A Sign of the Times: Marlboro Divided over Pieces of PIE

MARLBORO – Sign stealing is always a campaign issue, but usually before an election, not after it.

In this Monmouth County town, however, one board of education candidate has filed theft charges against another over the theft of campaign signs almost a week after the Nov. 5 election.

And guess what?

Both candidates involved in this legal skirmish won seats on the school board.

Let’s digress.

The school board race here pitted two, three-person slates against each other.

One group was called Marlboro Values Protected, or MVP.

The other – Partners Improving Education, or PIE.

This was a contentious battle built around parents’ rights and the suggestion that public school curriculum is too liberal.

Voters delivered a split ticket.

Two candidates from the PIE slate won – Brian Cohen and Jenna Corraro.

And one candidate from the MVP team won – incumbent Danielle Bellomo.

So that was that. The elected individuals will all serve on the board and tensions will ebb until, presumably, the next election.

Not really.

Corraro of the PIE team by her own admission wanted to do something about the many campaign signs still around town after the election.

This is a problem all over the state – and probably the nation. I always see a few campaign signs still on public roads weeks after an election.

Corraro put it this way:

“There are lawn signs littering our town. I did some research and found out that the signs cannot be recycled because of their material and if they are thrown out they sit in landfills. I thought it would be a great initiative to start collecting lawn signs and donate to organizations like Habitat for Humanity to upcycle. They can be repurposed as canvases for artists, designed to create shelter for the homeless, teachers can use them in classrooms by painting them with whiteboard/chalkboard paint, and there’s a TON of other ideas. (She said she posted her intentions on Facebook).

“I started collecting all of my slate’s signs, MVP signs on public property only, some of their own supporters asked me to pick theirs up, and some people came and dropped a bunch off. People love this idea because sustainability is sexy and important:

“I posted this late Monday night (Nov. 11) because I thought I was doing good and did not realize I could get in trouble for it. After all, their signs were (and still are) all over public property – many even lying on the ground. MVP has no intention of removing them.”

Clearly, Corraro saw her actions as a good deed. After all, what good are campaign signs when the election is over?

Bellomo of the MVP slate had a different take.

When she realized what Corraro did, she went to the police.

It turns out a municipal ordinance mandates that signs have to be removed seven days after an election. Given the fact Corraro apparently took signs prior to seven days after the election, there was a problem.

Police called it “theft” of one’s private property. In all, there were nine MVP signs that Corraro removed, according to a police report. Their value was $36, the report said.

Bellomo told police she wanted to sign a criminal complaint against Corraro, and that’s precisely what police did.

Asked to comment, Bellomo issued the following statement:

“As a dedicated community volunteer, I feel the recent theft of my election signs reflects poorly on the values of volunteerism and community integrity.

“I was shocked when I found out that my election signs were being stolen. I had planned to repurpose them for local charitable projects this holiday season, and to think that someone took them for their own purposes is deeply disappointing.

“Upon learning of the theft, I immediately contacted local authorities. Following the report, police launched an investigation and were able to recover several of the stolen signs from the individual’s residence. The case is being treated as a disorderly person’s charge for theft.

“Throughout MY campaign, I faced multiple incidents of stolen or defaced materials, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to ethics. I would never take something that doesn’t belong to me, nor would I seek to gain anything through dishonest means. How and where my signs and my name are used is my choice. Stealing, no matter the reason, is simply wrong.

“I truly believe we need to emphasize the importance of respect for one another’s property and the need to uphold integrity within the community. Stealing is shameful, and it undermines the values we all should strive for as volunteers and neighbors. If we’re going to build a stronger community, we need to act with honor and respect for each other.

“Despite the distressing nature of the incident, I want to express gratitude for the swift response from law enforcement and the ongoing support from community members. This situation serves as a reminder of how important it is to stand up for what’s right and to continue working toward the causes that make our community stronger.”

This case will now be heard in municipal court.

As stated, both Bellomo and Corraro will be on the board next year.

Wonder if they’ll be sitting next to each other on the dais.

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17 responses to “A Sign of the Times: Marlboro Divided over Pieces of PIE”

  1. Danielle Bellomo is a serial liar who likes to play the victim. She had no intention of repurposing her signs. They are still up and abandon all over town.

  2. This is disgusting to say the least. If the seven days is the waiting period allowed and to six days she did not remove. She had no plans to remove them. If you realistically ask any third-party objective neutral party that would be judge Newman I would like to come to the court in support of the person who was doing some good deeds. Shame on you miss Bellomo! Looks like your teammates lost, and this is how you act because you lost the majority now?

  3. The level of immaturity and pettiness of Bellomo is embarrassing to say the least. Unfortunately, this is all fueled by the extremist views you can find on many of these unhinged echo chamber Facebook groups.

  4. There’s a big distinction here. She took them off of public property, and today, two week past the election Danielle Bellomo’s signs are still littered throughout public property. She has no intention of repurposing them. This is just how she is and a prime example of her character.

  5. Danielle Bellomo is lying as usual. 13 days since the election and there are signs and banners all over on public property.

  6. 7 out of 9 of the signs that were removed were removed from public property 7 days AFTER the election; the other two signs were actually from a resident that private messaged Jenna and asked her to pick them up because he knew she was recycling them. If Bellomo really wanted her property back she had plenty of time to go out and get these signs. As of Friday, Ryan Road was still littered with MVP signs. It is truly amazing how easily some people lie.

  7. Danielle Bellomo is so full of it when she said she “had planned to repurpose them for local charitable projects this holiday season”. Please let the community know the names of these charities. I’m wondering if she gave the Patruno for Prison and Boycott Bellomo signs that she and Aldo Patruno “stole” to these charities.

  8. Marlboro has an ordinance that signs need to be removed within 7 days of an election. Bellomo’s signs are still littered all over town. I hope the township does the right thing and fines her for this since she has claimed they are her property.

  9. 7 out of 9 of the signs that were removed were removed from public property 7 days AFTER the election; the other two signs were actually from a resident that private messaged Jenna and asked her to pick them up because he knew she was recycling them. If Bellomo really wanted her property back she had plenty of time to go out and get these signs. As of Friday, Ryan Road was still littered with MVP signs.

  10. Shocking, more playing the victim from Bellomo. Shameful, especially shameful coming from someone that hired a Golan guy from Florida to attack Jenna Corraro throughout the entire campaign season. Marlboro deserves better.

  11. I think the most disgusting part of this is that Bellomo weaponized the police against Corraro’s children. She knew Corraro’s children would be home at the time she had the police visit her residence. Then, even after the signs were returned, had the police go back to issue the summons.

  12. Instead of fighting crime Bellomo had the police department wasting time on signs she still hasn’t bothered to take down. Bellomo is a pig and belongs in a zoo.

  13. I don’t live in Marlboro and this woman is petty. She didn’t think of it first so might has well play victim. A true adult would have contacted the fellow elected Board member to ask for signs back. What kind of dynamic is this setting the BOE? Who will suffer, the kids will. It’s Bellomo who needs to play nice in the sandbox. Jenna, keep helping and supporting ALL the community. Our kids need a good role model of a true human being.

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