Councilman arrested for theft after rivals put tracking device on political signs

[JustAnotherGen]

GOP split in Readington fuels nasty civil war tied to Trump and Kean vs. Malinowski congressional races

By David Wildstein, May 24 2024 12:39 am

The backdrop to the story is a bitter internal fight between moderate old guard Republicans and a newer, significantly more conservative faction in a Hunterdon County municipality split by supporters and opponents of Donald Trump.

The two factions have been in a civil war since 2022 when three-term Township Committeewoman Betty Anne Fort, a Republican rabidly opposed to Trump, lost the primary by a 2-1 margin to conservative Vinny Panico, a former president of the Hunterdon Central Regional Board of Education who ran off the line with the blessing of party leaders.

“The arrest of Committeeman Albanese, an elected official and former Mayor, is deeply troubling and indefensible. Given the considerable damage and embarrassment this has caused to Readington Township and the Republican Party, we call for his immediate resignation from all elected offices. This is a necessary step to begin restoring trust and integrity within our community, Huelsebusch and Mueller said. “We also call on our opponents, Ben Smith and Jacqueline Hindle, to join us in demanding the immediate resignation of Committeeman Albanese.”

Now Albanese, a former aide to State Sen. Bill Schluter (R-Pennington), the state’s government ethics king, had to get a lawyer and is set to appear in court on June 3, the day before the primary election. That is likely to get postponed; the municipal court judge, Gerard J. Shamey, is a former four-term township committeeman and the presiding municipal court judge of the Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren vicinage, which could force the moving of the case away from the tri-county area.

These guys are a joke. Panico is a tool of the highest order -and I wouldn't put it past him to pull a stunt like that.

I was at a meeting on Tuesday with a Hunterdon County Dem Chair slate and as it wrapped up . . . we went into this - why are there signs out about Malinowski and Kean?

Now we know.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/councilman-arrested-for-theft-after-rivals-put-tracking-device-on-political-signs/

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Yes, this is the Law and Order crowd, eh? Hypocrites themselves were stealing the signs. I'd charge them all w/

petty larceny, or petty thief...these signs aren't cheap.

[alliemc317]

2. Ridiculous

Hasnt it been common knowledge that Panico stole signs a year or two ago? Also old signs are supposed to be removed within (i think) 7 days of an election. Those Malinoski signs are two years old. Aren't they simply litter? Id be curious to see if any trackers were put on current campaign signs. Probably not because this was clearly a set up, and they know no one would touch an actual campaign sign (other than Panico of course)

[JustAnotherGen]

3. They put them back out

Yeppers - they put them back out.

I'll be putting my same Biden / Harris signs out this year from 2020 - since I have 15? 16? All in good condition.

And yep - you are right about smarmy Panico. Remember the 1619 Project kerfuffle from the 'Bus Drivers' in Hunterdon Central? I wrote him a carefully word letter as a resident/taxpayer and all he had was a bunch of non-apology apologies. He's really not different from that asshat Lou Reiner (passed away recently). I believe Lou was one of his mentors.

[alliemc317]

4. signs

I saw an article about how the mother of the Sheriff was made to take signs down from her private property since the election was over. I don't see the difference. Especially if its private property. Some one needs to call out Panico for his hypocrisy if it's true he's stolen campaign signs as well. I am not familiar with the bus driver thing you speak of.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Here you go

This is a good start

Keep in mind - it's one of those anti-diversity websites.


https://defendinged.org/incidents/hunterdon-central-teachers-and-parents-fight-back-against-new-dei-training/

[gopiscrap]

6. welcome to DU