Hansen: Democrats' Criticism of Refinery Settlement a Political Ploy

Dear Editor,

In response to the letter written by Donna Szymborski and Denice DiCarlo—paid for by the West Deptford Democratic Executive Committee—and comments made by DiCarlo in West Deptford Patch, it is obvious that DiCarlo and Szymborski are answering to the party bosses. Those same party bosses have pulled the strings of previous Democratic administrations, allowing this settlement to remain unresolved for over twenty years and costing millions.

In the , DiCarlo claims that she did not “directly” receive any money from firms connected with this tax appeals case. However, she sends out a letter criticizing this tax appeals settlement from the direct benefactor of those donations. Also, how does DiCarlo explain the $116,468.99—part of which was funded by attorneys connected to this tax appeals case—in donations from that same benefactor that funded her campaign last year? It must be OK for DiCarlo to accept that money indirectly rather than directly.

In the same article, DiCarlo claims that, “I’ve made it very clear, I don’t think John Lloyd’s been doing a great job.” How does DiCarlo and her band of naysayers feel about Paulsboro Democrats hiring John Lloyd as of April 3, 2012, to represent Paulsboro in a tax appeals case by the NuStar refinery, which is located partially in Paulsboro and West Deptford?

DiCarlo and Szymborski’s letter was a political move in trying to get reelected, while scaring uninformed residents of this tax appeals case and creating an adversarial relationship with West Deptford’s largest taxpayer.

How does this adversarial posturing lead to a better deal? If this was not such an important issue that DiCarlo and Szymborski are playing with, you would have to laugh at anyone who would take the time to write a letter challenging progress of others and not offering a work product or solution of their own. Donna and Denice: what is the better deal? Please give us something more than “it could be better.” Certainly, the party bosses who have been milking millions from the taxpayers for 24 years have a solution.

The good people of West Deptford including the good people of the West Deptford Democratic Party are not being represented well by DiCarlo and Szymborski and the party bosses who have put West Deptford in this mess. DiCarlo and Szymborski appear to be upset that the new Republican majority is exposing the abuse of West Deptford taxpayers for the past 20 years.

Thank you.

Jeff Hansen

Hansen is running as the Republican candidate for West Deptford township committee.