Is Save Jersey playing it straight?

From our friends at JerseyConservative.org

We remember when Save Jersey was created as a vehicle for the election of Chris Christie as Governor of New Jersey.  That's the actual origin of the website's name:  Chris Christie was going to "Save Jersey." 

Save Jersey was to be a Lonegan-bashing adjunct to Wally Edge's PoliticsNJ (aka PolitickerNJ and Observer.com).  The Christie people already had the somewhat mercurial David "Wally Edge" Wildstein in their pocket, so Save Jersey's young editor, Matt Rooney, worked slavishly to impress the boss.  The website even went so far as to mock conservative Steve Lonegan's blindness. 

There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then.  Rooney got out of school and failed to get that social media job at the Governor's office he had his eye on.  Wally Edge left his website, got a political patronage job at the Port Authority, did his BridgeGate thing, and pleaded guilty in federal court.  Chris Christie went from being (in Rooney's eyes) New Jersey's savior and potential occupant of the White House to a liability.  Rooney, along with Kim Guadagno, and an assortment of rats, "jumped ship" and began to attack their former master, the one-time object of their somewhat overly intense affections.

Once upon a time they praised Governor Christie for "reaching out" to secure the support of organized labor, much as Ronald Reagan had done.  Today, they treat anyone in a blue-collar as a pariah.

For the record, the contributors here at Jersey Conservative (except for Professor Murray Sabrin) were uniform in their support for Steve Lonegan in his 2009 gubernatorial battle with Chris Christie.  It is not that we have ever supported the Governor's agenda (although parts have been very worthy of that support), it is just that we abhor the craven, vulgar, opportunistic disloyalty shown towards Governor Christie, by those who once attacked us for not following him.  We marvel at how their intensity has not changed.  They were jerk-offs then and they remain jerk-offs now.

Take Matt Rooney as an example.  A shameless self-promoter, even by New Jersey standards.  He is a lawyer who belongs to a firm that exists in the highly political, you-scratch-my-ass-and-I'll-scratch-yours, world of municipal contracts. 

And we have to tell you, that for all Rooney's protestations about being anti-Democrat Party, he doesn't seem to mind being associated with a law firm that takes contracts from Democrat machine towns in South Jersey.  Hey, didn't someone say "follow the money"?  Okay, let's do that:

Save Jersey's Matt Rooney is a lawyer with the Camden County firm of DeMichele & DeMichele.  According to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the principals of that firm hold the following public contracts/offices:

We searched for Matt Rooney, but came up with nothing:

But that doesn't jive with what Rooney puts in his lawyer's biography:

Matt Rooney has been a member of the New Jersey Bar since 2011 and the District of Columbia Bar since 2012. A significant portion of his practice concerns matrimonial matters including divorce, custody disputes, support modifications, and domestic violence. Matt also handles personal injury, municipal court, and a variety of other types of litigation. He currently serves as a municipal prosecutor in four (4) different South Jersey communities.

So what gives?  Aren't you the guy who is preaching disclosure?  So how about compliance with Local Government Ethics rules?

Matt Rooney

Photo credit: Madison Mae Photography (2014)

Phone: (856) 546-1350
Fax: (856) 546-1365
Email: matt@southjerseylawfirm.com
LinkedIN: MattRooneyNJ
Facebook: MattRooneyNewJersey

____

Practice areas: family law (divorce, child support, domestic violence); municipal court; personal injury; civil litigation; collections

____

Matt Rooney has been a member of the New Jersey Bar since 2011 and the District of Columbia Bar since 2012. A significant portion of his practice concerns matrimonial matters including divorce, custody disputes, support modifications, and domestic violence. Matt also handles personal injury, municipal court, and a variety of other types of litigation. He currently serves as a municipal prosecutor in four (4) different South Jersey communities.

http://southjerseylawfirm.com/blog/attorney-profiles/matthew-rooney/

DOT showing favoritism in removing campaign signs

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has gone off the deep end.  It's illegally involved itself in the political process in Northwest New Jersey.  Once again, DOT personnel have been caught, by witnesses, pulling down political signs while leaving alone those of DOT supervisor and fellow CWA union member William Hayden. 

When public employees remove or destroy the campaign signs of candidates who they oppose, while leaving up and intact the campaign signs of candidates they support , that is an illegal act and amounts to campaigning on public time.  The state's taxpayers shouldn't be paying for this. 

Besides which, the destruction, vandalism, and removal of political campaign signs is a criminal act .  Violations carry a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to six months for each act if convicted.

