Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.
Six months ago, Declan O’Scanlon was a contender for state Assembly fighting political accusations of cronyism for his work on the Fair Haven cell tower deal.
You might think that the last thing O’Scanlon would want to do now is to remind the public of the flap. But yesterday, as a rookie member of the Assembly, O’Scanlon introduced legislation that would ban people in his new shoes from getting the kind of work that led to all the static.
O’Scanlon’s bill, A2585, would prohibit state legislators or companies they own as little as one percent of from entering into contracts with local, county and state government entities in their districts.
“While having people with experience in running their own businesses is an asset to the Legislature, we must make sure that these officials are not using their legislative positions for personal gain and are not allowing the operation of their business to conflict with their legislative duties,” O’Scanlon said in a press release announcing the bill.
“This legislation will make the ground rules clear and will ensure that no legislator enters into contracts with any of the public entities in his or her legislative district.
“As someone who operates his own business, I understand the importance of avoiding these potential conflicts and have voluntarily imposed this standard on my own business activities,” O’Scanlon said. “This bill would ensure that this standard is mandatory for all legislators.”
A Republican who also serves formerly served on the Little Silver borough council, O’Scanlon drew flak in last year’s election from opponents Mike Panter, then an incumbent, and his running mate, Fair Haven resident Amy Mallet, for his work on a deal to site a cell tower near Ridge Road in Fair Haven.
O’Scanlon works in the telecom industry as a consultant through his company, FSD Enterprises. He refuted Panter and Mallet’s accusations.
He won election in November on a ticket with now-state Senator Jennifer Beck and fellow Assembly member Caroline Casagrande. The three share legislative office space on Monmouth Street in Red Bank.
What a great idea that completely makes sense. unfortunately, it has just as much a chance of becoming laws as monkeys flying over broad street.
When Declan did it it wasn't illegal and if his legislation gets passed it will be. Ummmm…..There is a difference between being legal and being legitimate. Legislation like this is meant to be a minimum standard. Real decisions regarding ethics come from within. If someone has to consult statutes and ordinances to determine if they are doing something unethical they probably are. Wasn't it US Senator Barry Goldwater who said, "You can't legislate morality"?
Kudos to O'Scanlon for proposing ethics legislation that would negatively impact his own income, instead of just pointing the finger at others.
As long as we're tilting at windmills, why is the bill limited to contracts within one's own district? To use O'Scanlon's case, I don't see how having him get contracts with, say, Newark instead of Fair Haven makes him a better legislator for the people of his district.
And I'm no lawyer, but isn't a position on the Little Silver Council kind of a contract?
But again, if this bill passed, it would be progress, so bravo for O'Scanlon.
Kudos to O'Scanlon for proposing ethics legislation that would negatively impact his own income, instead of just pointing the finger at others.
As long as we're tilting at windmills, why is the bill limited to contracts within one's own district? To use O'Scanlon's case, I don't see how having him get contracts with, say, Newark instead of Fair Haven makes him a better legislator for the people of his district.
And I'm no lawyer, but isn't a position on the Little Silver Council kind of a contract?
But again, if this bill passed, it would be progress, so bravo for O'Scanlon.
For the record - this article is in error. Declan no longer serves on the Little Silver Borough Council. He did not seek re-election to the council in November as he was running for the Assembly seat he ultimately won.
It would be appreciated if Red Bank Green would verify its facts before they post these articles. It creates nothing but confusion and misinformation otherwise.
'WatchDog' is correct. I relied on the Little Silver Borough website, which still lists O'Scanlon as a councilman and includes him in a photo of the governing body. Mea culpa.
John T. Ward
redbankgreenman
So let me get this right, Mr Panter said this was wrongdoing all along, Mayor halfacre wanted an formal "im Sorry" from Mr Panter for saying it was wrong to do.
Now Declan is saying he too believes its wrong to do?
So I ask you this Mr. Oscanlan,
Will you forfeit all monies recieved from my town back to the town, and forfeit the monies still to come?
IF you do this, then we will believe your sincere about your position on this Bill.
Or are your only supporting this bill because youve ran out of towns to place cell towers in, and you know theres no more money to be made around here for awhile.
FH resident
Actually, O'Scanlon's bill applies only to contracts between legislators and government entities. Since he was not a legislator at the time, his contract with Fair Haven would still have been legal under this bill.
Certainly this bill is incomplete, but something is better than nothing.
Which has me wondering. Assemblywoman Casagrande's editorial in the Asbury Park Press today, in which she says she voted against ethics reform legislation "because I'm tired of hearing that something is better than nothing." Does that mean she'll be opposing O'Scanlon's very limited bill?
It might behoove her to do so. My impression is that the core of her law practice is serving local governments.
I wonder if O'Scanlon is getting the stink eye from Casagrande….
Wait a minute, Casagrande and Menna have recently formed a law firm together. So this bill would also force Menna to give up all his municipal clients. DecO must be getting bipartisan stink eyes.