask any Canadian what we should do. They will tell you. My (American) friend W. lives and works in Holland and she gets comprehensive healhcare that covers everything. If you do some digging, you'll eventually find that its cost of her highly government-regulated plan is under $200 a month but she never sees a bill. Its taken out of her wages BUT even if she lost her job, nothing changes. Its paid for by taxes. No bills if she gets sick. The basic stuff, which is everything medically necessary, is the same for everybody. (people can pay more for insurance that pays extra for things like private rooms- the CARE is the same for everybody, by law, its very good) Why not here too? Because the US WASTES HALF of every healthcare dollar PAYING FOR SAYING NO when study after study show that making HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE FREE FOR ALL AMERICANS PAID FOR BY OUR TAXES would be FAR CHEAPER than what we do now!

I only got sick once in a foreign country, but you should know I asked to, but was unable to pay for the care I received. They acted as if it was an odd request. "Where would we keep it" they asked. The hospital did not have a window to pay bills! There were no bills.

Don: I don't agree with your comments on picture id's will deter people from voting. They are not required now and only 30% of people vote. NYS has the lowest percentage of registered voters who cast ballots in the Country and they do not require picture id's. There has to be a way to get everyone to vote and it needs to be based on their hope that they can get a fair and honest official representing them. People don't vote because they say why bother. Asking for proof of id has nothing to do with it. This lack of voting was the subjec to the public radio the other day and showing proof of id was not even an issue as to why people don't vote..If someone is registered to vote, they have to have had some proof of ID, last four of social or something. A good way to check is the last four of the social that should be able to weed out those who are not really who they say they are. In Essex I have been told that the dead vote early and often or are bussed to the polls and told how to vote. Last four of socials will hopefully stop that.

menglish

If Len Luciano is going to make things better for us, why did he vote for every expense put before him since he has been appointed to the Freeholder position by Joe D and Thigpen? He votes yes, no discussion, no studies, just yes. Why is that? Most of the resolutions related to "things" we don't need and cannot afford. They total more than $25 million. Our bond debt is probably close to $2 billion at this juncture.

Some people are making a big deal out of his "education" The issue I have is what are the real facts, working toward a master as some information states or working toward a Ph.D as others state. Is he a teacher as he stated at the debate or is he a media specialist? Is he supported by Joe D or is he not supported by Joe D? He claims to not be associated with Joe D but yet his campaign received $8,000 from Joe D's campaign. He also received $8,200 from Codey's campaign. How much of what Len says is actually fact?

I have just received a message from Lenny himself right from his Facebook, talk about professional. I guess I was asking to many hard questions to a campaign staffer of his!

26 minutes agoLeonard M Luciano
The statements you have made to Dan Gillman are not valid. You clearly have no understanding of what you are talking about. If you need clarification to the spin, twist and sinister rhetoric my opponent and some of his staffers have blown out of proportion I would be happy to discuss them with you.
Len

2 minutes agoJohn Anderson
http://livingston.patch.com/articles/fiery-exchange-caps-off-freeholder-debate

in this news report you say "My opponent's company had a contract with Essex County for thousands and thousands of dollars. It just expired in 2010. So while he doesn't collect a public salary, and may not collect a public pension, he does business with the County of Essex, so I'm a little confused how he can stand up here today and say he wants to halt spending when he's been on the take."

You clearly say Mr. Chiusolo is on the take and thats right out of your own mouth not someone else like his staffers. You said the comment so please explain how he is on the take? back up your statement.

http://www.politickernj.com/51877/chiusolo-asks-outside-investigation-lucianos-corruption-charge-essex-county-government

http://www.politickernj.com/51877/chiusolo-asks-outside-investigation-lucianos-corruption-charge-essex-county-government

"I think it’s disturbing that a sitting freeholder would make an accusation of corruption in county government and that the county executive and other county officials simply want to ignore it,” said Chiusolo, the deputy mayor of Cedar Grove.

Mr. Chiusolo states it clearly right here your a sitting freeholder and you claim he is on the "take". If he is as you claim then you are guilty of official misconduct for knowingly refraining from acting.

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/criminal/charges/offmisc1.pdf

Please just answer if nothing else... IS MR. CHIUSOLO on the take???? thats a simple question since you already said he was.

