RELEASE: Immediate,                    CONTACT: Atlantic County

                    Oct. 23, 2008                                        Republican Hdqs.

                                                                                   609-677-0707

 

 

MCGETTIGAN’S LATEST EXPLANATION FOR CREDIT CARD

ABUSE MISLEADING AND DISHONEST, BALLES SAYS

 

 

          “Sheriff Jim McGettigan’s claim that he returned his county issued gasoline credit card due to a state ruling is a grossly misleading and remarkably dishonest effort on his part to avoid responsibility for his nearly two years worth of abuse of the charge card privilege,” Republican candidate for Sheriff Frank Balles said today.

 

          “The credit card he used nearly once a week at private service stations at additional cost to the taxpayers of the county was taken from him by the county administration,” Balles said.  “And, it was revoked because he ran up nearly $3,000 in charges by refusing to use the fuel at the county pumps.”

 

          “First, McGettigan explained his use of the card by saying he often found himself caught with a low fuel level and couldn’t get to the county pumps,” Balles said.  “He followed that by saying he was simply supporting local businesses; then, he said he received a discount on his purchases; then, he said he didn’t like the odor of gasoline on his clothing; then, that there was nothing illegal about his card use, and now he says he returned the card because of a state ruling.”

 

          “How many more excuses, alibis, and phony explanations can we expect from him?” Balles asked.  “The truth is he used the card 72 times and charged it all to the taxpayers.  There was no discount; he just refused to use the county pumps to fill his vehicle’s tank with gasoline already paid for by the taxpayers.”

 

          Balles said even after McGettigan’s card was revoked by the county administration, he dipped into his department’s petty cash fund to purchase gasoline at private stations and when an audit discovered his actions, he was ordered to stop.

 

          “His disregard for the taxpayers is outrageous,” Balles said, “and his attempt to shift responsibility to the state for his loss of the credit card privilege is even worse.”

 

 

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Paid for by Atlantic County Republican Committee.  Michael Goloff, CPA, Treasurer.