Photos
Flashback to August 2011. Ocean County Emergency Management officials and municipal coordinators from most of the 33 towns gathered at Robert J. Miller Airpark to discuss the rapidly advancing Hurricane Irene.
Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari was at the dais, along with Capt. Michael A. Armstrong from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, the late Undersheriff Wayne R. Rupert and a host of other officials.
But one person wasn't there.
The county's chief emergency management coordinator had been carefully excluded from the meeting. That's because - according to top sources - they didn't think Polhemus would be able to handle the press conference.
The 84-year-old sheriff has been a no-show throughout much of 2012. Berkeley Patch contacted his office five times this fall to interview him for an election preview.
"The sheriff isn't here right now." "The sheriff is in a meeting."
"How long will he be in the meeting?"
"All day."
Berkeley Patch made several calls to GOP Chairman George R. Gilmore, who said he would "reach out" to the sheriff. Nothing.
Polhemus also declined to debate his opponents.
I was present at an Asbury Park Press editorial board meeting with the sheriff at least a dozen years ago in the Toms River bureau. Polhemus back then was being challenged by Ronald Palmeri, a young sheriff's officer with some good proposals for the stagnant department.
Polhemus arrived late, with Undersheriff William T. Sommeling at his side. One of Sommeling's many duties back in those days was to follow up most statements Polhemus made with the disclaimer "I think what the sheriff meant to say was ..."
Polhemus arrived with a Macy's shopping bag bulging with papers. Sommeling was told that since this was an editorial board meeting between the two candidates, he would not be allowed to speak. His face fell and so did the sheriff's.
The sheriff was thrown a softball question to open the editorial board meeting. He was asked what his department's total budget was for that year.
"Oh, you would have to ask me that," he said, with a grimace. He began yanking paper after paper out of the Macy's bag.
It's the worst-kept secret in Toms River that Polhemus is not up to another term. GOP officials continue to play the party's version of The Emperor's New Clothes and act like things are fine.
They are not.
That was underscored again when catastrophic Hurricane Sandy struck last week. Silence from the sheriff, except for a few canned quotes supposedly from Polhemus, penned by the Ocean County Office of Public Information in press releases that few read.
Polhemus was named as a classic double-dipper in a recent report by njwatchdog.com. He's pulling in over $160,000 a year in salary and pension payments.
Back in the 1990s, he cheerfully admitted to the Asbury Park Press that he had asked the Seaside Heights Borough Council to jack up his salary the last few years of his employment so he'd have a heftier pension. But it didn't seem to matter. He was handily re-elected.
This year, Freeholder John P. Kelly had wanted to make a run for the sheriff's race, but said he would not challenge a "sitting" sheriff.
Here's a prediction.
Polhemus will probably win handily over Democratic George "Bob" Armstrong and Independent Robert McMenamin.
Rock-ribbed Republican Ocean County once re-elected Franklin P. Fisher as surrogate, even though he had been dead for weeks. And some time after the election, Polhemus will announce he is stepping down for health reasons unless. That leaves the door open for another patronage appointment.
Same old, same old.
Scott Neuman
6:43 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
You control your vote. I'm from Manchester and have lived here for about 20 years or more. I'm running for Freeholder of Ocean County and I'm running as an independent. I'm not a Gilmore stooge. If you really aren't going to vote for anyone else, vote for me instead. Also If you are in the 3rd congressional district, Frederick Lavergne is a great person to vote for to send to Congress. Len Herman is in the 4th. We're both bracketed on the 3rd Column on the paper ballots. I'm running with Tracy Caprioni and we'd be lucky to have him as a Freeholder also. No party affiliations so no pay offs, no have to hire someone's uncles brothers sister named Ritacco. http://www.scottneumanforfreeholder.com
I have spoken
8:06 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
YAWNNNNNNNNNN
knarfie
6:57 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
He is a disgrace and the republicans should be ashamed of themselves to back him again.
Ken
7:01 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
While I consider myself an independent but mostly vote towards the republican side. I think that they are making real aholes out of themselves putting Polhemus in there running for Sheriff. My Dads only 4 years older and I know at 84 he would have had no business running for an office.
I'm voting for the other guy just to spit in the face of the Ocean County Republican party for being dumb asses.
notasellout
7:27 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
This is a disgrace. It certainly shows why it's past time that the Republican machine in Ocean County needs to be dismantled.