Marilynn, Never even heard about you as of yesterday, but you kick butt. Love your website. You got my vote. Rage against the machine!!!!

To Marty Wilson. Thank you. I am trying to expose what I have uncovered and share it with everyone. We have allowed ourselves to be led and financially bled by our elected officials and I have been as guilty as everyone for keeping my head in the sand for too long. If people want change, they will vote and wethepeople can show the machines that we will no longer take it. So please spread the word, please vote Line 5C tomorrow.
Thank you for your support.
M.english

Can't you folks get back to discussing county issues instead of dissing Mr. Luciano? Also, your candidates have their own threads, why not post there?

Don: Len Luciano has been inconsistent in his statements and has misrepresented himself as well. I was at a Freeholder meeting when I saw him vote with the others without discussion. I also read all Freeholder minutes. We as taxpayers expect honesty and integrity, at the least, from our paid representatives. We do not,however, have that on any level from our current officials. Len's comments addressed to Joe Chiusolo at the Verona debate were childlish and uncalled for and probably without merit in addition to being illegal. If this is what we can expect should he get elected, we will be in sorrier shape than we already are. I expect more then what I have been getting from our current Government which is why I am running for Freeholder-at-large. Taxpayers deserve truthful answers and trust with their money from their elected officials. I don't think that is asking too much.

M.English

"Description of Fallacies (from http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ - a web page which enumerates many of the most common ones)

"In order to understand what a fallacy is, one must understand what an argument is. Very briefly, an argument consists of one or more premises and one conclusion. A premise is a statement (a sentence that is either true or false) that is offered in support of the claim being made, which is the conclusion (which is also a sentence that is either true or false).

There are two main types of arguments: deductive and inductive. A deductive argument is an argument such that the premises provide (or appear to provide) complete support for the conclusion. An inductive argument is an argument such that the premises provide (or appear to provide) some degree of support (but less than complete support) for the conclusion. If the premises actually provide the required degree of support for the conclusion, then the argument is a good one. A good deductive argument is known as a valid argument and is such that if all its premises are true, then its conclusion must be true. If all the argument is valid and actually has all true premises, then it is known as a sound argument. If it is invalid or has one or more false premises, it will be unsound. A good inductive argument is known as a strong (or "cogent") inductive argument. It is such that if the premises are true, the conclusion is likely to be true." - continued in next post..

Continued...introduction paragraphs from http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ - a web page which enumerates common logical fallacies..)

"A fallacy is, very generally, an error in reasoning. This differs from a factual error, which is simply being wrong about the facts. ****To be more specific, a fallacy is an "argument" in which the premises given for the conclusion do not provide the needed degree of support.****

A deductive fallacy is a deductive argument that is invalid (it is such that it could have all true premises and still have a false conclusion). An inductive fallacy is less formal than a deductive fallacy. They are simply "arguments" which appear to be inductive arguments, but the premises do not provided enough support for the conclusion. In such cases, even if the premises were true, the conclusion would not be more likely to be true. "

When you make statements you have to back them up more. Impulsive as it was, the core point that Mr. Luciano made that you are so reluctant to address is that a contractor stands somewhere in between being disinterested and an employee, and that its hypocritical for a contractor to try to reduce the access that others have to the same process he used to become one..(at least that is what I gathered he said.) Why not address that issue, (the one that Luciano brought up) explaining HOW, specifically, thats not the right conclusion to draw, if it isn't? His choice of words was a terrible one, though, as clearly many people are unprepared to behave LIKE ADULTS and calmly address the substantiative point that it raised, without all this drama.

@ Don:
Lets not overblow what he is doing:
http://www.libraryinstruction.com/curriculum-roles.html
These responsibilities are expanded into actions that are necessary for school library media specialists to successfully fulfill their curriculum-related roles and responsibilities:

o Library media specialists participate in building, district, department, and grade level curriculum development and assessment projects on a regular basis.
o Library media specialists offer teachers assistance in using information resources, acquiring and assessing instructional materials, and incorporating information skills into the classroom curriculum.
o Library media specialists use a systematic instructional development process in working with teachers to improveinstructional activities.
o Library media specialists provide leadership in the assessment, evaluation, and implementation of information and instructional technologies (p.39)

He helps teachers and students who don't know how to use Powerpoint and basic computer functions. He's not ripping off algorithms during lunch and programming search and indexing functions while moonlighting as a Quant on his weekends.

