The Chicken Suit takes Office

Choi sworn in as mayor

(With Quips in Between by Yours Truly)

Edison inaugurates its youngest leader

Home News Tribune Online 01/2/06By JERRY BARCASTAFF WRITERjbarca@thnt.com
Jerry Barca: (732) 565-7306; jbarca@thnt.com

EDISON — A high school band playing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" opened the coronation ceremony of Jun Choi, the township's youngest and first minority mayor.

The 34-year-old Korean American was sworn in yesterday before a crowd of more than 500 people in the Edison High School auditorium. "I did not run for mayor to win a popularity contest. I ran for mayor to make a difference in the lives of everyday people. And to this end, we need a reform vision to revitalize our community," Choi said in his first mayoral speech.Yesterday's 90-minute ceremony was the realization of an outsider's run to office in a township dominated by Democratic-party loyalists.

(Reform Vision? Like hiring consultants at $25,000 a month for working "forty man hours" ? How about asking for "market rate" for himself at at whopping $90,000 a year PLUS health/pension benefits on the house? And why is the THNT still calling him an outsider - Have they not met Choi;s best friend, Doc Paterniti?)

In order to gain the mayor's seat, Choi, a first-time candidate for office, defeated incumbent Mayor George Spadoro in a crushing upset to win the Democratic primary. In the general election, Choi beat another party stalwart, William Stephens, a former council president who ran as an independent.Yesterday, leaders from the Catholic, Baptist, Hindu and Jewish communities said prayers in the auditorium adorned with red, white and blue stars-and-stripes bunting.
(No comment - He is allowed to have as many Catholic, Baptist, Hindu and Jewish priests at his inauguration as possible).

More than a dozen members of English and Asian-language media outlets took notes, snapped photos and shot video footage of the inauguration.The Asian and state political communities have also paid attention to Choi's ascent. Bong-Joo Moon, the consul general of the Republic of Korea, attended the inauguration. U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez, D-13th Dist., who is expected to take the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Gov.-elect Jon S. Corzine, was also in attendance.
(WOW, Consul General of the Republic of Korea? Menendez? Corzine? Boy!! People are paying a lot of attention to Choi's "ascent") Funny though, Someone legitimate like Dick Codey was too busy...How about some Republican leaders, Leonard Lance maybe?

"This is a great, great story for America that is occurring here today," said Corzine, who swore in Choi.In his inaugural speech, Choi pointed to a series of initiatives he plans to announce in his first 100 days in office.Without giving specific details, Choi said the initiatives will focus on education, relieving overcrowded schools, stopping residential development, luring businesses to Edison and "fiscal discipline.""Not all of these initiatives will be popular. . . . There will certainly be criticism and second-guessing," Choi said. "But . . . to seize these opportunities, what's needed is the kind of leadership to stand up to entrenched interests and to do what is right for the community."

(So Choi wants us, the "entrenched interests," to shut up? Is that what he is saying? Why do politicians say so much and mean so little? By the way, Choi has NO details for his initiatives...That is why he is always harping on generalities....Education, Relieving Overcrowded Schools, Stopping Residential Development, Luring businesses to Edison and of course, the dreaded "fiscal discipline." Wow, it is like reading his campaign literature.....The ame canned speech over and over and over...and can you spell fiscal discipline at $25,000 a month to transition consultants?)

Having beaten two longtime local leaders in back-to-back contentious campaigns, Choi asked for unity yesterday.He broke from prepared remarks to acknowledge Stephens, his general-election opponent, who was sitting in the crowd. "I'm so glad and touched you're here," Choi said. "I look forward to working with you in the future."The mayor also spoke directly to the township government. "Join me in rejecting petty, partisan politics and the politics of personal destruction. We face serious challenges, and we must assume our responsibilities seriously and cooperatively," Choi said.

(Did Choi just tell Stephens to stop being petty and engaging in partisan politics and "the politics of personal destruction." Good. Bill can stop...I am just getting started...)

Choi already is facing difficulty trying to get the Township Council to pay two consultants $25,000 a month to review the Edison government. The council approved an initial payment, but then tabled the issue when it came up again."We are going to see more disagreement in council chambers," said Robert Diehl, who was sworn in and made council president yesterday. "I welcome it all."After he was sworn in, Anthony Massaro, who was named council vice president, said he had no worries about possible disagreements. "It means people are thinking," he said.Beyond Diehl and Massaro, Salvatore Pizzi and Antonia Ricigliano were also sworn in as council members.Ricigliano, a Democrat who ran on Stephens' independent slate, served on the council from 1998 to 2001. She could be a Choi detractor, but, she said, "I'm not an unreasonable person. . . My only hope is he is up to the job."

(What do you know!!!...the THNT screwed it up again...The above resolution was in fact tabled, then amidst mass confusion because of Councilwoman Joan Kapitan's emotional state, was brought up for consideration again and passed....Kapitan took a lot of heat from residents for that.....Jerry, how could the THNT miss that? Maybe Choi was the messenger....
On Choi being up for the job, I feel the same way, Toni. Let's hope the chicken suit man has more bite than his whimpering bark...)

I have to go throw up now....This Choi-THNT love fest is making me hurl again....)

You can read the THNT article in its raw, odoriferous and unadulterated version at http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060102/NEWS/601020346/1001