Old Bridge’s Flynn running
against Kyrillos for Senate
By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — Contending that state Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos (R-13) has neglected to serve his constituents, Old Bridge resident and Democratic Municipal Chairman William E. Flynn has announced he will challenge the three-term incumbent for his Senate seat.
Flynn will run alongside Democrats Thomas Perry, an Aberdeen Township councilman, and Leonard Inzarello, a Middletown Township Board of Education member, who are seeking the seats of Republican incumbent Assemblymen Joseph Azzolina and Dr. Sam Thompson.
Flynn, a local attorney who has formerly held office in Old Bridge as a township councilman, mayor and state assemblyman, will head the Democratic ticket for the three state offices.
Flynn claims that Kyrillos, who is also the state Republican Party chairman, has not been present for his constituents because he has been more preoccupied with the duties as a party leader rather than as a senator.
"There are a lot of things we are not getting because Sen. Kyrillos is too busy attending to statewide political functions instead of fighting for the people of the Bayshore, Old Bridge, Holmdel and Middletown," Flynn said in a press release.
"I want to know, where was Joe?" he asked.
Kyrillos, according to Flynn, has failed to address the state’s varied issues, including property taxes, auto insurance, medical malpractice reform, overdevelopment and overcrowded schools during his tenure.
"Property taxes and auto insurance have continued to rise year after year," Flynn said, also criticizing Kyrillos’ ideas for medical malpractice reform. Kyrillos, according to Flynn, has been busy working on behalf of his Republican colleagues and their interests rather than trying to resolve those issues.
"Issues of overdevelopment, overcrowded schools and traffic congestion are just a few more of the problems that have been ignored by Sen. Kyrillos," Flynn said. "Where was Joe? He was raising money from developers and other special interests for the benefit of the state Republican party."
In a telephone interview with Greater Media Newspapers last week, Flynn further accused Kyrillos of missing opportunities to help balance the state budget while fellow Republicans Gov. Christie Todd Whitman and acting Gov. Donald DiFrancesco were in office. Now, Gov. James E. McGreevey has been stuck with making unpopular choices to balance a budget sent out of kilter by the overspending of the two previous administrations, Flynn said.
"This year and last year, the chickens have come home to roost," Flynn said "[The Republicans] stuck McGreevey with this budget."
In addition, Flynn accused the state’s Republicans, including Kyrillos, of looking the other way as state Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) workers have struggled to protect troubled children. Highly publicized violent incidents against young children in Newark, Irvington and most recently in the Colonia section of Woodbridge are indicative of the Republicans’ failure to oversee DYFS operations.
"DYFS officials said they lost track of 110 children who are suspected of being abused and they admit having failed to investigate nearly 300 other outstanding child abuse reports," he said.
Future incidents of child violence could be prevented if elected officials would work with DYFS to evenly distribute the caseload among the workers, he said.
In a statement provided to Greater Media Newspapers, Kyrillos defended his record and acknowledged Flynn’s statements with regret.
"I have known Bill Flynn for many years, and while I am disappointed he has begun his campaign with a lot of negative rhetoric, I welcome him to the race," said Kyrillos, a resident of Middletown.
"As always, I will be working hard for the people of my district by opposing [the Democrats’] job-killing tax hikes, fighting for more education funding for our schools, and working for economic growth that increases jobs and opportunities and improves the qualify of life for our families," Kyrillos said.
If elected, Flynn would represent not only Old Bridge, but Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Matawan, Middletown and Union Beach in Monmouth County.
Although several of those Monmouth County municipalities are controlled by Republicans, Flynn still believes a Democrat from the district’s lone Middlesex County community can defeat the well-known incumbent.
Flynn, who served six consecutive terms as a 13th District assemblyman from 1974 to 1986, plans to reach out to those Monmouth County residents who supported him in his previous bids.
"I got elected six times in that district," Flynn said. "Many of the same residents are still living there."
Flynn, 65, received a bachelor of arts degree from The College of New Jersey, Ewing, and earned a law degree from Rutgers Law School, Newark.
The candidate formerly served as legal counsel to the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority (OBMUA). He also served as the attorney for the Sayreville Planning Board and for the zoning boards in Hazlet Township and Keansburg.
A 38-year township resident, Flynn and his wife Elaine have four grown daughters and 10 grandchildren, who also reside in the township.