The Courier - July 17, 2008

M'town Republican candidate caught in recreation fibs?

Fiore wasn't 'recreation director' in either Carteret or Linden

By MELISSA L. GAFFNEY
Staff Writer

    If the township of Middletown is looking for a candidate with grandiose talk and minimal experience to boot, it has found such a politician in Anthony Paul Fiore.
    The Republican candidate for Township Committee apparently has limited experience in the field of recreation, despite allowing the public to believe he could make significant contributions in that department, were he elected.
    In a June 5 article from The Courier, titled "Fiore on M'town: 'The greatest town in the country,' " Fiore said he has" a solid history in the field of recreation."
    According to the article, Fiore said he was the recreation director in both Carteret and Linden, respectively. "I love kids and athletics," he was quoted as saying.
    Upon further investigation, the career Fiore said he had a "solid history" in turned out to be nothing more than temporary summer employment.
    In reality, Fiore spent a handful of months working in the field of recreation.
    As for his quoted title, recreation director?
    He never held such a position, according to recreation documents.
    "It's a great summer job," Fiore had told The Courier of his employment sandwiched between studying at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
    According to the Linden Recreation Department secretary, Ginger Brady, Fiore was employed from June to August of 1999 as a summer playground director.
    In Linden, a playground director is currently required have at least two years of "playground experience" or equivalent, according to an application for employment.
    Recreation department paperwork cites "considerable knowledge" of sports, games, handicrafts, music, dramatics and other playground activities as a job requirement.
    Brady said Fiore made $11 an hour.
    Some things have not changed, as the going rate for a playground director is still $11 an hour in Linden, according to the same paperwork.
    The following summer, in 2000, Fiore worked for the borough of Carteret in the summer recreation department.
    According to Christine Kazio, in the Borough Payroll Department, no title is listed for Fiore.
    Payroll statements indicate Fiore earned about $104 that summer - after taxes.
    The assistant municipal clerk, Linda Rivera, said there was no actual file for Fiore because he was temporary summer help.
    When asked about job descriptions, Kazio said Fiore could have been in charge of summer programs offered through the department, such as a softball or tennis clinic.
    Fiore, 31, would have been in his 20s during said recreation employment.
    The Republican candidate for Township Committee did not return phone calls' as of press time.
    However, Brady said Fiore's file noted he was a very good employee.
    In fact, she said he was eligible for rehire.