Self-described “Dixiecrat” running in Sussex County

Here are the opening paragraphs from the InsiderNJ puff peace, commissioned by her Trenton insider friends and penned by Fred Snowflake:

“Deana Lykins says her new hometown of rural Green Township in Sussex County looks a lot like her native Kentucky.  But the picture changes quickly when it comes to politics. Lykins says that when she grew up in Owen, Ky.,  her home county was more than 90 percent Democratic.”

Well, it’s still registered Democrat… there are over 4,400 Democrats to 2,300 Republicans, with 400 Independents… but Donald Trump carried the county with 75% of the vote in 2016.  Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s, Democrats generally carried the county (with the exception of 1984, when Ronald Reagan won the county with 52%), but after 2000, the county became reliably Republican.  

Owens County is 96.6% white, which makes it whiter than Sussex County (93.4%) but it’s a lot poorer.  The per capita income in Owens County is just $22,633 and 16% of the population live below the poverty line.  Yes, these are the white working class people who have been discarded by the global economy and the new economic elite.  They are part of a larger working class – of all races and ethnicities – who for twenty or more years have increasingly found themselves on the losing end, economically.  

$22,633 is a significant number for another reason.  We don’t know what her social strata was back in Kentucky, but when she moved east to New Jersey, lawyer-lobbyist Lykins became part of an elite than pocketed in one month what the average guy in her home county lived off for a whole year.  We know this because Deana Lykins told a federal bankruptcy judge in New Jersey that her monthly income was $23,576.

Candidate Lykins has a big house, fancy automobiles, and a wealthy lifestyle… but that didn’t stop her from spending herself into bankruptcy court.  And now she’s running for the Assembly – as a Phil Murphy Democrat.

In August of 2014, the candidate filed for bankruptcy (case #14-26076) in federal court and reported a monthly household income of $23,576.  From the court records, the debt appears to be consumer or lifestyle based… with a number of credit card companies listed as creditors, as well as tax authorities.  Property listed included a large, well-appointed house, as well as a BMW, Land Rover, and a Chrysler Sebring.

Candidate Lykins is well-known in Trenton, where she worked for the Democrats in the Legislature before turning into a lobbyist for the insurance industry.  What skills she has to offer are ominous – especially in the area of keeping spending in check and balancing budgets – but Lykins would be a safe vote in support of the spending and debt agenda of Democrat Governor Phil Murphy and the rest of the Trenton Democrats.  

But here’s where her candidacy gets really interesting.  

On her first video she made public for her current campaign for the New Jersey Legislature, Deana Lykins describes herself as a “Dixiecrat”.  Yes, you heard that right… she said she was a “Dixiecrat” on a campaign video meant for public distribution and then posted that video and distributed it through her campaign.

So just what is a “Dixiecrat”?

Well, let us for the moment turn to that well-known source of definitions, Wikipedia, for further enlightenment.  Here is what they have written to define the term “Dixiecrat”:

The States' Rights Democratic Party (usually called the Dixiecrats) was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States. It originated in 1948 as a breakaway faction of the Democratic Party determined to protect states' rights to legislate racial segregation from what its members regarded as an oppressive federal government.

Supporters assumed control of the state Democratic parties in part or in full in several Southern states. The Party opposed racial integration and wanted to retain Jim Crow laws and white supremacy in the face of possible federal intervention. Its members were referred to as "Dixiecrats", a portmanteau of "Dixie", referring to the Southern United States, and "Democrat".

Wow…

And we have news for old Fred Snowflake… Dixiecrats really did fly Confederate Battle Flags, real ones.  Not Hank Williams Jr. Country & Western Band banners.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll have more entertaining background from Ole Kentucky and Owens County “Dixiecrats”.  So stay tuned… it is going to be fun.

Fred Snowflake on Deana Lykins: 900 words and not a mention of Lykins’ bankruptcy?

Fred Snowflake is a used-to-be journalist who now writes propaganda for one of the biggest slime-ball government vendors in New Jersey.  His boss’ latest project is Deana Lykins.

