06/09/05 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom Christ Church: Voting was a sign
Officials warned to take note of councilman's defeat
By Rob Jennings, Daily Record
ROCKAWAY TWP. - Christ Church of Montclair's spokesman called the Republican primary defeat of a council member whose recent zoning amendment prompted the church's federal lawsuit "a shot across the bow" and warned that other opponents may face a similar fate.
"Other elected officials should take note of (Eugene) Sheninger's defeat at the polls," church spokesman Marc Weinstein said Wednesday, one day after the two-term Ward 6 council member lost Tuesday's primary by a wide margin to Stephen J. Antonelli.
Weinstein said the church had no connection to Antonelli, who did not return a phone call Wednesday.
Sheninger responded that Weinstein's characterization was baseless and insisted that the mega-church controversy wasn't a campaign issue on either side.
"There was never a mention of the church," said Sheninger, who attributed his defeat to Antonelli's success in drawing a high number of previously unaffiliated voters to the Republican primary.
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What a sophomoric,off target and moronic attempt at spin doctoring this one was. I wonder if this legal genius speaks for Rev. Ireland. If so, I would expect a rightous man such as the Rev. to shorten the leash of this misguided attack dog........or perhaps lap dog would be more accurate.
Sheninger introduced an ordinance in February, adopted by the council one month later, that clarified standards for conditional uses such as churches and tightened environmental rules throughout the township.
Christ Church fired back April 15 with a federal lawsuit against the council, planning board, environmental commission and Mayor Louis Sceusi, charging that the new ordinance was the latest in a series of tactics aimed at derailing its building plan.
The planning board held its 17th public hearing Monday on Christ Church's proposal, which includes a 2,512-seat sanctuary and private K-5 school.
Sceusi, who lives in Ward 6, declined to say who he voted for on Tuesday. The mayor said Antonelli has lengthy family ties in the township and ran a strong campaign.
"He's a young man, very personable. He just got married. He got a lot of young people to come out and vote for him," Sceusi said, in agreeing with Sheninger that the Christ Church case wasn't an issue.
Weinstein questioned how the mayor could be so sure.
"While we aren't certain whether this law was a primary reason behind Mr. Sheninger's overwhelming defeat at the polls, it certainly could have been a contributing factor," Weinstein said.
"It appears that Mr. Sheninger tied his political fortunes to the wrong side of the controversial law. He ostensibly paid the price for that decision," Weinstein added.
Charles Mueller, a building plan opponent who voted for Sheninger, said Weinstein's comments were unfair.
"I personally applaud Gene Sheninger for his honesty and his straightforwardness in proposing this legislation and the research he did behind it," Mueller said.
"For the church to take a single primary election outcome and attempt to further that for their own public relations, I think, is absurd and unconscionable," Mueller said.
Sheninger said that 22 percent of the 580 votes in the Ward 6 race were cast by previously unaffiliated voters. Sheninger said he assumed that the vast majority of those votes went to Antonelli.
Weinstein said that, from the church's perspective, they'd rather have Antonelli than Sheninger on the council.
"He did not campaign on the issue of the church. We don't know what his position is on the application. We hope he will be open-minded. That was not the case with Mr. Sheninger," Weinstein said.
06/09/05 - Posted from the Daily Spin newsroom Rockaway Township: Voting was a sign
Brett Schundler's loss in the Republican Primary election attributed to his public support for a Mega Church with out knowing the facts.
By B-, Daily Spin
ROCKAWAY TWP. - Residents of Rockaway Township called the Republican primary defeat of the wana-be Governer a warning to others who try to bully, lie and spin to satisfy their own selfish needs.
According to Church spokesperson, Marc Whinny, "His support of the Christ Church application had nothing to do with it. He lost because he was having a bad hair day and was wearing a cheap suit during his last speech. Voters don't like that", Whinny said.
That really makes me laugh. There is not one slight hint that this man, Ireland, is a rightous man. Give me just one example of his rightousness, anyone. Wake up. Calling Ireland rightous is a total insult to those on this planet that we have witnessed who have truely led rightous lives.
Did Whinestein come free if CC bought a bowl of soup? This guy's horrible! He didn't research Antonelli's stance on CC before putting out that rag?? LOL! You realize PR stands for Public Relations, right? Because your Relations with the RT publc....well....SUCKS!!
"He did not campaign on the issue of the church. We don't know what his position is on the application. We hope he will be open-minded. That was not the case with Mr. Sheninger," Weinstein said.
Whiny...Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it.
Thank you BR - it seems all my comments didn't make it either.
Anyway, here it goes......
Mr. Weinstein & CC, Why do they feel the need to comment on the political happenings in Rockaway Twp? They should be worrying about their application and completing all apects prior to the next meeting in July.
Your PR Firm & Mr Ireland should have nothing to say about what happens in OUR COMMUNITY! You do not live or work here. Your comments are so far out of line. I'm sure that you have never taken the time to get to know Gene or even Steve for that matter. How can you be sure what will take place next? The answer is: YOU DON'T!.
Weinstein said the church had no connection to Antonelli, who did not return a phone call Wednesday.
Of course NOT, NO ONE IN ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP DOES.
"While we aren't certain whether this law was a primary reason behind Mr. Sheninger's overwhelming defeat at the polls, it certainly could have been a contributing factor," Weinstein said.
"It appears that Mr. Sheninger tied his political fortunes to the wrong side of the controversial law. He ostensibly paid the price for that decision," Weinstein added.
Well do you or don't you? It seems as though you cannot make your mind up.
Mr Ireland: There are over 100's of acres 10 miles west of Rockaway Twp, where you can build your dream. The site is Hercules and is right off of RT 80 exit. Your dream has been decreasing since your original application was submitted. Please explain why you feel you need to build in Rockaway Twp? I certainly do not understand.
Gene did not lose because of the presentation of the new ordinance. Steve is a very well know businessman in the GreenPond area. (did you know that?) Gene did a great job while in office, as I know that Steve will represent us the same way. They are both good men and to drag a name down because of a loss, is (or should) be beyond you and your PR Firm. As a matter of fact, you probably don't know these gentlemen, as we do. They are a part of RT and it's 22,000 residents. Not an additonal 5200 that may visit each day!
Please review your early transcripts of previous meetings, where your own expert said, that our ordinance was unclear and not definitative. With that, our Councilmen went to work. This was not a ploy, but acting on advise from experts.
Our residents (all 22,000) and Town officials, care about RT, we care about the Environment, Traffic, Taxes, Infrastructure. Do You?
Quoting fyrral: "I would expect a rightous man such as the Rev. to shorten the leash of this misguided attack dog" _____(emphasis added)_______________________________________________ That really makes me laugh. There is not one slight hint that this man, Ireland, is a rightous man. Give me just one example of his rightousness, anyone. Wake up. Calling Ireland rightous is a total insult to those on this planet that we have witnessed who have truely led rightous lives.
Perhaps I should have said "self and flock proclaimed rightous man".I'll reserve my own judgement for the time being. In any event, my statement was somewhat of a challenge to the Rev. Ireland, who has stated in the past that his calling, profession or vocation exludes him from telling untruths. I don't know if the ban on telling untruths extends to hired guns, attack dogs, lap dogs and spin doctoring.
I do know that when a "hit-man" is hired to kill someone by a particuilar party, not only is the hit-man legally and morally responsible for the murder, but so is the employer. How is this situation any different? Clearly, it is obvious to any reasonable man or woman, that Ireland is an immoral man.
We should stop pussy footing around about this fact. His actions have spoken volumes.
