Subject:

Fwd: Press release

Date:

11/19/2008 6:05:49 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

 

GALLOWAY GOP LEADER QUESTIONS DEMOCRATS BEING WINED AND DINED BY ENGINEERING FIRM

 

Galloway Township Republican Municipal Leader Terry Lucarelli today questioned whether it was ethical for all three Democratic members of Council – Meg Worthington, Tom Shurtz and Jim Gorman – to eat and drink for free at the Palm restaurant in Atlantic City at an event hosted by the Remington Vernick & Walberg engineering firm and to delay a critical budget hearing so they could be “wined and dined”.

 

“Galloway Township has to be beyond reproach in the manner in which it conducts its affairs,” said Lucarelli.  “But when Worthington, Shurtz and Gorman show up on an engineering firm’s dime to eat oysters and beef tenderloin and throw back a few Grey Goose martinis, I think it calls into question their judgment to lead.

 

“It causes me even more concern when this engineering firm contributed $3,550 to Tom Shurtz’s council campaign and Shurtz then turned around and enjoyed a night out on the town on the same engineering firm’s tab,” Lucarelli said.  “The year before, Remington & Vernick contributed over $15,000 to Galloway Democrats.  It’s clear that Worthington, Shurtz and Gorman are part of the same pay-to-play culture that unfortunately permeates throughout New Jersey politics.”

 

“But the worst part about this episode is that a Galloway Township budget meeting was scheduled for last evening and it was moved at Meg Worthington’s behest because she said she had another commitment,” Lucarelli said.  “Now we know that the other commitment was: getting free food and drinks at the Palm on an engineering firm’s expense account.

 

“Everyone knows how important this year’s budget is given the state of the economy and the unreasonable state budget caps.  But I guess Worthington, Shurtz and Gorman’s priorities are focused on getting ‘wined and dined’ before tending to the important affairs of the people of Galloway Township.”