The dust from this year's election has settled. Or has it?
Democrat challenger Michele Rosen's bid for longtime Freeholder Joseph Vicari's seat was unsuccessful, but after the results came in Tuesday, she pledged to be back for 2012.
"Next year's campaign starts now," Rosen said at the county Democrats' party at The Tuscan House in Toms River. In 2012, Freeholders John Bartlett's and Gerry Little's respective terms expire.
easily fended off Rosen's challenge by capturing more than 65 percent of the vote, with 67,880 votes to Rosen's 35,961 tallies.
Rosen regularly attended Freeholder and county Board of Health meetings, and during public comment sessions would raise questions on spending and contracts, with officials pointing out the questions came during a campaign season.
Among them: contracts between the county, the , and Specialty Systems of Toms River for computer consulting services. and the county have paid the firm $3 million over the last four years, while the county has its own information technology department at a cost of $3 million, she charged. She took issue with the lack of transparency in the , which lead to a more detailed outline of projects itemized in the board's annual budget.
"I addressed good issues and some voters agree," Rosen said. "I have been stopped around town by people who recgonized me and wanted to wish me well."
Vicari was applauded for handily winning the race at the Republican celebration at the Holiday Inn in Toms River as results came in. He, too, said he'll be around awhile. Vicari won his 11th three-year term as a freeholder Tuesday.
"Our best days are yet to come," Vicari said. "Next year at this time we will be celebrating a new president."
In addition to Rosen regularly raising issues during the freeholder meetings was the regular accusations that she was turning the meetings into a campaign stop. At times, accusations between the two candidates turned personal.
She accused Vicari of character assassination for dredging up an indictment against Rosen for theft by deception that was . also raised questions of Rosen's financial history. Vicari accused Rosen of personal attacks, too, as she brought up his appointment as Berkeley superintendent while serving as freeholder.
Does she have any regrets on how this campaign went? "If I could have done things differently, I would have raised more money," she said. "I oppose pay for play, when a candidate recieve funds and gets returns by way of favors later on."
Neither Rosen or Vicari said they plan to leave the county political stage anytime soon.
"Even though we lost, I am not going away," Rosen said. "I will not stop trying to make Ocean County government better."
Vicari pledged the same from his victory podium.
"I'm going to be here a long time," he said.
Nick Loffredo and Don Bennett contributed to this report.
That said, the incumbents have done an absolutely terrible job. There really should be articles written about the deceitful practices of the Board of Chosen (by George Gilmore) Freeholders. If everyone knew about all of the no-show jobs that they take on for the sole purpose of padding their pensions, every single one of them would have been voted out years ago. There's a disappointing flock mentality among the Freeholders: they vote in unison on every single issue. Finally, how has there not been an uproar over the annual tax hikes and all the government waste that occurs on their watch (i.e. $64 million on an extension at the Ocean County Jail)? Then there's the disappearing act of the Traditional Republicans of Ocean County. They seemed to be an organized group. They actually fared better against the incumbents than the Democrats. But this year, they failed to run a candidate against Vicari, they don't respond to their e-mails, and even their website has recently been taken down.
On to Ms. Rosen. Speaking with her is a venture inside the Twilight Zone. She comes off as one of the most chronically angry people I have ever met. Frankly, I do not believe she knows what sparks her anger. And the word "compromise" does not seem to exist in her vocabulary. Call me a hypocrite, but I voted for her; yes, I did. Mr. Vicari just turns me off big-time. He milks the public payroll and delivers nothing. I make no apologies. It was simply a vote cast for what I perceive the lesser of two evils. Facts are clear. The Republicans have a boatload of money to placard the County. The Democrats are a splintered group led by two ineffective people- - Ms. Harrison and Mr. Earp. Their track record speaks louder than I ever could. Ocean County is one screwed-up place. There will never be cost-effective government until the Boss system is smashed.
However, if we ever want change, I suggest the Democrats filed a candidate with less baggage than Ms Rosen. We have enough officials who cannot handle government finances, why would we elect anyone that cannot handle their own personal finances? You got to be able to manage your own personal situation before you ask to be elected to run mine!
Ms. Rosen, aside from her acerbic personality, had (documented) legal problems concerning monies she owed. Until and unless the democrats give themselves an honest look-see in the mirror, they will not make headway in Ocean County. Party leaders Martha Harrison and Wyatt Earp seem ill-equipped to unite and enlarge a party that suffers from lack of funds, lack of cohesiveness, et al. Shame. They are the republicans true benefactors.
an uncontested John Spodofora for mayor and connected Henry Mancini, someone who has extensive connections to the Ocean County GOP. Stafford GOP based upon a fundraising contact had over $50,000-- to campaign. The Democrats who I occasionally supported against the Block Team, selected Michele Rosen someone who to date has not represented any party that I knew from years of working in politics ... folks would certainly vote for new blood if it were ever to show up in this region ... you need only follow the money and the jobs many of which were selected by a well heeled party such as the OC-GOP. Developers, Engineering and Legal firms based upon records have made it possible to run campaigns from big bucks ... making certain that not an independent or Traditional GOP party candidate gets near the positions open. Go to your township planning and committee or council meetings and you can surely learn directly of what is going on ... the small showing and turnout demonstrates the apathy created by what has gone on for many many years. As an area press official told me back in 2002, folks are fixing the problem with their feet ... ... thereby leaving the area if not the state ... the Soprano State comes to mind ...
Rosen, like Barnegat Bill, Marta Harrison, and others have used Ocean County Democratic voters to cut deals with George to get their jobs in NJ MVC, Board of Elections, NJ DOT, and even judgeships. Remember Big Al Sanatoria? Political corruption and nepotism at its best! At least when Potter was the Chairman of the OC Democrats he supported local candidates. If the GOP wants to make Rosen disappear, all they have to do is make her a full time instructor where she works OCC. lol After all, she is always complaining that she is only a part-time employee and gets no benefits. These losers are like litigants who file frivolous law suits; they know if they run over and over again the GOP Party’s Bosses might buy them off with a job. It’s cheaper, and then they get to pull the strings. George all she wants is a job!