In Warren County, the prosecutor has said that he would bring charges against anyone who is seen "engaging in such behavior, regardless of political affiliation," adding, "I am instructing all law enforcement personnel with this County to be alert to this unlawful activity and to see that violators are charged... I respectfully request all campaign managers and candidates for office to remind their supported and workers that candidates for office spend money and time to print and post campaign signs. This is a part of the election process that should not be and will not be disturbed by vandals without penalty.”

Witnesses to these acts by New Jersey DOT employees now include a Roman Catholic priest and the pastor of a Church in Sussex County.  Here is what others have sent in:

"I witnessed NJ State DOT employees removing signage along Route 94 in McAfee and Hamburg.  I stopped and told them I believed their actions were illegal. They told me the signs were on State right of way and they were doing what their boss told them to do.  I do have a picture.  Call to discuss if you like."

"Attached picture taken on Route 94 across from entrance to Crystal Springs at 9:30 this morning.  Also removed signage on 638 in Highland Lakes, but miraculously Bills signs remain.  Check intersection of 515 & 638.  Orohos' signs removed, but Bill Haydens' remain."

"He pulled signs out of the DOT dumpster, not a Hayden one in there."

"FYI XXX XXXXXXX this morning watched the DPW take everyone's signs from 206 and left Hayden's. I think XXX was trying to get a video."

William J. Hayden (AKA Bill Hayden, Dell Hayden, Skylands Patriot ) is an 18 year public employee of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.  He works as a supervisor, based in Trenton, where he pockets a salary and extras more each year than any legislator earns -- plus full benefits and a pension.  Hayden is a member of the CWA -- one of the most liberal unions in America.  Hayden's union has endorsed leftwing Democrat Phil Murphy for Governor.

Hayden doesn't vote much.  He made it last November, but the last time before that was 2010.  Now he thinks we should give him a second public job -- as our legislator.

Hayden is being aided and abetted by two cronies -- Nathan Orr and David Atwood -- who have chosen to endorse Hayden's behavior and tactics, and who are running a joint campaign with him.  Perhaps Orr and Atwood should be asked if they approve of using government money, personnel, and equipment to thwart free speech and to obstruct the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America.

What is happening here is not so different from the violence visited up the campaign of Donald Trump last year, when his signs were destroyed and stolen.  Then, Trump supporters came up with some rather creative ways  of protecting their property.

In any event, this matter is coming before one or more county prosecutors and an internal investigation by DOT has been promised.  So the miscreants should have their fun now.  In a few weeks' time this will become a real shit sandwich. 

Orr and Atwood caught in another lie

Candidates Nathan Orr and David Atwood (AKA David Wygonski, Dave Wygo, et al) have been running an ad in which they make the outrageous lie that Assemblyman Parker Space and Assembly candidate Hal Wirths voted for Bail Reform legislation.  They certainly did not.

Assembly candidate Hal Wirths was not a member of the Legislature and could not vote on S-946.

Hal Wirths' running mate, Assemblyman Parker Space, voted NO.

Hal Wirths has made his position very clear:

Harold Wirths, R

The intent of the bail reform constitutional amendment was to give courts discretion in either allowing the release or the detention of persons arrested based on concerns on whether or not they are a threat to public safety. The Legislature was also authorized to pass laws concerning pretrial release and detention.

If elected, I will work with Senator Oroho, Assemblyman Space and law enforcement to rein in judges that are allowing those who are a threat to society back out on the streets.

In addition, as a freeholder who spent nearly a decade as liaison to the sheriff and the jail, I understand how much the county-operated justice system costs taxpayers. The goal of bail reform was to cut the costs of incarceration, and that would be the trade-off for a speedier system. As conservatives, we will work to minimize the impact these changes have on taxpayers.

http://www.njherald.com/20170418/assembly-candidates-address-bail-reform

And Assemblyman Parker Space voted NO.

That makes Nathan Orr and David Atwood... liars, again.

On top of this, Atwood and running mate Bill Hayden couldn't be bothered to vote on the public question of bail reform when it was placed on the ballot in November 2014.  Both Atwood and Hayden failed to vote in that election or in most other elections, for that matter.  Atwood missed every election in 2013, 2014, 2015, and the primary of 2016. Hayden missed every election in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and the primary of 2016.

And now they lie about Parker Space and Hal Wirths on top of it.

Nathan Orr backs foul-mouthed Trenton bureaucrat

Yep, it is official.  Nathan Orr and David Atwood have joined forces with William J. "Bill" Hayden?  At a recent debate held in Morris County, the two younger candidates for the Legislature spent their time attacking Hayden's opponent.  Then they drew District 26 legislative candidate Hank Lyon into it, by endorsing him along with Hayden.   Later, they posted on Facebook asking their friends to help them distribute Hayden's lawn signs and campaign literature. 

