| Author | Message | ||
     MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1988 Registered: 5-2001  |
I know Mark likes to keep his blog low key, but since it is out there (and nobody posts on the nj.com site), I thought I'd start a topic here to discuss the latest post: http://www.nj.com/weblogs/rosner/ Mark mentions 2 candidates with potential Conflicts of Interest with regard to the upcoming election. While I agree that upfront disclosure is a good thing, it's a bit odd that all of sudden this is an issue. Do you really think if Mary Theroux runs again, she is going to say "dating the Village Administrator" on HER website? Do you think that TerriAnn is going to say that SHE works for the county and has potentially been influenced about who she should run with? If there is going to be "full disclosure", I think it should be consistent for ALL candidates. Thoughts? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1781 Registered: 4-2002 |
MHD: Once a candidate formally states they are running, I agree there should be full disclosure for all. I will put in my blog if I think it should be disclosed. It should be up to the voters to decide if they want the person in office. For example, when Bill Calabrese has run, he has stated that he is the owner of a business in town (and was on some political literature). | ||
| Dave Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 5594 Registered: 4-1998  |
Eric does say he's a local commercial property owner in the first sentence of his "About Eric DeVaris" page. It's been there from the day the site opened. (If you were talking about Eric) | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1782 Registered: 4-2002 |
Dave: It does not say where the property is (or that it is in S. Orange but I think that is implied). "A resident of South Orange since 1987, and a commercial property owner, Eric DeVaris will bring to the Board of Trustees professional management, planning, and architectural design expertise, as well as more than a decade of hands-on experience in the public affairs of our Village." Full disclosure would say where the property is located and if there would be a potential conflict due to the location. I wish Eric the best and would have no problem with him being on the BOT (and I don't think I would have a problem with any of the candidates), but I think the voters should know as much as possible up front if there is a potential for a conflict. Since so far only three people have stated they are going to run that I know about, I have not written about any other potential conflicts. I realize in a small town there will often be conflicts. That is ok, as long as it is disclosed up front. By the way, it was not my intent to have one candidate become the subject of a thread on MOL but do think it would be fair to discuss after we know whom all the candidates are going to be. If it turns out only three people are running, then it won't matter one way or the other. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1783 Registered: 4-2002 |
By the way, I want to add that I thought Eric's website was done very well. | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 39 Registered: 2-2005 |
whats the link again please to the candidates websites???? | ||
| Josh M. Citizen Username: Jmaxlaw Post Number: 224 Registered: 3-2004 |
Personally, I think TeriAnn also has to answer why she left Eric and Howard behind to run separatly. I'm not saying there is anyuthing sinister, but I believe it is a fair question to ask. As for Mary Theroux-- I've made my feelings well known. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 453 Registered: 3-2002 |
MHD, I'm for full disclosure of possible conflicts from all candidates. I'll give greater credibility to those who disclose, and trust in open debate (and MOL gossip) to give me an idea of who has not been straight with me. I just don't get your suggestion some candidates shouldn't disclose because others might not. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1034 Registered: 6-2001  |
Susan, I think MHD's discomfort with the demand for full disclosure arises from a few things. First, when Patrick Joyce was elected 4 years ago, to the delight of many opponents of the current administration, he was summarily banned from discussing and voting on the quarry issue because of his home's proximity to the site. Bill Calabrese, who has a similar "proximity" issue, participated fully and enthusiastically in the quarry debates and votes prior to Patrick's tenure. Secondly, Mary Theroux and John Gross were not the item they are now when he was hired as Administrator. Since the full bloom of their relationship, he has been stipended, contracted at a very robust annual increase rate, and finally tenured at a position he was not hired to fill. There are those of us who are left to ponder just when this relationship was (sorry!) consummated. I think all the candidates should divulge their real estate interests, but conversely, these should not necessarily negate their input. Personal relationships such as we've witnessed with Ms. Theroux and Mr. Gross, however, should be divulged, recognized for the obvious conflicts they are, and resignations be offered. All IMHO, of course. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 455 Registered: 3-2002 |
