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What’s Happened To The “Free and Independent Press”?
An editorial appearing on www.Oceancountypolitics.com on Saturday, September 20, 2025 authored by Richard Schiff, Editor in Chief, was brought to the attention of this campaign team. This web site states that it is “A Free and Independent Newspaper”. Free, yes. Independent, absolutely not.
Please feel free to go to this Site and read the article if you have not already done so. Then return here for our views and facts about this survey that was conducted on behalf of our team.
Hit On Sore Issues
This article would lead you to believe the Democratic Party, led by Mayor Varano, doesn’t conduct such polls. Considering Mayor Varano has a degree in political science, it would be hard to accept that his campaign hasn’t already conducted the same kind of poll. Oh, as a matter of fact, they did. However, it was conducted prior to the Republican Primary this past spring. The problem with their “push” poll was that they assumed a republican other than Chuck Bunnell would be challenging him for Mayor. That’s what happens when you assume.
I saw the questions on this poll. I didn’t get them third hand from a democrat taking the poll. 100 registered democrats, 100 registered republicans and 100 undeclared individuals were polled. Each individual that agreed to answer the survey were asked the same questions. This article would lead you to believe that the “respondents who don’t agree with the folks paying for the poll are asked leading questions to see if things change when the “push” questions are asked”. Nothing is further from the truth. Every respondent was asked the same questions. These questions may be reviewed by any resident of Berkeley Township who wants to see them at our Campaign Headquarters. Call 732-606-0030 for an appointment.
The author of this article then interjects his own “push poll” by stating, “would you still be a supporter of Bunnell if you knew that you, the taxpayer, were paying nearly $20,000 a year for two health insurance policies for him and his wife, including one they didn’t even need?” It is ironic that he ends this sentence in his article with a closed quotation mark since he didn’t start it with one. Who is he quoting, Mayor Varano? We hope not. The fact of the matter is that during the years Ms. Bunnell decided to exercise her right to accept the health benefits, the combined cost to the township was approximately $3,500 each year.
Mayor Varano knows the true facts. Ms. Bunnell’s position (Director) was terminated and Department (Social Services) was disbanded by the Township Administrator, Len Roeber, under the direction of Mayor Varano, in 2002 ,for what was described as budgetary reasons. Based upon information received through the township, Ms. Bunnell actually had saved the taxpayers of Berkeley Township approximately $34,500 in health benefit costs during her years of employment.
Reporting?
The inferences to Ms. Bunnell and that of a specific and targeted “bold typed” statement appearing between paragraphs are for one reason only, that of leaving a reader to believe that she is or was a victim of domestic abuse, is inexcusable and requires a personal apology to Ms. Bunnell. Negative attacks against candidates may be acceptable in today’s political arena by some but not against their wives and families. If you agree with us, contact Mr. Schiff and let him know. editor@politicsoc.com
First of all, the author either does not know the true facts or he is “declining” to disseminate only what he wants you to believe. What a “cheap” and bias means for disseminating misinformation to the voters of Berkeley Township on behalf of the Varano team.
Putting this in print for others to see
without the facts be can likened to an attorney getting up during an examination
of a witness and purposely making a statement before the jury that he knows he
shouldn’t and the adversary attorney objecting only after the damage has been
done. That’s right; Mr. Schiff does say that “these would be very unfair
questions if the premise was untrue”.
Is your premise true Mr. Schiff? Do you have the facts to support
anything that you have written in this article?
His interpretation of the salary question is an assumption on his part. Mr. Schiff does not have a political science degree. He has not sat in on any republican meetings. In fact, he all but refuses to print any of the news releases sent him by the Bunnell campaign team.
Mayor Varano Is The Lowest Paid Elected Mayor In The County
And Puts Forth The Effort Commensurate With His Salary
First of all, Chuck and I were against even having the question utilized by the pollsters as we both agreed that this should be a non-issue for this campaign. We were told that it was more of an issue than we were led to believe. I guess they were right based upon the response by Ocean County Politics. In reviewing past articles on this web site, it is evident that there is a journalistic bias for Mayor Varano. This might be due to the fact that Schiff/Haelig provides outside political services to Mayor Varano for which he is handsomely compensated.
“Mayor Varano has the lowest salary of any elected Mayor in Ocean County.” As well he should. Mayor Scarpelli of Brick Township is a Full Time Mayor with his first obligation to the residents of Brick.
Mayor Varano is a part-time mayor who has a “full time, politically appointed position with the NJ DEP”. That was a step up from his former position as a claims representative for State Farm Insurance. His new boss, Governor McGreevey, was very generous and offered him a $58,000 a year salary, plus a benefit package that exceeds that offered to him by Berkeley Township as a part time Mayor. Oh, yes, he declined to take the benefits offered to him after accepting that position from Governor McGreevey but declined to advise the general public and residents of Berkeley Township that he is getting $2,000 in lieu of the benefits in his salary. There is nothing wrong with this and it is perfectly legal. He is entitled to deny these benefits in exchange for the cash. However, he also could have denied the cash or donated it some worthy organization or charity. He did neither.
