At a recent Council meeting a resident made several charges against Councilman Gonzalez’s qualifications to become a municipal judge in Perth Amboy.

Gonzalez responded to one charge, that he had a conflict by taking first time home buyers as clients, but he did not respond to the charge that he illegally used the handicap placard of a deceased relative in order to make his life more comfortable at the expense of a truly handicapped person.

Gonzalez revealed by this action that he believes that he is above the law, that the law does not pertain to him because of his imagined importance. Therefore in his eyes his convenience trumps that a handicapped individual who is not so important. The merits of the case were not heard by the judge, not because of the evidence which is indisputable, but because the statute of limitations had run out.

When Gonzalez was first confronted on this issue in public his response was typical – he did not deny the allegations but bellicosely proclaimed he would not tolerate anyone attacking his family. HUH. To this day Gonzalez has not apologized for this illegal use of a handicap placard to the residents of Perth Amboy, to the members of the City Council and to Mayor Diaz. I guess he does not have to apologize to the Mayor because she sees nothing wrong with his stealing the rights of the legitimately handicapped. After all Mayor Diaz believes Gonzalez possesses the attributes she is looking for in a Judge:

Independent Thinker – Gonzalez switched from being a Republican to a Democrat because he desired a seat on the City Council

Good Fundraiser – Gonzalez accepted a $2,000 donation from a Gartland Company while a member of the BOE. Gartland was convicted of stealing $2.6 million from our schools. The Attorney General said this money was stolen  from the children of Perth Amboy.

Honest – Gonzalez refused to return the $2,000 donation. Why? Because he already spent it.

Loyal – lt is well known that matter Mayor Diaz endorsed and lobbied for Gonzalez’s election in 2O1O he threatened to challenge her in 2012

Tough on crime – Except his own. Do as I say, not as l do.

Ethics, Morality and Character – I can’t think of anything more telling when judging a man’s character. Councilman Gonzalez before becoming a New Jersey attorney was required to demonstrate his fitness by showing the requisite traits of honesty, integrity and trustworthiness with the Committee on Character. Can anyone think of anything worse than stealing a handicap parking space by using a deceased man’s handicapped placard for your own use. Maybe, just maybe stealing from a blind man’s cup would be comparable.

What is truly puzzling is why Mayor Diaz and perhaps Senator Vitale would nominate the ethically challenged Kenneth Gonzalez to become a Perth Amboy Judge.

Of course if it is not true how about a statement from the Mayor. That would be nice.

David Caba