Bets -- I agree, things have been handled miserably in the past. I'm voting for candidates who I trust to handle them better in the future. No one's potential conflicts of interest should be swept under the rug. If any incumbents run, these issues should be fully discussed (and deplored!), but not used as excuses for non-disclosure by the new entries. | ||
| just me fromsouthorange Supporter Username: Jmfromsorange Post Number: 1057 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mark Why don't you bring all this up on MOL instead of just your log? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1784 Registered: 4-2002 |
I was going to bring up the issue when we knew who all of the candidates were going to be. At this point, I think only three people have submitted petitions. | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 2673 Registered: 5-2001  |
Mary Theroux will no longer be a Trustee after the next election, due to either a decision not to seek another term, or to being voted out if she does run. Her relationship with John Gross is nobody's business, since (A)she wields no special power on the BOT, and (2) doesn't cast deciding votes on any legislation where he's involved, recusing herself whenever such issues come up. Like her or not, nobody has just cause to cast aspersions on her ethics or actions in this regard. -s. BTW: Given the volume and tenor of sniping, castigation, snide remarks, and insulting comment by the usual S.O. suspects on this board, I'm really surprised that there haven't been more petitions filed. On the other hand, I'm not really surprised at all... | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1990 Registered: 5-2001 |
susan, Yes..I mostly agree with what bets said. I didn't mean to imply that some candidates should disclose and others should not. I simply meant that I think it is UNLIKELY that some candidates WILL disclose their potential conflicts. I also think the alleged conflicts by Eric & John alluded to in Mark's blog are much less severe than some other potential conflicts. Ms. Theroux does recuse herself from votes directly dealing with her boyfriend, but for things like the budget, which are prepared by Mr. Gross, having her vote on this seems like a clear conflict for both him and her. As for who the candidates are should be known in a little more than 48 hours. However, current rumors have upwards of 10 potential candidates throwing their hat in the ring. Stay tuned.... | ||
| mary032 Citizen Username: Mary032 Post Number: 130 Registered: 8-2001 |
How naive are we all to believe that because trustee Mary Theroux recuses herself from any discussion regarding John Gross everything is on the up-and-up. Com'n guys. Don't you think that most issues, before they are brought to light at the BoT public hearings, they are discussed among the trustees privately in their chambers? Don't you think that some trustees (namely Theroux, Steglitz, Taylor, and Calabrese) have formed a clique, and they introduce and vote on issues as a block. Don't you think that Theroux has tried to influence her block in favor of Gross? The political animal that she is? Com'n. If we want to understand why we are in this dismal state of affairs that we are, we have to start thinking like them. | ||
| Josh M. Citizen Username: Jmaxlaw Post Number: 226 Registered: 3-2004 |
Soda-- Please send over whatever fine scotch you've been drinking... as I would also like to recuse myself from reality today, due to the workload on my desk. Not voting is one thing-- but is anyone to believe that Mary "Walking Conflict of Interest" Theroux has stayed silent behind the scenes? Even her lobbying is a conflict. And by the way-- her relationship with a Village employee is our business-- especially considering her allies on the BOT just made him emperor for life. Or, perhaps she was too busy lobbying for state money for Orange with her paying boss, Mims Hackett. | ||
| Washashore Citizen Username: Washashore Post Number: 204 Registered: 4-2003 |
Josh M has just said it in his 3/15 post - Mary Theroux's conflicts of interest are not only about with whom she sleeps and for whom she votes and negotiates, but also, her paying job for the Mayor of another Essex County municipality is a clear conflict of interest - how can she be doing a good job for Mayor Hackett and lobbying to get as much state aid for Orange as possible, while also allegedly trying to do the same for South Orange? She can't. Clear conflict of interest. Throw the bum out. | ||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 169 Registered: 2-2003  |
Mark, Thank you for your comment on full disclosure. Accordingly I have revised my bio on my website www.EricDeVarisForTrustee.com with the address of the commercial property I own. Eric | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1793 Registered: 4-2002 |
Eric: Glad to see. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 762 Registered: 5-2004  |
Is that the building with the dry cleaner in it? Otr the garage? just curious... google maps isn't detailed enough. Maybe I'll Keyhole it. |
