Zambrano feels 'awful,' and well he should

Greg Bean

Coda

Just when you think your personal disgust meter can't go any higher, along comes Fazz Zambrano to kick it into full-tilt, red-line boogie.

As most people in Monmouth County know, on July 20 John "Fazz" Zambrano pleaded guilty to taking a bribe in an undercover sting operation that has netted a whole paddy wagon full of officials and hangers-on since the first arrests were made in February 2005. The deal was part of an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office for a crime that could have put him away for 20 years, but will now put him in the slam for 18 to 24 months upon sentencing.

He has since resigned his seat on the Long Branch City Council, and fellow council members who say they are "Shocked! Shocked!" by his plea are busily looking for a replacement, whom they say they'll announce in the next two weeks or so.

Although the City Council members are working through their feelings of "Shock!," the Fazz Zambrano cloud does have one silver lining. Because Fazz resigned after taking the oath of office, the council now gets to name his replacement - someone you can bet the "Schneider Team" will find acceptable - instead of being forced to give the job to the second-highest vote-getter. That person was Ralph DeFilippo, who ran with the opposing "New Wave Team" and says he wouldn't take the job if offered because he thinks the current council is shady and he wants to run for a full term in the next election.

But here's the ultradisgusting part of the whole mess: Although Zambrano (whose brother Paul pleaded guilty to charges of extortion in the same sting operation and resigned as West Long Branch's mayor because of the crime) made his guilty plea in late July, the U.S. Attorney's Office says he entered into the agreement in June.

Which means he had to know it was coming in May, when he was running for re-election to the City Council, a race he won.

Did he mention that he was in hot water with the feds to any of his running mates during the campaign?

Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider says he didn't, and in fact told local newspapers Zambrano swore that he wasn't involved in any skullduggery. Schneider says that because of the plea agreement, Zambrano "probably" shouldn't have taken office after the election.

Probably?

So Zambrano apparently lied to his mayor and colleagues on the council, although I personally find it hard to believe that nobody in Long Branch had any idea the charges were in the pipeline, the local rumor mill being as vibrant as it is.

Did he mention to any of the people who were planning to vote for him that there was a good chance he wouldn't be able to fulfill his term in office?

No, as a matter of fact he didn't. During the campaign, Fazz ran as an enthusiastic member of the "Schneider Team," which had a number of platform planks, one of them ironically being the reduction of crime in Long Branch.

So he apparently lied to all of his constituents, and cynically violated their trust by swearing an oath of office after the election that he knew he couldn't keep.

That, in my opinion, is disgusting behavior, and a mighty poor way to treat friends and neighbors who have trusted and voted for you over the years.

Long Branch Councilman Anthony Giordano told Greater Media Newspapers that Zambrano feels "awful" about what he did to the city and his family.

Well, he should feel awful. But judging from the criminal behavior that put him in this jackpot in the first place and the way he lied to everyone in town during and after the election, I somehow suspect he doesn't feel awful enough. If his past behavior is any indication, if Fazz Zambrano feels really awful about anything, it's that he got caught.

One final question: What was the U.S. Attorney's Office thinking in all of this?

Considering the timing of the plea agreement, did that office have a moral responsibility to either forcefully urge Zambrano not to run, or give someone in Long Branch a heads up that Fazz was in something of a pickle?

The U.S. Attorney's Office says it doesn't get involved in things like that and can't make demands of crooked politicians who take office before they plead guilty. But in the famous words of Bill Clinton, "that dog won't hunt."

By keeping quiet, the U.S. Attorney's Office had a direct, negative impact on the very local politics it claims to be above, and on the state residents it is bound to protect and represent.

That might not reach the level of disgusting, but it's darned sure aggravating.

You've just got to wonder how much more they're keeping quiet about, and how many more county officials are waiting silently for the federal ax to fall.

+ + +

I was happy to see that a federal district court judge agreed with East Brunswick High School football coach Marcus Borden that he had a right to take a knee and bow his head during player-initiated prayers before games.

The expensive dispute erupted last October, when the school district forbade Borden from participating in before-game prayers. At first, Borden resigned as coach in protest, but later changed his mind in order to pursue a lawsuit against the district.

It was my contention last fall that Borden was fighting to protect important freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution - the rights of free speech and religion. The court agreed with Borden, and his case will set an important national precedent.

The school district, meanwhile, is trying to put the best possible face on the situation. In a nearly unbelievable press release, the district said it had accomplished its goal. As a result of the decision, it said, Borden will no longer pray with his students, but will be permitted to bow his head or take a knee with his players, not in prayer, but as a sign of respect.

No word on whether the district believes he will be allowed to pray in his mind. Apparently he will, as long as he doesn't move his lips.

Greg Bean is executive editor of Greater Media Newspapers. You can reach him at gbean@gmnews.com.