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TagsHandlin and Muñoz don't want indicted ex-Bergen County official rewarded with new post
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The appointment of Ronald O’Malley, who is under indictment, as chairman of the Upper Saddle River Planning-Zoning Board has led two Republican Assemblywomen to call for action on their legislation that would prevent such an action.
O’Malley, former chairman of the Bergen County Improvement Authority, is facing federal charges that he used the county position to falsify employment records to mislead banks into giving mortgages to his clients.
Assemblywomen Amy H. Handlin (R-Monmouth) and Nancy F. Muñoz (R-Union) said Thursday that a public official should step down when facing charges, and not receive a new position that carries increased power and public responsibility. They renewed their call for the enactment of their bill A-538, that would require the immediate suspension of indicted local public officials.
“Less than three weeks ago, I said we should make this law before we had another embarrassing example of why it’s needed and here we go again,” Handlin said. “The presumption of innocence should not guarantee the privilege of holding public office, especially one that involves land use decisions made by someone facing charges of fraud and misusing public office to help his mortgage company. That would be like allowing someone accused of robbing a bank to drive a Brink’s truck.”
“Public officials should be held to a higher standard than private citizens,” Muñoz said. “Permitting those under indictment to not only remain in their job but to receive a promotion further erodes public trust and confidence. We will only end this when our Legislative leaders allow us to vote on this measure that will permanently prohibit people under indictment from holding public office.”
Handlin is also sponsoring bill A-537, that would require immediate suspension of state officials, as well as a measure ACR-39, that would ask voters to amend the state constitution to prohibit indicted people from holding public office. Muñoz also sponsors A-1766, that would require prison terms and pension forfeiture for public officials convicted of crimes involving their office.
