BURLCO DEMS: “STRAIGHT A’” PLAN NEEDED TO CHANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NEWS from  

Burlington County Democrats

 BURLCO DEMS:  “STRAIGHT A” PLAN NEEDED TO CHANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Challengers Offer Extreme Makeover for County Government

(MT. LAUREL) -- Democratic Clerk Candidate Tim Tyler and Freeholder Candidates Chris Brown and Mary Anne Reinhart today unveiled their “Straight A’s for Change” agenda to bring Affordability, Accessibility and Accountability to Burlington County government.

The plan, designed to bring much needed change to Burlington County taxpayers, would be a stark contrast to the nearly 3 decades of higher taxes, spending increases, secret meetings and corruption embodied by the incumbent Republicans.

“We have seen the frustration of residents all over this county as we bring our message of change directly to the voters,” said Tim Tyler, candidate for Clerk. “People are so tired of the stale, empty promises of the incumbent Republicans.  Year after year they make false campaign promises and year after year taxpayers end up footing the bill while their political cronies get rich.  Enough is enough.”

During the GOP Primary this year the incumbent Republican team has admitted that taxes and spending have increased year after year.

"There is no more time for empty campaign rhetoric.  We must start cutting taxes and spending.  We must begin making seniors, children, families and education programs our top priorities.  We must put an end to no-bid contracts and impose accountability on our public agencies and leaders,” said Chris Brown, candidate for Freeholder. “Unlike our opponents, when we claim to understand how to effectively address the concerns of residents and effectively manage local government you can rest assured we mean it.  Not because we say so, but because we’ve done so.”

"The incumbent Republican team has presided over perhaps the most unethical and corrupt period of Burlington County Government ever,” said Mary Anne Reinhart, candidate for Freeholder. “Whether it is Bob Stears or Martha Bark, Glenn Paulsen or John Comegno-Republicans in Burlington County have been getting rich off thebacks of taxpayers and it’s time for a change.  Chris Brown, Tim Tyler and I have actually served at the local level.  We understand the concerns of our residents.  It’s time for elected officials to stand up for the taxpayers of this county and not the handful of political cronies who have profited from Republican rule.”

The Democratic Straight A’s for Change agenda will aggressively put county government back into the hands of residents and out of the hands of Republican Party bosses.

The Straight A’s for Change agenda will do the following:

Affordability

• Cut county spending by $30 million, providing taxpayers with real relief;
• Vastly reduce the county vehicle fleet and use the savings to offset municipal purpose tax increases;
• Immediately cut the salaries of all political appointees by 10%;
• Cut political patronage positions to help reinstate many of the senior transportation services programs affected by Director Fenton’s harsh cuts;

Accessibility

• Immediately create evening hours for County Clerk and Government services and implement mobile and satellite offices throughout all four-corners of the county;
• Hold Freeholder Meetings in the evening when residents can actually attend and make them available via cable television and the internet so all citizens can participate in their government;
• Eliminate the secret meetings and non-public work-sessions that the 5-0 Incumbent Republicans have made famous;

Accountability

• Offer competitive bidding contracts for professional services, eliminate no-show jobs and cut jobs through attrition;
• Appoint an Inspector General to uncover wasteful spending, abuse and fraud;
• Strict oversight of the Bridge Commission and other county agencies so that we will never have millions of taxpayer dollars stolen or no-show jobs given to political insiders again; and,
• Attend municipal meetings throughout the county on a monthly basis to find ways to improve government service and proactively address the concerns of residents.

In addition, on the day they are sworn into office, Freeholders Reinhart and Brown will introduce a resolution to:

End Pay-to-Play and Pass Tough Ethics Reform

• Ban nepotism in county government;
• End no-bid contracts by county government;
• Introduce a Revolving-Door policy to prevent elected officials and county employees from jumping from government to employment with vendors doing business with the County;
• Limit the number of annual contracts held by any one business;
• New campaign contribution disclosure requirements for any person or entity seeking a county contract (consistent with new ELEC requirements);
• Ban on dual office holding and multiple forms of public employment involving any elected position in the county;
• End the practice of doling out county jobs and contracts to those already on the county or local payrolls;
• Ban granting contracts to the employers of elected or appointed officials;
• End no-show county jobs for elected officials;
• Ban gifts to elected and appointed officials and key managers; and
• Prohibit hiring or contracting with a county party chair or his/her business or employer.

“We’re proposing an extreme makeover for a county government that has extreme problems and extremely poor leadership,” said Brown.

“Our plan will bring the changes that Burlington County residents have deserved for far too long.  No more back room deals and secret meetings.  No more tax and spending increases.  The incumbent Republicans have talked a good game but have ultimately failed miserably to bring reform and it’s time for them to step aside and let Tim, Chris and me start to fix County Government,” said Reinhart.

   -30-