Apology due to Fair Haven governing body
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Michael Halfacre Guest Column
Merriam-Webster defines "hypocrite" as a person who "puts on a false appearance of virtue."

In recent weeks, Assemblyman Mike Panter and his running mate, Amy Mallet, have illustrated this definition by attempting to score cheap political points in questioning the integrity of myself and the Fair Haven Borough Council for a contract we awarded to his Assembly opponent, Declan O'Scanlon. In particular, they used the word "cronyism."

At a press conference Oct. 9, I differed with their opinion of cronyism, saying that cronyism was not hiring someone qualified for the job, as Mr. O'Scanlon was, but hiring someone who is unqualified, yet has a relationship with someone in power. The analogy I used was that if I had hired my plumber to negotiate a cell tower contract solely because he was my friend, that would be cronyism.

Since that press conference, several people have come forward to tell me that not only is Assemblyman Panter wrong on the cell tower issue, but he is also a hypocrite of the first degree. It seems that Assemblyman Panter's high school classmate, campaign treasurer, friend and former business partner, Daniel Kelly, was appointed a Monmouth County Tax Board commissioner, despite having no qualifications as a certified tax assessor. The County Tax Board has come under fire recently for being a plum political patronage appointment. Last winter, published reports stated flatly, "One thing is clear: those without political connections need not apply for a tax board job."

In this "job," Mr. Kelly is paid over $20,000 a year for approximately 50 hours a year of work, a rate of approximately $400 per hour. He also has free health benefits through the state of New Jersey and is amassing pension credits. As has been pointed out, "nice work if you can get it." There must be dozens of people in Monmouth County who are actually qualified to do this kind of work. Unfortunately, they don't have the one qualification that you ultimately need: being Mike Panter's friend, campaign treasurer and former business partner.

Mr. Panter claims that he had nothing to do with Mr. Kelly's appointment. He claims it came from Sens. Karcher, Palaia and Kyrillos. The county tax administrator disagreed, stating recently that Kelly's name "came from Panter." Of course it did. Does he really expect us to believe that his high school classmate, friend, campaign treasurer and former business partner was appointed by mere coincidence? Give us a break.

Mr. Panter votes for tax and spending increases in Trenton, then claims in TV commercials that he is a fiscal conservative; he charges cronyism by honest elected municipal officials while getting his friend, campaign treasurer and former business partner a lucrative part-time job. Mr. Panter willingly puts on the "false appearance of virtue" while handing plum patronage jobs to his friends, jobs which cost taxpayers money.

In light of his hypocrisy, Mr. Panter owes the Fair Haven governing body an apology.

Michael Halfacre is the mayor of Fair Haven