Anthony
7:40 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
.....and the Mayor of Toms River as well???? HELLO, REALLY?? Gee Mr Kellerher and Sheriff Polemus, do you think it's time to retire FINALLY??????????????
These guys are sitting ducks DOING NOTHING and collecting more than one pension!!!!!!!!
John B Taxpayer
8:00 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
The Sheriff is in the lakewood nursing home. or Flynns funeral home!
Any vote for this cadavor of a man is only made by a moron!
Laci
8:05 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Mayor Tom Kellaher is doing just fine, it's the all republican council that needs a balance change.
Doug Bennett
5:10 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
And just how is Kellaher doing fine? He has not done fine by the voters or people of Toms River or Ocean County his entire life. Just another machine stooge who wasted a spot in the prosecutors office and now is doing nothing as Mayor. He is fine if you prefer your elected officials to be utterly useless!
I have spoken
8:06 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Bob Armstrong 2012.
Voting for anyone else for sheriff is a wasted vote.
Mr. ?
8:10 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Kelaher and Polhemus, NO help from them during Sandy! No help form them ever. Only patronage, nepotism and pay to play from the good ole boys..I meant OLD boys
Brian Holt
8:26 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
GET RID OF INCUMBENT POLITICIANS/SHERIFFS/OTHER USELESS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
foggyworld
8:39 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
And please don't ever vote to make someone else a double or triple dipper. One State, county or local civil servant per nuclear household should so it so that more people have decent incomes but not ridiculous ones.
bayboat
9:06 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
He's not up to the job.
He needs a minder.
Can him and send him to Florida.
David Fischer
9:28 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Brick Township residents...
If you do not like politics interfering with your school-system, vote for David Fischer.
http://brick.patch.com/articles/boe-candidate-profile-david-fischer-1fb87a34
River City Rover
9:38 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
The Sheriff is commanding his troops in Seaside. I saw him handing out pens to a seagull and a sponge to a roller coaster out in the ocean.
River City Rover
9:39 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
PS Be kind, you could be senile some day.
Wise Owl
9:43 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Let's face it, the real Sheriff is running the show in Ortley, his name is Mike Mastronardy. Hopefully he will be the Sheriff when WP is sent to the nursing home in December.
glenn frischmann
8:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The Sheriff needs to retire. He can no longer do his job. He is a very nice man but how can an 85 year old be an effective Law Enforcement leader? He can not, and we residents of Ocean County deserve better.
Chief Wahoo
8:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Gives new meaning to dead man walking....
Joseph Woolston Brick
8:45 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
You wouldn't hire an 84 year old to be a cop on the beat so why would anyone hire one to be top cop? Time for us to retire him. After all it's our decision, and not some party boss's whether to keep him employed or not. Time to give Polhemus a gold watch!
Doug Bennett
5:10 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Anyone voting for Polhemus shows they only care about party as he is just another Gilmore bagboy and always has been. For an inmate to call or you to call an inmate you have to go through a company in Texas. Guess who gets part of that kick back. You can not visit an inmate in person. They have a video system leased that provides more kickbacks. He is not just stealing his salary and inflated triple dipping pensions...he is making a mockery of justice with every breath he takes.
foggyworld
8:39 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
There is another way to try to get rid of him. Next ballot have a referendum that will really stick out and maybe people will wake up. This is plain waste.
The other approach would be to eliminate the entire department and spread the few jobs they do to other organizations already in place.
Mr Kaye
5:10 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Ocean County Republicans did the same thing a few years ago.They ran Freeholder James Mancini for re-election,knowing that he was terminally ill.They did not tell the public,because they knew he was popular,& had been in office for many years.He was a shoe-in for re-election.He didn't have to even campaign.He got re-elected,& shortly before he was to be re-sworn in,he died.Then the George Gilmore Republican Party Machine appointed Gerald Little,& he's been a freeholder ever since.It's sad....you could say the people of Ocean County &/or Toms River deserve better;but they're the ones that keep voting these people in.
John B Taxpayer
7:49 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
No, they get the government they deserve and voted for , as Barack will show you!
John B Taxpayer
7:49 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
And The senior citizen sheriff will die too. Probably from chocking on all his ill gotten gains.....