Deana Lykins is a lawyer-lobbyist and member of the One Percent.  She has a big house, fancy automobiles, and a wealthy lifestyle… but that didn’t stop her from spending herself into bankruptcy court.  She recently announced her candidacy for Assembly, running as a Phil Murphy Democrat.

In August of 2014, the candidate filed for bankruptcy (case #14-26076) in federal court and reported a monthly household income of $23,576.00 (that’s every month).  That’s more than the yearly income (per capita) of the average resident in a town like Sussex Borough ($20,887). 

From the bankruptcy court filings, the debt appears to be consumer or lifestyle based… with a number of credit card companies listed as creditors, as well as tax authorities.  Property listed included a large, well-appointed house, as well as a BMW, Land Rover, and a Chrysler Sebring.

Candidate Lykins is well-known in Trenton, where she worked for the Democrats in the Legislature before turning into a lobbyist for the insurance industry.  What skills she has to offer are ominous – especially in the area of keeping spending in check and balancing budgets – but Lykins would be a safe vote in support of the spending and debt agenda of Democrat Governor Phil Murphy and the rest of the Trenton Democrats. 

In the furtherance of the agenda of his boss (the slime-ball government vendor who is supporting lawyer-lobbyist Lykins), Fred Snowflake went so far as to LIE.  Yep, a really BIG LIE.  Snowflake made a false claim against a Republican, calling him “a colorful sort who caused a commotion awhile back by posing with the Confederate battle flag.” 

No, it was the banner of the Hank Williams Jr. Country & Western Band.  Now Fred Snowflake isn’t such a stupid SOB to really believe that the Hank Williams Jr. Country & Western Band Banner was around back in 1861-65 during the Civil War.  Yep, this is just Fred being a handjob… lying about someone to make his boss happy. 

We’ll make a bet with old Fred Snowflake.  If Fred can find a photograph or documentation that any Confederate military unit ever marched to war under the Hank Williams Jr. Country & Western Band Banner, we’ll publicly kiss his ass.  And if he can’t – and he won’t – we expect in fairness that Fred Snowflake publicly kiss his own ass.  At the State House will do.  In the middle of a legislative session.  Give the other handjobs something to Tweet about. 

In the meantime, if Fred or any of the other handjobs want to write about flags… well we have some suggestions for them…

This flag is the banner of a political movement… the Palestine Liberation Organization or PLO.  It is a terrorist movement responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jewish civilians – mainly women and children.  Look familiar?

Hank Lyon shouldn't talk about debt and taxes

We like Hank Lyon and wish him well.  Hank is an ideological conservative.  But it is his back story -- how he achieved public office, how he has maintained office, and how he seeks to advance himself up the ladder of public office -- that makes us uneasy.

It's a story of debt... and taxes.

Everyone remembers how Hank Lyon won a seat on the Morris County Freeholder Board.  A late infusion of cash from a corporation controlled by his father -- an infusion allowed because of an election law loophole that says if a candidate still lives at home with his parents, their money is treated as if it was the candidate's own money.

D. Use of Personal FundsUse of a candidate’s personal funds on behalf of his or her campaign must be deposited into the campaign depository and must be reported as either contributions or loans to the campaign in the same manner as all other contributions or loans. If the candidate intends to be reimbursed fully or partially for personal funds used on behalf of his or her campaign, then the funds must be reported both as a loan and as an outstanding obligation to the campaign if still outstanding at the end of the reporting period. Once a candidate’s personal funds are reported as contributions, the funds cannot be later characterized as loans and be repaid to the candidate. There is no limit to the amount of personal funds a candidate may contribute or lend to his or her own campaign (except for publicly funded gubernatorial candidates). See Gubernatorial Public Financing Program Manual for more information.  Also, a corporation, of which one hundred percent of the stock is owned by the candidate, or by the candidate’s spouse, child, parent, or sibling residing in the candidate’s household, may make contributions without limit to a candidate committee established by that candidate, or to a joint candidates committee established by that candidate.

That infusion of cash is improperly reported.  A judge overturns a close election, followed by a lawsuit, and another judge who reinstates the election results. 

