Burlington County Democrats

COOK AND ATKINSON FOR FREEHOLDER
KOTCH FOR SURROGATE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Fifis
(609) 206-1678
October 12, 2006

BILL HAINES - JUST PLAIN WRONG!

Republican Press Release Contains Incorrect Facts, Misinformation and Bad Spelling

(Mt. Laurel, NJ) - Democratic Candidates for Burlington County Surrogate and Freeholder responded today to the error-filled press release issued by incumbent Bill Haines. “Bill Haines demonstrated today why he is unqualified to continue to serve as a freeholder in Burlington County,� noted Sharon Atkinson, Democratic Candidate for Burlington County Freeholder and a current New Hanover Councilwoman. “When you don’t know the difference between New Hanover and North Hanover and you have served for as long as Haines has, then it is time to step aside. This only demonstrates that Bill Haines has no clue when it comes to Burlington County; or, at the very least, his handlers don't.

“Contrary to Haines’ erroneous statement, New Hanover has not increased spending, has not raised taxes and has increased its surplus. This is a cornerstone of fiscal responsibility, something which has escaped Bill Haines.

“Bill Haines’ fiscal record is abysmal:

• Total spending by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders has increased $78,956,890 (57.97%) since 1996. Over the same period, inflation rose 29.61%.
• The Burlington County property tax levy has increased $56,185,500 (58.54%) since 1995. From 1995-2005, ratables in Burlington County have increased 33.39%.
• Vince Farias, Bill Haines and Jim Wujcik have voted to increase spending by more than the inflation rate each year for the past 6 years.
• In 2004 and 2005, Farias, Haines and Wujcik voted for budgets that increased the property tax levy by a higher rate than the rate of increase in ratables.
• Farias, Haines and Wujcik voted for the 2006 county budget that increased spending by $15.7 million and the property tax levy by 7 percent.
• In 2006, Farias, Haines and Wujcik voted to increase the county-purpose tax rates in 35 of the county’s 40 municipalities.

“In addition, Haines has lorded over one of the most corrupt political machines in the State of New Jersey:
• Republican State Senator Martha Bark, and former Bill Haines colleague, is under criminal investigation for no-show, no-work-product, pension-padding jobs at the Burlington County Bridge Commission and the Burlington County Institute of Technology

• The Burlington County Bridge Commission, which is under the direct supervision of Haines, Wujcik and Farias, hands out no-bid contracts to contributors and insiders such as $2.7 million to Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson’s firm, while receiving no tangible work product in return

• 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

• A Burlington County Times analysis during Wujcik’s and Haines’ last campaign showed that they raised $62,200 in direct monetary contributions from 26 professional-service firms or employees of such firms that did business with the county in 2003. The firms won a combined $7.3 million worth of county contracts.
• In their 2004 campaign, Wujcik and Haines generated the bulk of the funds they received�$61,200�from professional-service firms that were awarded $7.3 million worth of county contracts in 2003.
• PMK, an environmental engineering firm, donated $2,500 to Haines in May 2006. On August 24, 2005, the Freeholders awarded a $14,000 contract to PMK for additional environmental investigation of the Conover property in Pemberton Township.
“I have pledged,� explained Atkinson, “and I continue to pledge not to hold dual offices. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to two positions, I will only hold one.�

“To be accused of pension-padding by Vince Farias, the poster child for pension-padding in New Jersey, is laughable,� said George T. Kotch, Democratic Candidate for Surrogate and the only attorney running for the position. “Again, Haines has it wrong. My work in Fieldsboro is not even part of the pension system. As Surrogate, I will dissolve my law practice and work as Surrogate full-time. Will Farias divest himself of his full-time businesses?

“Vince needs to explain why he went to State Senator Martha Bark, the same Martha Bark under criminal investigation for no-show, no-work jobs given to her by individuals directly appointed by Farias, to arrange for a state law to be passed allowing Farias to add the years and salary of his teacher’s pension to that earned by him as a part-time office-holder. Thus, artificially increasing his pension, again at taxpayers’ expense.

“I have performed honorably whenever I have been called upon to serve the public,� noted Kotch. “If elected Surrogate, my pension will increase only slightly. My opponent cannot say the same as he stands to earn a windfall for what he will exploit as a part-time position.�
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