William J. Hayden (AKA Bill Hayden, Dell Hayden, Skylands Patriot) is an 18 year public employee of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.  He works as a supervisor, based in Trenton, where he pockets a salary and extras more each year than any legislator earns -- plus full benefits and a pension.  Hayden is a member of the CWA -- one of the most liberal unions in America.

Now he thinks we should give him a second public job -- as a state legislator. 

He doesn't vote much.  He made it last November, but the last time before that was 2010.  What he does do is play on Facebook.  He spends a lot of time on Facebook posting lewd comments.  Much of it in the middle of what most of us call "the working day." 

Why would any self-respecting Republican or Republican organization lend its name to promote the antics of William J. Hayden?  True, he got a little over 100 signatures and qualified for a place on the ballot.  To do so, he got some people to switch to Republican to circulate his petitions.  That said, he is a qualified candidate, but only because the threshold for ballot access is so low.

David Duke was a qualified candidate for public office too.  So was Lyndon LaRouche.  So was the Byram cannibal, Councilman Rick Meltz.  So was murder-for-hire Freeholder candidate Chris Thieme.  They all got more than a hundred signatures too.  Nut jobs, the bunch of them. 

Our objection to W. J. "Bill" Hayden is that he is crude, pornographic, and juvenile.  His very involvement in the process brings disrepute to the process and disrespect to the people and party organizations that have anything to do with him.

Just to introduce him into the discussion is to affirm that you accept all his Facebook posted comments about "grabbing pussy" or "guns and pussy."  It is to affirm all his lewd antics -- aimed largely at Republicans and conservatives -- like photo-shopping the faces of prominent Sussex County Republicans onto vaginas. 

To acknowledge Hayden celebrates his terroristic Facebook post of an aerial view of what he thought was the house of a political opponent with the words "target acquired" underneath.  It turned out to be the wrong house and the home of an innocent family with children. 

To promote Hayden or his team in any way means that you say it is OK to post pictures of your handguns on Facebook on the same page you use to threaten people.  It is to say that it is OK to claim to have handed out Halloween candy to children from a candy bowl stuffed with automatic magazines and Glock handguns.  How does this stupid, childish behavior help the Republican Party and the conservative cause?  It does enormous damage to the cause of the Second Amendment because it makes its supporters look like cartoon characters and gives our opponents ammunition they otherwise would not have.

Unlike Donald Trump, Hayden has refused to apologize for his lewd comments about women's reproductive organs:

"...Oroho at one point reading a social media post filled with expletives and an obscene reference to a woman's anatomy and asking Hayden if he believed the author of such a comment should hold public office. Hayden acknowledged writing the comment in a tweet he sent out but did not apologize. 'I'm not going to apologize for anything I've said,' Hayden said." (NJ Herald May 16, 2017)

To promote Hayden is to say that you celebrate misogyny and hate and reject rational discussion.  But hey, if someone really, really believes that photo-shopping faces onto vaginas is the way to get things done -- then William J. "Bill" Hayden is right up your alley.

Did candidates improperly obtain OPRA request record?

Last week, the campaign of Nathan Orr & David Atwood posted the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request of a citizen and resident of Sussex County.  The actual open records  request is a public record, but it must be obtained through the OPRA process.  It cannot be accessed due to a "tip-off" from a records custodian or another public official.  That is against the law.

Sussex County is notorious for its abuse of the open records process.  In the past, news of an OPRA request has made the rounds in the county even before the requester was notified that the request had been received.  This is against the law.

The reason it is against the law is to prevent those who have cause to want their records covered up from using the details from the records request to pressure or intimidate the requester into altering or withdrawing the request.  In the past, campaign staff and or consultants to campaigns have been threatened with tortious interference as an inducement to have either their client or them withdraw their legal right to open public records through the OPRA process.

Tortious interference, also known as intentional interference with contractual relations, in the common law of torts, occurs when one person intentionally damages someone else's contractual or business relationships with a third party causing economic harm.  Wikipedia provides this example:  "Someone could use blackmail to induce a contractor into breaking a contract or they could obstruct someone's ability to honor a contract with a client by deliberately refusing to deliver necessary goods."

At the root of this controversy is the fact that David Atwood, the running mate of Nathan Orr, voted using the wrong name at last November's presidential election.