Lyon's father was his Freeholder campaign's treasurer and its principal financier.  The lawyer who won the case for him was an alumnus of the Brett Schundler for Governor campaign and a movement conservative.  They tried to screw him:

Lawyer seeks $162,000 from Morris County Freeholder Hank Lyon

Morris County Freeholder William “Hank” Lyon has been accused of owing his former lawyer $162,000 in unpaid legal bills while Lyon also is battling with the state over alleged campaign violations.

“What a worm,”  said attorney Sean Connelly about his former client, Lyon. “We never expected to be in this position. We won precisely how we said we would win.”

Lyon, a Montville resident, did not return several calls for comment and an email to his freeholder address.

Connelly and the law firm of Barry, McTiernan and Wedinger of Edison represented Lyon during a nine-month court battle that ended up with Lyon winning the freeholder seat.

Lyon had won the 2011 Republican primary by four votes over Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom of Washington Township.  Nordstrom sued and won, gaining her seat back.

Lyon appealed the ruling and a state appeals court ruled in his favor in February 2012 and removed Nordstrom from the position. Lyon later won the freeholder post at a special election in November 2012.

Connelly said that after Lyon refused mediation and other offers to settle, the firm finally filed the suiton June 13 in Superior Court in Middlesex County against Lyon and his father, Robert A. Lyon, both of Montville, and their organization, “Lyon for Conservative Freeholder.” Connelly said Lyon has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

Connelly said that before the court action, he had told Lyon that the lawsuit would be very costly.

“They said they were going to fund this to the end,” Connelly said.

The legal effort included extensive court representations and $18,000 for transcripts.

“We filed motions upon motions upon motions,” Connelly said. “It tied up my practice for six months.”

Connelly said his firm has offered several discounts on the outstanding legal bills.  “They kept ignoring us,” Connelly said. “We offered them great terms to pay over time.”

Connelly also said he filed the lawsuit in Middlesex County in an effort to limit publicity in Morris County.

“I don’t want to embarrass him,” he said. “I want to get paid.”

Connelly said the freeholder avoided being served with the lawsuit summons, forcing him to hire a professional to serve him at Lyon’s freeholder office.

Connelly said he also named Lyon’s father, Robert, in the lawsuit because the elder Lyon initially had agreed to pay the legal bills.

Connelly said he believes Lyon and his family have significant assets, including real estate holdings and restaurants.

Lyon’s income includes $24,375 a year as a freeholder. He also works with his father in the family’s business, which owns four restaurants, including Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants and Maggie Moo’s ice cream parlors.

Election Violations

The N.J. Election Law Enforcement Commission also has accused Lyon of four violations of campaign finance laws during the 2011 Republican primary. Each violation could result in a maximum $6,800 fine.

The same alleged violations were cited by Superior Court Assignment Judge Thomas Weisenbeck when he ruled against Lyon and in favor of Nordstrom.

The commission names Lyon and his father who was the campaign treasurer.

One alleged violation involves a $16,000 loan made to the campaign a week before the primary but not reported until July 8. The state says that because the contribution was more than $1,200, it should have been reported within 48 hours.

Another alleged violation occurred when Lyon and his father certified the information on the loan and campaign report was correct but that they changed it in a subsequent report. Initially, Lyons reported that he had made the loan but it was later changed to identify Robert Lyon as the contributor, the state said.

Additionally, the state claims the information about the contribution was submitted after the June 27 deadline.

Further, the complaint says that $16,795 in expenditures were listed on July 8 but were due on June 27.

(Editor Phil Garber, December 11, 2013, newjerseyhills.com)

The Lyon family operates a group of interconnected corporate entities out of the same office and same post office box they share with Hank Lyon's political campaign -- Post Office Box 193, 20 Indian Hill Road, Towaco, New Jersey.

We know this because a number of these corporate entities have filed for bankruptcy or have liens or judgments against them or owe taxes.

