BURLINGTON COUNTY GOP CHAIRMAN IMMERSES HIMSELF AND PARTY IN LATEST SCANDAL

(Mount Laurel):           Burlington County Democratic Chairman Rick Perr today renewed his call for the immediate removal of Chris Baxter from the Board of Social Services despite the desperate, defensive plea of GOP Chairman Layton.   Perr was responding to published reports in the Burlington County Times that allege Baxter made hundreds of thousands of dollars from multiple tax payer funded positions, including the Board of Social Services.

"By defending Baxter's actions, Mr. Layton is accepting responsibility for the latest scandal at the Board of Social Services," said Perr.  "Layton's actions clearly indicate that Baxter was not acting alone and provides further corroboration to the notion that Baxter's taxpayer funded position existed to benefit the GOP Political campaigns."

This conclusion is consistent with published reports and statements made in Federal Court which illustrate a long history of quid pro-quo insider deals transpiring in Burlington County.

"Of Course Chairman Layton would defend Baxter.  Baxter is one of the "Paulsen's 20", a group of 20 individuals who provide personal guarantees for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans," said Perr.

"Without Chris Baxter he might not be able to run the negative ads that have been the subject of lawsuits, rebuked by editorial boards across the State, and criticized by the former head of all GOP County Chairs in NJ.  He is going to need every dime to defend Freeholder Director Fenton's abysmal record of raising taxes, increasing spending and engineering an environment ripe with corruption."

"With the Burlington County GOP struggling to repay loans to their top insiders along with Chris Myers' floundering and bankrupt campaign, Layton can't afford to lose any of his top donors.  It's extremely disappointing, but not surprising, that the Republicans are siding with one of their own over the taxpayers of Burlington County.  This certainly isn't the first time," said Perr.

Perr has offered to take Layton down a ride through corruption memory lane.

*       Martha Bark- Former State Senator declined to seek another term amidst a criminal investigation by the State Attorney General for two no-show jobs at Burlington County agencies.  Bark collected over $330,000 in taxpayer funded salaries at the Burlington County Bridge Commission and Burlington County Institute of Technology but was unable to produce a single document substantiating her work.  Bark's taxpayer funded pension benefits increased significantly based on these positions.

*       Bob Stears- Former GOP insider and lobbyist for the Burlington County Bridge Commission plead guilty to federal mail fraud and tax evasion charges.  Stears collected $2.7 million in taxpayer dollars FOR WORK HE ADMITTED HE NEVER DID and indicated he was asked to contribute $4,000 per month back to the Burlington GOP.  "I allowed myself to engage in fraudulent schemes," Stears said. "I got sucked into a group of corrupt people..."  Stears indicated he is continuing to cooperate in an ongoing federal criminal investigation.  To this day, Freeholder Director Fenton has not taken action to recover any of the stolen money.

*       John Comegno- Current Bridge Commission Chairman recently plead guilty to DUI despite having been chosen by the incumbent Republican Freeholders to make the Bridges safer and end the rampant corruption at the agency.  Freeholder Director Fenton gave Comegno a vote of confidence.

*       Glenn Paulsen- Former GOP Boss and mentor and next door neighbor to current Chairman Layton.  Paulsen's politically connected law firm has collected millions in fees from Burlington County government, school boards and state government.  Paulsen has cashed in on his connections by securing his law firm's position as bond counsel for the Bridge Commission, the County and local municipalities while millions of dollars in bond deals are consummated, some with the help of his son's then-employer, UBS-Paine Weber.

*       As County Clerk, Sen. Phil Haines moonlighted as a lawyer for a firm whose clients included entities and individuals with business at the Clerk's office while working 'full-time' as the County Clerk

*       GOP campaign contributors received millions of dollars to work on the Palmyra Nature Cove even though the project could have been completed for only one-third of the cost

*       Former GOP U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester and his company, Benecard, donated thousands of dollars to the Burlington County Republican Party and its candidates. During that time period, Benecard obtained pay-to-play contracts at the Burlington County Special Services School District even though it was not the lowest bidder.

"Now that the Burlington GOP has accepted responsibility for this latest scandal, it is obvious that the culture of corruption continues to thrive under Director Fenton," said Perr.  "Apparently the business of enriching your friends with the public's money is recession-proof. It really is time for a change in Burlington County."

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