In the eighth district, the names of the day are Bark, Bodine.. and Bryant
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterMartha Bark may not be running for re-election, but the eighth district Democrats don’t want her to go away. At least not as a campaign issue.
In a press release today, Democratic Assemblyman and State Senate candidate Fran Bodine and his Assembly running mates Chris Fifis and Tracy Riley said that their Republican opponents should either condemn Bark or embrace her. To make the point, Burlington County Democratic Chairman Rick Perr used language reminiscent of President Bush.
“It’s quite simple. Either you are with Bark and support her agenda or you are against her,” said Perr.
Bark faced an Attorney General probe for an alleged no show job at the Burlington County Bridge Commission that netted her $300,000, but has not been charged with a crime. Bodine has faced his own ethical issues – he was recently made the subject of a Courier-Post story about being paid $75,000 a year by two companies to “make introductions” for clients seeking government contracts.
The Democrats’ release peppered the Republicans with questions about whether they’ll make public appearances with Bark and even drew up a tongue-in-cheek pledge for the candidates to sign.
"Martha Bark was never indicted for her no-show jobs and therefore should be commended for doubling her pension at the expense of taxpayers,” read one part of the pledge.
Burlington County Republican Party Executive Director Chris Russell said that the release was “so ridiculous that it doesn’t deserve a yes or no response,” and raised the topic of Bodine’s jobs. Then he asked a question of his own.
“The Martha Bark investigation has been going on for years without any charges filed against her. Since their campaign is being funded by Camden County bosses, where do they stand on Camden County’s own Wayne Bryant, who has been indicted?” asked Russell.
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Quote of the Day
"He told me he had a long political memory and his door would be closed to me. I told him I had a long political memory and I don't ever remember his door being open." -- Assemblyman Willie Brown (D-Newark), on telling U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg that he was endorsing the Republican candidate, Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian.
Recent Press Releases
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Syndicate
Senator Barch
She got away with it because she's an old lady and that her Republican-controlled county would never pick on her. She's the sweet old lady who also happens to be a lying crook.
Bark?
After 4 years and 5 different Attorneys General, she has not been indicted. Guess she didn't do anything wrong?
Bark/Bodine - Slight Difference
Both were dumped becasue of their ethical lapses.
Bark is not supported for re-election. She does not run.
Bodine is not supported for re-election - he sells soul to keep the gravy train coming.
Bark was investigated and will be interesting to see what happens. If she is found guilty, she should lose her pension.
Bodine, who padded his pension over many years with mulitple and questionable jobs should be arrested for stealing taxpayer money through a pension loop-whole he and his colleagues created for themselves.
Both bad and have to go - Bodine is the only sticking around for more.
Perr's attacks are both sad and obvious.
I want my money back!
Perr is such a Tool!
Ok for a year all Perr did was damm bodine, bark and anyone other GOP he could, now he has a big problem because he cannot separate the person he was slamming and ingore the existence of the other one! I also think and hope the GOP will take full advantage of the stupidiy of Riley and Fifis for ignoring these issues to SELL THEIR SOULS to win a seat! But Tracy already sold hers, but she is too dumb to realize it
More Cowbell Please !!
Four Considerations
1) Consider that the district 8 Republicans (Haines, Rudder and Addiego) refuse to sign onto a pay-to-play ban. Gee, I wonder why.
2) Consider that none of the Republicans running have condemned the BurlCo Bridge Commission for its corrupt practices. When Haines decided merely to question the BurlCo slush fund to higher taxes, he then became silent, probably at Boss Paulsen's orders.
3) Consider that none of them will publicly distance themselves from Boss Paulsen, who delves out contracts in BurlCo as if it were his own personal fiefdom.
4) And consider that the very same Republicans (most, but not all) who cry "corruption" at any mention of Camden County refuse to criticize the criminal activities of their own county.
Go home Martian
Once again Martin is spoon feeding directly from the Dem headquarters their propaganda. Yet Camden County Corruption is out of control and he says nothing. Now for facts that Martin doesn't want you to know. Burlington County has a lower tax rate then the corrupt Camden County he rents in. Open space preservation in Burlington County is best in the State.Burlington County College is light years ahead of Camden County College and is associated with more 4 year programs than Martian can shake a stick at. Burlington County is LIGHT YEARS AHEAD of Corrupt Camden county in Recycling. (And the flaming liberals like Martian are supposed to for the environment), yet the repubs in Burlco blow them away. Martian please continue to rent in Corrupt Camden County we don't want you here, from the comparison our County would go downhill if run by your Crooked Camden County Scumbag Democrats.
Martin, you are such a joke
.....stuck between reality and the overwhelming desire to grow up to become a partisan political hack. Your posts are nothing more than sad attempts to gain favor with the corrupt Dem power brokers in your area. Grow up and get a life.....
trolls-r-us on politicsnj.com
Somerset: Don't take out your personal issues, whatever they might be, on me, a stranger in a political forum who has a different political vantage than you. The mixed metaphors of "stuck between reality and overwhelming desire" really do wonders for you as a political analyst, too. For someone who pretends to be against all forms of corruption, you've yet to post on your GOP-controlled Parks Commission and their multiple scandals. Finally, do you have anything to contribute to the actual topic of the thread, btw?
Votedemsout, when he isn't making homophobic slurs, is constantly deflecting any and all attention from BurlCo GOP corruption, let alone criticizing the backdoor policies of "Boss Paulsen and the High Tax-Low Ethics Crew" (Addiego, Rudder, Haines). If Rudder carries on his tax-and-spend practices from Medford into Trenton, then expect higher taxes and increased spending. BurlCo and CC Colleges are both great schools, respectively, so I don't know how demeaning one is a worthwhile endeavor. Finally, instead of googling me, you know how to contact me.
How About
Martin how about those dems who have been on the board of the Bridge Commission condemming the GOP?? Are the dems suddenly mute?? I will be laughing so fricking hard when the GOP win next month!
More Cowbell Please !!
i mean
why havent the dems gone after their own on the bridge commission! I guess the dems get mute
More Cowbell Please !!
Thanks Senator Stupid
You can thank Senator Stupid..aka Bark for making herself an election issue with her horrible comments on ethics. Not like Bodine is a much better example though. This race is over. The 8th is Republican.
"sweet old lady who also
"sweet old lady who also happens to be a lying crook" sounds a lot like Camden County's wonderfully cheery Mary Previte. I don't recall Martin saying much about her when we learned of her role as Camden County's Child Catcher a la Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Yes she was dumped from the ticket but was allowed to serve out her term and got (and still gets) a glorious reception in Trenton. I am sure Martin will give us all a hindsight response about how Previte got what she deserved and how all corruption must be confronted regardless of party even though his party and its leaders have some glaring questions to answer -- questions he doesn't seem to think need to be asked.
Martin.....
My post contributed more to the discussion than your lame regurgitation of corrupt talking points. Don't be a robot and once again, grow-up and get a life.
Does anyone know
How many times Bodine voted to appoint Garfield DeMarco to a new term on the Bridge Commission? Was he looking the other way those times Martin?