While serving as an elected Freeholder, at least three corporate entities operating from the same office and post office box as Hank Lyon's political campaign have filed for bankruptcy.  These are 275 Prospect Street Associates, LLC (Case #15-16683); High Prospects, LLC (Case #15-16684); and Zero Barnegat, LLC (Case #16-25213).  The creditors in the first bankruptcy cases included the following:

On the Zero Barnegat bankruptcy, the creditors included:

This is all very troubling for the career of such a young conservative.  And especially because his campaign has only grown more indebted to a corporate entity within this interconnected group.  Hank Lyon's corporate indebtedness jumped between October 15, 2013, and October 15, 2016:

Note the address of Imperial Management Company.  It is 275 Prospect Street in East Orange.  This is the property managed by another Lyon corporate entity, 275 Prospect Street Associates, the company that had to file for bankruptcy and owed debt to taxpayers and residents.  The principalsof this corporate entity are Hank Lyon's parents:

In addition to bankruptcy, 275 Prospect Street Associates, LLC, has only recently emerged from a state suspension:

There are two Lyon family controlled corporations that go by the name "Imperial Management" -- one is a corporation, the other is an LLC.  The corporation -- Imperial Management, Inc. --  is listed as the entity owed the debt by Hank Lyon's campaign.  Unfortunately for Lyon, the family corporation that his campaign is in debt to is currently under suspension by the state.

As for the other Imperial Management Company owned by the Lyon family, it has recently emerged from a suspension by the state:

This is an unholy mess and until Freeholder Lyon can sort it out and extricate his campaign from it, he has no business running for higher office.  Trying to move up the political ladder, with a campaign so deeply in debt to dodgy corporations who are in debt as well, is just crazy.   It is an open invitation to a well-financed Democrat, backed up by a free-spending gubernatorial candidate and super-PACs loaded with cash. 

There is also the matter of ideology to be cleared-up.  How can one claim to be a "conservative" when he is existentially wrapped around such a convoluted mess of debt, bankruptcy, and fiscal irresponsibility?  If you cannot keep from being suspended by the state or fined by NJELEC or having your rents garnished, then how can you hope to address the budget of the State of New Jersey?

Starting with Atlantic City, State Focus Should Return to Fiscally Responsible Management

By Harvey Roseff

For too long now, New Jerseyans have been subjected to a political nightmare with each Political Party pandering to its constituency.  The New Jersey Taxpayer Association ("NJTA") asks for a return to prudent management and respect for the State taxpayer.  It should start by the State exiting from any involvement with Atlantic City's plight.

Atlantic City's fiscal problems are local in nature.  Without involving the State taxpayer, there exist proper State and Federal legal venues to resolve business disputes between creditors, employees and residents.  It is irresponsible for State party politics to now insert itself and expose the State taxpayer to heavy burdens of distracted management focus, expensive legal actions and what always happens in the end, an unacceptable, uncalled-for State bailout packed with expensive contractors and professional legal "help".

Forty years ago, the State of New Jersey handed Atlantic City, a city endowed with an incredible gift from nature, an additional prize that most municipalities would die for - a windfall in the form of a statewide business monopoly (casinos).  This came at the expense of the rest of the State and became quite a "cash cow". 

How the State and local municipalities invested their individual takings from the "cash cow" is today of their respective responsibilities.  On their own volition, each individually derived out-sized benefits and exposed themselves to future liabilities.  Therefore, the State taxpayer should not be involved with Atlantic City's Master Plan, employee pay scales or bond debt responsibilities.  Neither should Atlantic City residents and creditors have access to State taxpayers' pockets and free legal and professional help to pay for their choices. Each should re-prioritize and restructure without external interference and should not place burdens on outsiders. 

NJTA is quite concerned that Atlantic City's unfortunate circumstance has led to a State partisan fight that will eventually attack the State taxpayer pocket. The State legislature and Governor should not be picking sides, nor adjudicating disputes, between local labor, management and creditor groups.  The fact that this is happening only means the State taxpayer is being set up to pay for something that is  fiduciary  wrong.

The State taxpayer doesn't need added burden that delivers nothing to their lives and communities.  If the local parties can't resolve their business and financial issues, Atlantic City belongs in bankruptcy court - a venue that will not burden and tax the general State public to pay for a local dispute. Bankruptcy court has recently and well served Jefferson County, AL and California cities. It is bankruptcy court that was designed for the plight of Atlantic City, not so our legislative and executive branches. Don't now stack the deck against State taxpayers.

Harvey Roseff is the Vice President of the New Jersey Taxpayers Association.  You can read more about the group and its work at njtaxes.org.