Schepisi and Auth: The Silent Hypocrisy Of Birkner and Falotico Is An Embarrassment To The People They Seek To Represent

Westwood, NJ…Assemblymembers Holly Schepisi and Bob Auth released the following statement in response to yesterday’s desperate and slanderous attacks by their opponents:

“The silent hypocrisy of John Birkner and Gerry Falotico is an embarrassment to the people they seek to represent. Throughout the course of this campaign, they have willfully and deliberately refused to condemn hate speech, anti-semitism, and criminal conduct perpetrated by members of their party and supporters of their campaign. It’s pathetic and unbecoming of someone seeking to represent District 39 in Trenton.

“Following a series of anti-semitic Facebook posts from a Murphy administration employee and President of the Passaic County NAACP, Jeffrey Dye, a bi-partisan group of state leaders rightly condemned him for his hateful rhetoric. Who remained silent during this? Democrats John Birkner and Gerry Falotico.

“Of course, this is nothing new for our opponents. When the Murphy administration was exposed for the unlawful hiring of convicted felon Marcellus Jackson, and alleged rapist Al Alvarez, Birkner and Falotico were silent.

“When Democrat Party Boss Lizette Delgado Polanco was hired to run the School Development Authority, where she fired dozens of career civil servants to replace them with her own family members, Birkner and Falotico were silent.

“And when the Murphy administration issued a gag order prohibiting women who were harassed while working in the administration from speaking out, Birkner and Falotico were once again silent.

“This repeated pattern of silence is particularly concerning because John Birkner and Gerald Falotico are running to be our voice in Trenton, a position where they will have to represent everyone in the 39th district, not just those of their own political party.

“In contrast, we have a proven record of standing up to nepotism, corruption, and wrongdoings on both sides of the aisle – regardless of political party. Recently, we stood strong against Sheriff Saudino – both when his terrible comments came to light and, later, vociferously opposing his desire to switch to the Republican Party.  That’s the kind of leadership District 39 deserves. Sadly, our opponents don’t have the courage or fortitude to provide it.”