| HOME / | peterstown home |
Union County hits rock bottom
By Joe Renna
Union County Government is dysfunctional and its condition is deteriorating. Last year the county reached rock bottom. It no longer functions rationally but is in the grip of an addiction. Its drugs of choice are power and money.
The enabler is a nine member Freeholder board that is comprised
entirely of Democrats. Just as having a glass of wine with dinner
is fine, a few democrats are harmless. It becomes a problem when
party politics consumes the entire essence of government.
Symptoms of a government in trouble are essential services being
neglected. The reason for the existence of Union County Government
has been ignored - the jail system, the environment and human
services, basically the health and safety concerns of the public.
Instead the bulk of county energy and money is spent on getting
the sitting Freeholders reelected. For instance, the Juvenile
Detention Center has been cited by the state for its neglect and
horrible conditions. On Mother's Day, May 11, 2003, the concerns
of the state were realized when a 17 year old boy hung himself.
Meanwhile, county administration was spending most of its time
planning a jazz festival, the latest in a series of campaign whistle
stops for the incumbent candidates paid for by our tax dollars.
The county coffers are being raided to feed their habit. $55,000
of the Open Space Trust Fund was used for a mailing to tell voters
how wonderful the incumbent Freeholder candidate was managing
the fund, which is administrated by Angie Devanney, the neice
of Senator Ray Lesniak. Every October, money from every program
is diverted to campaign literature and special political events.
An army of political appointees comprise the network that keeps
the juices flowing. Justification for their actions has always
come easy. But then again, addicts are the world's best at doing
that. Friends and family want to believe that everything is alright
and things will get better on their own.
Things never get better and usually escalate rapidly towards the
end. For Union County it came when the Board of Freeholders appointed
George Devanney County Manager. This was the most egregious example
of political patronage. This was when the county hit the wall.
Within a month, the side effects of the appointment rippled through
the entire system.
There are probably 100 employees that could have filled the role
of county manager. Employees with 20 years of experience at the
county, advanced degrees and management and financial experience.
But the Freeholder's choice of Devanney was made without proper
consideration of other candidates. Devanney is the nephew of State
Senator Ray Lesniak and one could smell nepotism on the breath
of the Freeholders.
Three years earlier the Freeholders created two positions for
Devanney which he held simultaneously, Deputy County Manager and
Director of Economic Development. These positions are now filled
by two full time appointees each making over $100,000 per year.
Devanney gave himself a raise after six months on the job and
is making over $140,000 per year. Not bad for an entry level job.
The Freeholders are ultimately responsible for the managers actions.
The Freeholder board must vote on Devanney's decisions. Their
approval is the symptom of their addiction.
Senator Lesniak is one of the most powerful Democrats in the state
and controls the strings of the party in Union County. If a Freeholder
wants to retain his power he or she must be in lock step with
the party.
And so, this is the fate of Union County. It has been a vicious
debilitating disease. Even the most talented and experienced directors
are rendered ineffective because they now must follow the orders
of a superior who is inept at best. The morale of county employees
has been damaged right down the line, through middle management
to the front lines of the rank and file.
The Freeholders are doing the work of their party and not the
people. No bid contracts are being doled out to campaign contributors
and no show jobs to political operatives.
The County of Union has hit its rock bottom and my campaign to
run for Freeholder has been an intervention. My opinions may seem
harsh but they are well intentioned. This is a citizen's version
of tough love. I love America and our form of government. Right
now a part of it is sick. On November 4, the voters can help
get our County Government into rehab. Voting for me is step 1
of the program.
Not for Nothing But...
politicians must learn they can't have their cake and edict too.