Listen, I like him, he's a good kid, I just have witnessed him in way over his head at West Caldwell Council meetings taking queues from Alex Trento, droning on about Dog Parks and other inane topics. His current position is payback for being a sacrificial lamb to the dem machine. vote as you please.

What do you think about Luciano's statement that he saved the county 2.5 million in tipping fees? Thats a lot of money to be saving. If the county saved it, I'm guessing somebody else lost that income stream- Who?

Also, Dog parks aren't unimportant if you own a dog or would like to own one someday. They also are a great way for dog owners to get their dogs exercise without inconveniencing people who don't like to see dogs off leash.

"He helps teachers and students who don't know how to use Powerpoint and basic computer functions. He's not ripping off algorithms during lunch and programming search and indexing functions while moonlighting as a Quant on his weekends."

I didn't see him saying he was anywhere, have you? For Chrissakes, he's still in college. Its a reality these days that often people have to go to college for a very long time to have job stability. Obviously, he's not working in his current position as his life work, its probably a work study job. So he can pay his tuition.

If he did save the county 2.5 MILLION dollars, I think we should be grateful, not accusatory. I just don't follow the logic behind all of your attacks on him at all.

If you know something I don't, you should be more specific. Nothing anybody has said makes me think he's not qualified. Young, yes, unqualified, I'm still not convinced. Young people often bring qualities to the table that older people rarely can maintain into middle age. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own problems that we fail to see the forest for the trees. You know what I mean?

Is Len taking credit for the dog parks now as well? An interesting fact about that expense; the Bloomfield one had to be moved because the neighbor's complained. Thus we spent an additional $1 million moving it. If they had done a study prior to installing it, perhaps that would not have been necessary. But they don't do studies, they just do whatever Joe D wants. I notice everything Joe D does costs more than it would normally cost because all the contracts go to either his donors or Kevin's donors. M.english

Dear Don: Len was appointed to this political patronage job. He was not elected by the people. He is collecting a $33,000 salary for his political appointed position, something I find offensive having worked my entire life, endured tests and interviews, provide resumes and applications. Len did none of this. So please do not tell me how great he is. Look at my money tree and I can tell you how many of those on it have received their jobs without benefit of a resume or an application and certainly no testing or skills were involved. And I have a hard time understanding why I have to pay for these political patronage jobs.

M.English

Instead of attacks, your candidates should be focusing on telling us what they will do. What their goals and philosophy are.

I'd like to hear a bit from Joseph Chiusolo about his experience as Mayor and Councilperson in Cedar Grove and what he would like to do if he's elected Freeholder. Because if he's elected, Luciano will be gone and he'll be there, what will he hope to do, how will he hope to represent us and our problems out here in West Essex. Seems like it wasn't so long ago that our towns were so fed up with Newark and its problems that they were thinking about seceding and creating a new county.. Now things are.. (what) in his eyes? Better, worse? Why? I think we are all concerned especially about he economy, how can we keep our existing businesses here and try to give them a helping hand.. (in the right kinds of ways) and also, how can we make this a better place to start new businesses? A dynamic place that welcomes innovation, and looks forward, not back.

Dear Don: I have already told you what I would do if elected. First we need to stop spending. We need to stop borrowing for unnecesary items such as a second miniature golf course and a restaurant. That will save us millions in bond debt and high debt service payments. Second, we need to weed out the County employees with the multiple jobs and not the skills to match those jobs, that will save us approxiamately $4 million exclusive of benefits and other perks which total an additional $1 million. Third we need to get rid of Shauger and have the Parks Department personnel mow the lawns and maintain the parks, that will save us another $6 million. I can go on and on but I think you know to what I refer.

M.English

Don: If you viewed the "Money Tree" and the "High Rollers" on my website, www.wethepeopleofessex.com you would note that some of these people make more than those in the private sector and have cell phones and cars with gasoline, insurance and maintenance paid by us, the taxpayers. In addition some have laptops as well. Only top managers in the private sector have those perks, unless they are sales people and some get expense accounts not actual vehicles. And those in the private sector are usually hired after resumes and applications are submitted and references checked, even if they are referred by someone or a head hunter. Sorry I disagree with you on this one. M.English

Don: This is why I am exposing the expenses so people see where our money is going and, hopefully, vote for change which is voting for none of the current people connected to the big parties and certainly not voting for the incumbents. Len has gone along with the pack of "yes" without discussion at all Freeholder meetings where he voted. Sorry but those are the facts. MEnglish

would you be willing to work with other people to try to get more transparency in our towns even if you don't win the election? Because I think people agree, you definitely make some good points. But you lose me when you use the logical fallacies. I think you probably lose a lot of people at that point.

