Editors Criticize Albano Over Troopergate

COURT HOUSE — Newspapers throughout the state have weighed in on the Troopergate scandal that is haunting Democratic Assemblyman Nelson Albano. After getting a speeding ticket, Albano sent a letter to the head of the New Jersey State Police and made up stories about how he was treated by the trooper who stopped him. Fortunately for the trooper, his video was rolling and the truth was revealed. The papers have pointed out how Albano abused the power of his office in attempting to damage the career of this young State Trooper.
The Asbury Park Press said, “Albano immediately started asking for special privileges. Albano wasn’t smart enough to stop there. He wrote a letter to Col. Rick Fuentes, who heads the State Police. He said he didn’t like Trooper Pangborn’s tone. That could be because Albano was being obnoxious and asking favors. Albano claimed the ticket was because the Legislature voted to make government employees pay more for health care and benefits. That is both desperate and ignorant.” – Asbury Park Press – April 27, 2012
The Newark Star Ledger Editorial Board said, “Assemblyman Nelson Albano is the latest public official to flame out in spectacularly public fashion by trying to weasel out of a speeding ticket. Instead of paying his fine and moving along, the South Jersey lawmaker now finds himself in the middle of an embarrassing firestorm over his ham-handed attempt to influence the state trooper who pulled him over. The episode, already is subject to an internal State Police investigation. But it also demands an ethics investigation of Albano (D-Cumberland).
Albano’s nonsense didn’t stop there. On Monday, during a public apology, Albano insisted, ‘I do not expect special treatment.’ He can’t be serious. By reading his cop-friendly résumé to the trooper, then complaining to top brass when he didn’t get his way, Albano clearly was looking for treatment beyond any ordinary citizen’s. Clearly, a legislative ethics probe of Albano’s conduct is called for. Here’s a lawmaker who pressured a state employee for doing his job. Any other state employee who pulled the same stunt would be in violation of conflict-of-interest laws.” – Newark Star Ledger – April 18, 2012
Then, the Gloucester County Times came down hard on Albano for lying about the State Trooper, saying, ”It’s galling that Albano suggests that pulling rank and using special access to officials like (State Police Superintendent) Fuentes is OK. Anyone can ask for a favor, he said in the interview. He ‘would have done the same thing’ if he weren’t a legislator. Did he say this with a straight face? Here’s how it is, assemblyman: Anyone can ask, but only you, and other top officials, can create extreme pressure on an officer not to issue a ticket to someone who deserves one. About the only thing that Albano, who admits to speeding, has done right is saying he’ll pay his ticket. Otherwise, based on what we know so far, this looks like an abuse of power.” – Gloucester County Times – April 17, 2012
Finally, the Vineland Daily Journal Editorial Board said, “When he decided to enter politics and run for Assembly in 2005, he cited highway safety as one of his priorities. He said that government officials have to look at all forms of highway safety. It is sad to note that six years later, the man who wanted to lead traffic safety efforts in the Statehouse tried to use his position of power to get out of a speeding ticket. Afterwards, he tried to sully the reputation of a state trooper who was doing his job honorably. The assembly man of the people has clearly lost his way and is transformed from being a hero to embarrassment.” – Vineland Daily Journal – Dec. 7, 2012.
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