Chuck Bunnell has made it very clear from the beginning that he will not accept the health benefits package that comes with being Mayor of Berkeley Township. He has also made it very clear that he will not accept the cash in lieu of these benefits but will donate it the recreation department of Berkeley Township.
Mayor Varano’s personal editors, rather
than end his section on the salary question, interjects, as noted by the line
spacing, that Captain Bunnell has just retired (32 years of service to the
people of Berkeley Township) an infers that his choice to seek public office is
that of “nursing the public breast”.
"Bunnell just retired as a captain
in the Berkeley Police
Department (talk about nursing from the public breast)"
~Richard Schiff~
found on Oceancountypolitics.com
Obviously Mr. Schiff has never served the public or he would know what an honor
it is to do so.
Mr. Schiff then infers, without fact or knowledge on the subject, that recent legislation concerning the Police and Fireman’s pension fund would benefit Captain Bunnell. Nothing is further from the truth.
Captain Bunnell retired after 32 years of service with the Berkeley Township Police Department effective July 1, 2003, 48 hours prior to the signing by Governor McGreevey, Mayor Varano’s boss, a bill which increase by 5 % the pensions of police and fireman who retire after 25 and 30 years respectively but not until such time as the “Police and Fireman’s Pension Fund” not the “State Pension Fund” reaches and value of 104%. It was, at the time of the signing by Governor McGreevey, at approximately 94%. Chuck Bunnell did not and will not in the future qualify or benefit from this legislation.
Let’s get it straight. This legislation was voted on by the legislature and signed into law by Governor McGreevey, who had the right to VETO it but did not “in the face of near insolvency”.
What A Bunch Of Liars
The author stated that “there was a question, however, about the “huge tax increase” in Berkeley, a “huge increase” that the Bunnell campaign team knows perfectly well was mainly caused by tax increases in the school system, some of which were voted for by” Bunnell “and his council candidates as members of the school boards”.
The tax increase question was specific. It stated a fact. The fact was that under Jason Varano and his administration, the municipal tax rate in Berkeley Township has risen 27% in the last three years, 20% during the years 2001 & 2002. In fact, since the Democratic Party has controlled the Mayor’s office, the municipal tax rate has gone up 108%. If you don’t believe us, check the facts.
The fact of the matter is that only one council candidate is currently serving as an elected board member, Richard Kimmel. He served on the Berkeley School Board from April 1999 to March of 2001 and is currently serving on the Central Regional School Board. Sal Mastroberti hasn’t been a board member since December 31, 2025 and Chuck Bunnell last served on the Berkeley School Board in April 2002.
Their distinguished service to these boards had no affect on your municipal tax rate. Only Mayor Varano and his team can take credit for that.
The Varano led mismanagement of residential development in this township since 1999, under the auspices of Mayor Varano and his team, has overloaded our school system. Over 900 residential building permits have been issued since 1999. That would equate to 1350 new students. What was Mayor Varano thinking about since he took office in 1999? We don’t hold his youth and inexperience against him and you shouldn’t either, but didn’t he know that non-senior residential developments bring with them children.
Mayor Varano constantly and consistently blames the school systems for our tax problems. He might claim to have a New Vision but he can’t see what is right in front of his eyes.
Our schools are busting at the seams. You the tax payers have already approved a Fifty Million Dollar Bond to expand our existing schools and create a new elementary school site for fifth and sixth graders. Based upon current township land sales during the Varano administration, by the time these expansions are finished, they may very well be obsolete. Are you, the tax payers ready to spend another $50,000,000?
Our school boards should be highly commended for their outstanding performance during the Varano lead administration considering the stress imposed upon them by Mayor Varano’s mismanagement of this township’s residential expansion. Furthermore, Mayor Varano’s continued lack of inclusion of these school boards on matters such as expansion has made and will continue to make their responsibility to this township’s most treasured asset, our children, even more difficult to provide.
Mayor Varano would have us believe that he couldn’t prevent it from happening or is it that he wouldn’t prevent it from happening.
How does he explain those campaign contributions from builders, sub-contractors and a PAC (Political Action Committee) funded by developers? How about that Mr. Schiff? Starting to get the real picture? If you don’t believe us, check the facts. It’s public information.
“Close The Gate, The Horse Is Out Of The Stable”
Now Mayor Varano wants the residents of Berkeley Township to believe he has a “New Vision” for the future of this township. Ask yourself this, what has been the problem with his perception for the last four years? Is he trying to tell us that 4 years from now he will be able to listen to the people any better?
Come on Jason. Is this the best you’ve got? Let’s take it to the people. One on One, anytime, anywhere, on the facts, issues and concerns of the residents of Berkeley Township.
If Mr. Schiff and his “free and independent newspaper” want to hear it from the candidates themselves and not third parties, maybe he should sponsor a debate between the two candidates. He could even broadcast the debate on his web site.
If you, the residents and taxpayers of
Berkeley Township, agree that a debate between the Mayoral Candidates should
take place, e-mail Mr. Schiff.
editor@politicsoc.com
WWW.Berkeleygop2003