On October 16, 2012, David Wygonski -- a native of Illinois -- registered to vote in Sussex County, New Jersey.  He did not register as a Republican.  He voted in the November presidential election that year, but missed every opportunity to vote again until the presidential election of November 2016.

By then, he was no longer David Wygonski, having changed his name to David Atwood by court order on May 2, 2014.

But that didn't stop David Atwood from voting under his former name in a federal election on November 8, 2016. 

That's right, this week it was confirmed by a voter registration officer, an officer of the court, and a citizen witness, that David Atwood wrote the signature of "David Wygonski" in order to gain access to vote in the federal election held on November 8, 2016.  Atwood did this while presumably aware that the signature he made and the voter name he attested to had not been his legal name in over two years. The Court did not give grant him permission to use TWO names.  The Court granted him permission to legally change his name.

David Atwood did not register to vote under his LEGAL name until December 21, 2016.  He has never voted as David Atwood.

David Atwood did not register to vote as a Republican until January 11, 2017.  He has never voted as a Republican.

In February, David Atwood became an Assembly candidate.  At the time he told a group of Republican voters that he was a "new voice for the Republican Party."  Yes, very new.

In fact, even after changing his name to David Atwood, he continued to be registered at his former address in Sussex County as David Wygonski.  In effect, he was counted twice on the voter rolls under two different names, at two different addresses.

No kidding.  As of February 10, 2017, he was an "active" voter at two different addresses under two different names (see below):

 

 

Recently, candidate David Atwood has been wailing like a baby with a wet nappy.  The cause of all this pissing and moaning was an action taken by the elected Warren County Republican Chairman, Doug Steinhardt.  Chairman Steinhardt noticed that Atwood was actively registered to vote TWICE -- and had the good sense to challenge Atwood's candidate petition in order to get to the bottom of it.  Ever since, David Atwood has been crying like a badly chafed toddler in need of a powder and some kind words from mother. 

We know some on the Left (fewer now, than before) claim there are no problems with the voter rolls, but then you come across a story like this, from just last month:

LANSDALE, Penn. -- The feds say a Pennsylvania man has been using a dead boy’s identity for more than 21 years, CBS Philly reports. 

Authorities got involved after a relative of the deceased used Ancestry.com to put her family tree together.

A woman was getting information on Ancestry last year and her nephew Nathan Laskoski popped up. She saw that he got married and he moved around the country -- from Texas to Mississippi to Tennessee and eventually to Pennsylvania. 

But the problem is Laskoski died in 1972 when he was two months old.

Authorities say 44-year-old Jon Vincent escaped back in 1996 from a halfway house in Texas, and went to a cemetery to find someone born around the same time that he was.

Prosecutors say he picked Laskoski and found his birth certificate, which he used to get a social security number.

Authorities say that started 20-plus years of jobs, bank accounts, loans, marriage and divorce as Nathan Laskoski.

(CBS News, April 12, 2017)

David Atwood and his running mates, Nathan Orr and Bill Hayden, claim that the Warren County Republican Chairman was making a fuss over nothing.  But when you look at all the recent examples of voter fraud -- under-reported by the media but real court cases nonetheless -- you begin to appreciate Chairman Steinhardt's vigilance:

- San Pedro, California: 83 absentee ballots were sent to different registered voters who all supposedly lived in the same small, two-bedroom apartment. If it wasn’t for an observant neighbor, this case would never have been discovered.

- Pennsylvania: Democrat organization FieldWorks LLC was raided by Pennsylvania State Police for fraudulently filling out registration forms for thousands of voters.

- Indiana: State police “believe there could be hundreds of fraudulent voter registration records with different combinations of made up names and addresses with people’s real information.“

- Chicago, Illinois: An investigation by CBS Channel 2 in Chicago found people who had been registered to vote after their death, and a total of 119 dead people who had voted 229 times.

- Examination of just eight out of Virginia’s 133 counties and independent cities: After being unwilling to sign a form that they were US citizens, 1,046 illegal aliens were discovered to already be registered voters.

- In an undercover video, even Democrats were recently caught complaining about the amount of voter fraud created by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to give out ID cards without checking recipients’ identities.

- In North Carolina’s closely contested gubernatorial election, massive fraud may have altered the outcome of that race. The North Carolina Democrat Party-funded political action committee apparently paid individuals to fill out and witness hundreds of fraudulent absentee ballots. At least 35,750 people with the same names and birthdates voted in North Carolina and another state in the last presidential election. Other clear cases involved deceased individuals voting after their death. (Research courtesy of John Lott)

Atwood, Orr, and Hayden owe Chairman Doug Steinhardt an apology.