Have you ever heard of an organization called Toastmasters? They help people train for public speaking, by engaging in practice arguments on "table topics"..

you are obviously Len's campaign manager or friend. With your logic, Joe D should be making millions because he claims he is making us so much money at the zoo, miniature golf course and now the restaurant. Just because someone lies to make themselves look good or win an election, or justify what they are spending of OUR money, does not mean they are telling the truth...the facts speak for themselves and I have the facts. Why not OPRA the information that Len claims he has accomplished and find out what the facts really are., then we can compare notes.

With your comments you have just lost any credibility you may have had.

M.English

Don: did you read what I wrote, I think not. In the private sector people provide resumes and complete applications, some take tests, most have references confirmed and yes some have even two or more interviews. This is NOT happening in Essex County. Some of those currently employed do not have previous experience, do not have resumes or applications, they are hired because they are related to someone. I have the back up so I have no idea to what you refer. These people do not deserve the work when there are much more qualified people looking for work, ICE is proof of that.

People do use their cell phones for private use on the County level. I did, in fact, report one person years ago and nothing was done.... one of the reasons NJ has the reputation it does. If you read the Report "Wall Streeet and the Financial Crisis" it clearly blames the regulatory agencies for not regulating. We have an AG who is good friends with the County Executive and brought in by Christie because of an agreemnet he made with Adubato.... if this is change then I must need to check the definition. M.English

I don't know what fallacies you are referring to as I don't speak about anything nor do I put in writing, anything that I cannot prove. I do extensive research before I put out anything under my name or prior to sharing with others. I also can handle myself fine in a public arena having been trained by the best bank in the world, JP Morgan. What is your experience Don, I am just curious. If you think Len is a shining star, then you did not see him in action at the debate. He was an embarrassment. Prior to that I thought he was an okay guy just looking to be a politician and follow Joey into the arena. That changed completely when I heard him at the debate which was taped. You can view it through the League of Women Voters He even told the crowd that he was a Freeholder since 2010 when he was only appointed a few weeks ago. He just continues to throw out trash hoping someone will not notice.

M.English

KO that was great.....at least you get it and understand it. But in all fairness to Luciano, I believe the restaurant vote occurred before he was appointed. But he did vote for an additonal $15 million in nonsense since he came on board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigative_journalism

Do you think I would take the chance of a lawsuit by putting something in writing if I did not have back up? Why don't you get a copy of the video from the debate and see how well your boy Len did? M.english

My website has been up and running since September 2010. At the time I had $2 million in salaries on the money tree. Then I received letters, did more OPRA's and it grew to where it is today. I am not putting something out there to win an election. I am putting things out there to educate people and hopefully get them to vote and make a difference. Obviously you are connected to Len and don't understand that there are good people out there who do things for the right reasons. I did not even collect donations for this campaign. How much did Len get from DiVinenzo and Codey? $16,200 is the number. It is available on line, look it up for yourself.

M.English

There ou go again with the fallacy statement. What did I say that is a fallacy? I saw Luciano at the debate. I saw him vote at the Freeholder Board and both are on tape. I read the minutes of the other Freeholder meetings, and they also are avialable on paper and on tape. And you too can get the OPRA records that I have.
the Star Ledger also has a copy, contact them.

M.English

Post the OPRA data. I looked at your "web site", and its like ten pages. Flesh it out. Electrons are free. It doesn't cost you anything to document your claims, *so you have no excuse not to*. Do it.

Look, there is a reason New Jersey has a mixed reputation nationally, and its our often quite parochial syle of expressing ourselves. Sometimes the blunt approach is refreshingly honest but often its simply too much an appeal to the emotions and not enough substance to make one appear credible.

I do it too. We all do it. But we can do better. It takes a little bit of work, and time, though. Collecting the data is 90%, but you are only doing 5% more with your site.. and that like throwing a man who is 20 feet from the shore drowning a 15 foot rope. Its worse than no rope at all. Do the work.

