3 Mayors and 8 Other Officials Arrested in N.J. Corruption Sting

[Rose Siding]

Eleven New Jersey officials, including three mayors, were arrested today and charged with taking bribes or, in one case, laundering money in an F.B.I. sting operation that involved an undercover contractor.

The three mayors and eight other public officials from Monmouth County, a shore community that includes Asbury Park, were caught on tape and by F.B.I. witnesses as they accepted payments to help the contractor get work in their cities and towns, according to Christopher J. Christie, the United States attorney for Newark. The undercover operation dates back at least four years, officials said.

In one case, a criminal complaint says, the contractor put in a driveway worth about $5,000 at the home of an Asbury Park councilman, in return for a promise that the councilman would help him get public work.

In another case, the mayor of Hazlet, Paul Coughlin, was urged by an unnamed public official from another municipality to do business with the contractor, saying "Nobody watches, nobody hears, nobody sees," a complaint says......

http://nytimes.com/2005/02/22/nyregion/22cnd-jersey.html?hp&ex=1109134800&en=e7866564313bed13&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Megahurtz]

1. Corruption flourishes

as long as Der Furher is in charge.

[rinsd]

2. You're obviously not from Jersey...

...because this the SOP there.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Former co-worker pretty much made the same statement...

along the line of Mafia too

[rinsd]

11. It doesn't have to be mafia....

Jersey has plenty of corruption without them.

[Auntie Bush]

3. The question I want to know...but I'm afraid to ask.

What was their political affiliation? I suppose both. :shrug:

[Salviati]

4. Well given that the political affiliations aren't mentioned at all...

...I assume they're all republicans, that seems to be the way it works. Now if the headline read "Democratic party riddled with corruption" that means that the guilty come from both parties...

[Salviati]

6. From what I could find quickly with google:

Republicans

John J. Merla
Paul Coughlin
Raymond O'Grady
Richard Iadanza
Thomas Broderick






Democrats:
Mayor Paul Zambrano

[rinsd]

5. Quick Breakdown (my findings bolded)

Rep Mayor John J. Merla of Keyport, who was accused of taking at least $11,500 in exchange for township contracts for bulkhead removal and tree chipping, and former Councilman Robert L. Hyer of Keyport, who was charged with taking $5,000 to help obtain the contracts.

Dem Mayor Paul Zambrano of West Long Branch, who accused of taking $10,500, partly to help secure possible demolition work on the old West Long Branch Borough Hall, and Councilman Joseph DeLisa, who was charged with accepting $3,000 in payments.

Rep Mayor Coughlin of Hazlet, who was accused of taking $3,000 in exchange for future municipal work, including a City Hall demolition project.

Rep Raymond O'Grady, Middletown Township committeeman and former mayor, who was accused of taking $6,000 from undercover agents.

couldn't tell Patsy Townsend, deputy Monmouth County fire marshal, and code enforcement and emergency management official in Neptune Township, who was accused of accepting $1,000 in cash from an "employee" of the contractor in exchange for steering future fire-related work, like demolitions.

Rep Richard Iadanza, deputy mayor of Neptune, who was accused of accepting two payments totaling $3,000, and Joseph McCurnin, operations manager for the Monmouth County Division of Transportation, who was charged with accepting $1,000.

Likely Dem but I'm not sure Asbury Park Councilman John J. Hamilton, Jr., who was accused of accepting a new driveway worth at least $5,000 in exchange for the promise of steering municipal contracts to the contractor.

Charged with loansharking was:

Rep Former Marlboro Councilman Thomas Broderick,

[Emboldened Chimp]

12. Hey, a bi-partisan bust...

who woulda thunk it?

[happyslug]

7. Four Republicans, two Democrats and four whose parties I can not determine

Mayor John J. Merla of Keyport GOP
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1478/a08.html
Mayor Coughlin of Hazlet, GOP
http://hazletgop.com/gallery.html
Raymond O'Grady, Middletown Township committeeman and former mayor, GOP.
http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2002/1113/Editorials/
Richard Iadanza, deputy mayor of Neptune, GOP
http://www.oceangrove.ws/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=11


Mayor Paul Zambrano of West Long Branch, A Democrat
http://hub.gmnews.com/News/2000/0317/Front_page/f08.html
Councilman Joseph DeLisa. A Democrat
http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/news/2003/0613/Front_page/031.html

Joseph McCurnin, operations manager for the Monmouth County Division
Patsy Townsend, deputy Monmouth County fire marshal, and code enforcement and emergency management official in Neptune Township,
Asbury Park Councilman John J. Hamilton, Jr.,
Former Marlboro Councilman Thomas Broderick,

http://asburypark.net/news/2005/02/0222hamilton.shtml

[LiberalEsto]

8. So whaddelse is new in New Jersey?

It doesn't matter which party they're in, they're almost all on the take.

I lived in NJ most of my life and worked as a reporter there, so I've seen plenty of it.

[karynnj]

10. Christie is Republican

and is mentioned occasionally as a possible long shot candidate for Governor -

[bklyncowgirl]

13. Let's hear it for Joisey!

When it comes to sleazy low-level penny-ante corruption we're number 1!

And all of them in my county too!

[Zynx]

14. That whole state is corrupt

I'm not sure this even qualifies as news. News would be "No known corruption this week."

[DemoTex]

15. Jon Stewart for Jersey Governor.

Stranger things have happened (Schwarzenegger and Ventura come to mind). Jon is electable. Gov or Senate, take your pick. We do need a funny-man in the Senate. Eh, Vern?