Graham blames property tax increase on Obamacare

At last night's meeting of the Sussex County Republican Committee, Freeholder boss George Graham blamed the County's 2017 property tax increase on Obamacare, not on the solar debacle.  This seems hardly credible, but we will give Graham the benefit of the doubt while we await budgetary figures to substantiate that claim.

Graham had no comment about the news that a waste management company has contracted with a firm in Sussex County to explore the purchase of the County landfill.  With Freeholders unwilling or unable to make spending cuts, the county appears to be preparing for a combination of property tax increases and selling off assets.

Douglas Amedeo of the Skylands Tea Party group showed up but failed to explain why some Republican candidates are barred from attending his group's meetings.  Skylands gave Assemblyman Parker Space and his wife, Jill, a particularly rude reception at their February meeting -- going so far as blocking them on social media.  And for no policy reason that we can discern. 

Also appearing at the meeting was Chris Wyman, a former Democrat candidate for Freeholder who is now apparently an elected Republican committeeman.  Wyman, made a plea for more political "moderates" and expressed a disdain for this website, among others.

Candidate Nathan Orr issued a Facebook appeal in which he called his running mate, David Atwood (formerly Wygonski) a "Republican."  Yes, he registered Republican on January 11, 2017, but Atwood has never voted as a Republican in Sussex County.

Atwood even failed to vote for running mate Nathan Orr in the 2015 Republican primary.  He has never voted in a Republican primary in Sussex County.

Does this make Atwood the definition of R.I.N.O. -- Republican In Name Only?

That said, the freshman candidate showed some smarts by bringing along his young son to the meeting.  Republicans are family oriented, that's why they've been so angry over Bill Hayden's attacks on Steve Oroho's family and children.