Marilyn,
why do you keep responding to him - he is a broken record for the incumbent hacks. they are very good and delay and procrastination. he defends politicians working two jobs as 'paying the bills'. that's bs - it's corruption. he tells you to get the skill to learn sequel - he is a master bs'er - pls ignore him. you are doing good work. his people are the ones screwing us - left/right/center -

don - pls leave us alone. pls. pls pls. or tell us your name - marilynn told us hers - or are you scared - boo hoo?

Marty: I trust everyone and it took me a while to realize that Don was connected to Len.
I think everyone should use their name(s) rather than hiding behind a screen name.
So thank you once again.

m.english

Here's another useful resource:
Logic & Fallacies
Constructing a Logical Argument (1997)

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/mathew/logic.html

Don for the record, the miniature golf course is NOT making money. The loan is costing us approximately $440,000, while our revenue is less than $250,000/year. We have a negative of more than $190,000 BEFORE operating costs. Another money from the sky so we are led to believe venture by Joe D and his entirely Democratic Freeholder Board. The other miniature golf course at the Environmental Center was put up without any studies, as is the norm for the County Executive, and it is infested with mosquitos so people don't play there. What did that cost us?
M.English

Marilynnn,
I read the website that Don proposed above re: logic. According to Don's 'logic', if the money is coming from us and going to him and his cronies, it is making money. He doesn't understand financial accounting in the same way that the rest of us do. that is why he is OK with the same person double dipping on pensions - once again - our money going to him and his cronies - that is not corruption - that is good business according to his logic. Donny - unfortunately, your side will probably win and the shenanigans will keep going on...but we can always hope for the best.

Very interesting to see that with just under 58% of the vote in, Chiusolo is very slightly ahead. In every other Freeholder race, the Democrat leads by at least 2:1.

Folks, I have to apologize about something. I don't know how stupid I could have been but I misunderstood what was being said about civil service exams.. Were the people who were up in arms about people having state/county jobs trying to say that there is a civil service exam process or something similar that isn't being followed, if so, yes, thats an issue they should bring up. I was visualizing the problems faced by low paid part time workers like school bus drivers who in some places are sometimes asked to work oddball hours - up to 29 hours a week, but with no benefits.. People like that are in a real dilemma. They are not living high on the hog.

To: West Essex Voters: To those who voted for me thank you for reading and understanding why I ran for office. For those who did not vote or who voted for the same old same old, you deserve what you get...continued high property taxes that will continue to increase as the spending of the current Democratic regime continues. One of the reasons I respect the people of Maine is they vote for the person and the issues and not the party. As soon as I clear up some issues here, I will be out of this corrupt cesspool State where some people think it is more important to watch Jersey Shore or Dancing with the Stars than to know how your money is being spent. I personally don't understand it. I did four years of research, presented it to you on a platter and yet some of you did not even bother to vote and most of those who did, actually voted for the same people who are stealing from you.
It makes no sense. The Verona residents spent one year complaining about $5,000 flower baskets, yet think it is okay to go into debt for $9 million for County plants. What is wrong with this thinking?
Fifteen per-cent of people voted. That is pathetic.

M.english

Marilynn, you remind me so much of my thinking. I've said exactly the same thing many times, I think even right here, about how we examine town expenditures with a fine tooth comb and ignore the county.
I lived in Montclair for 20 years, raised my kids there, I yelled and screamed - in the form of attending meetings, joining various civic-action groups and countless letters-to-the-editor, including the drive to get county government eliminated or at least reorganized, which we got on the ballot, and which was overwhelmingly passed, and nothing was done, nothing has changed. We eventually voted with our feet, and downsized to Verona (though my taxes are still too high and still have the corrupt patronage mill of Essex County to support).
I wrote about the downsizing in
http://martingolan.com/taxaholic.htm
which was published in the Montclair Times.
It's very disillusioning. If only 15 pct vote, then the party faithful are the only ones who turn out. That, plus the general invisibility of county government, is how they stay in power.
No new local government in NJ will ever get anything accomplished (they all make the same promises) until the whole governmental structure is reorganized, which will never happen. Does anyone even know what a "Freeholder" does, and why we need so many? I could go and on.
I feel your frustration, Marilynn.

Martin: Thank you. You understand.

M.English