You Heard the Lies - Now Time for the Truth 

In the first 100 days of the Republican administration, we can see clearly that the good people of Old Bridge were sold a bill of goods. Mayor Henry and his colleagues swore that the town was heading into a financial abyss and that cronyism should be replaced with open government. Here are the FACTS which can be documented so far:

1. The Budget Lie: Mayor Henry and his Republican council claimed during the campaign that we faced an $8M deficit which only they and their "business savvy" could tackle. But the Mayor has since been quoted in the newspapers saying the deficit was in fact only $1.9M, and again saying $5.4.  Then he posted budget data showing a $7M surplus and admits at a recent council meeting at least $2M was left over by the prior administration.  No matter which number is correct, the fact remains that the $8M deficit was an out-and-out lie.

2. Raising Taxes and Reduced Services: Despite being left with a $2 to $7M surplus, Mayor Henry has announced he is going to raise our taxes anyway. In fact, he's raising taxes the maximum amount allowed under state law. All while laying off 22 employees, 10 of which were veteran police officers.  This translates into reduced services, another thing Henry and the Republicans swore they would not do during the campaign. Two more lies.

3. Lies About Layoffs: After firing those police officers, Mayor Henry and Councilmen Greene and Cahill blamed the prior administration in the newspapers for not having set aside money for the PBA arbitration award. Council meeting minutes, however, show that money WAS set aside and that Republicans Greene, Cahill, Panos and Sohor voted to convert that money to general funds. Not only another lie, but one lamely attempting to cover up their own misdeeds.

4. The "Reformer" Lie: Mayor Henry and his Republican council campaigned on an anti-cronyism, reform platform. Since the election, the Republicans have:

(a) let Henry help himself to taxpayer-funded health care benefits 

(b) given a plum position on the MUA to the local Republican chair 

(c) given a $250K no-bid legal contract to a GOP donor (which contract was drafted by the new attorney on his own behalf, after-the-fact);

 (d) given a $25K bump in salary to the Township Administrator, claiming it's OK because he won't be taking health benefits (though under State law, he's only allowed to get $5,000 for giving up benefits). Oh, by the way, Mayor Henry hired this man prior to receiving council approval. as required by ordinance.  Also, Councilman Cahill swore at a a council meeting that there was no raise. However, as he likes to say, facts are tricky things, and public records don't lie.

5. More One-Shot Deals: One of the biggest gripes heard from the Republicans during the election was the evil use of one-time sales of public land to help balance the Town budget. However, less than one month into office, Mayor Henry is in the process of selling the Laurence Harbor Senior Center to the Housing Authority.  Yet more hypocrisy