DAY TWO: JIM REILLY’S SILENCE ON DEMOCRAT HOMELAND SECURITY SCAM CONTINUES

POlitics NJ ^ | August 17 2005 | Sean Kean

[BATNF]

DAY TWO

JIM REILLY’S SILENCE ON DEMOCRAT

HOMELAND SECURITY SCAM CONTINUES

- Corodemus, Kean & Local Officials Say Former Assembly Democrat

Attorney Owes the Public Some Answers -

Atlantic Highlands, Long Branch & Wall, NJ - One day after Assemblymen Steve Corodemus and Sean Kean called on Democrat Assembly candidate Jim Reilly to answer questions about his role in the political manipulation of homeland security funds by his Democrat allies in Trenton, local officials today joined the legislators in demanding those answers.

“As a former attorney and staff member for the Assembly Democrats in Trenton, Jim Reilly had an opportunity to influence this policy,” Corodemus said. “We need to know what he knew, whether he played any role in determining where these funds should go, and whether he spoke up to oppose what his party leaders were doing.”

“All of the questions we asked yesterday are legitimate concerns,” said Kean. “The residents of this district need to know where Jim Reilly stands on this issue and whether he supports what his former Democrat bosses in Trenton have done.”

Several media outlets recently exposed a concerted effort by Democrat officials in Trenton to direct vital homeland security dollars primarily to legislative districts with Democrat representatives.

Just about $7.8 million of the $8.3 million distributed last year went to Democrat districts, and 93 percent of the $22.9 million distributed since 2002 went to those same Democrat districts. The Eleventh Legislative District received no funding despite numerous applications from towns with legitimate homeland security needs.

At the time the money was being diverted, Democrat Assembly candidate Reilly was an attorney on staff for the Democrat caucus and was the legislative aide to the Assembly Homeland Security and the Assembly Law and Public Safety committees.

“As a local official who realizes how important these funds are to our community, I would like to know if Jim Reilly approved of this misguided policy,” said Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jack Archibald. “The safety of the residents in my community should never have been jeopardized by political considerations, and Jim Reilly needs to speak up on this issue.”

“My town has legitimate homeland security concerns and we expended time, money and effort on these grant applications,” said Long Branch Councilman Anthony Giordano. “We deserve to know if Jim Reilly agreed with our applications being ignored and whether he is willing to condemn the officials in Trenton who turned a legitimate homeland security program into nothing more than a pot of political pork.”

Today is the second day Reilly has failed to answer questions about his role in the process and whether he agrees with how the money was distributed. When will he speak?

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