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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD |
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A GIGANTIC LEGACY With the death of former Freeholder Director Harry Larrison over the weekend, one chapter in the most curious history of Monmouth County politics has come to a close. While United States Attorney Chris Christie still has other local politicians to parade in front of a jury, the biggest fish in his investigation has passed away. No one was larger in Monmouth County politics than Harry Larrison and arguably, no one contributed more to the growth of Monmouth County in it’s gloried history. He leaves some gigantic legacies - a great park system, the Belford ferry, a triple AAA rating, and acres of open space. But what happened in his last term? The truth may have gone to the grave. Cynics will point out that Harry must have been crooked for years and only just got caught in the twilight of his tenure. His supporters will believe that Harry was duped by his longtime aide and that he was overwhelmed by the medication associated with his fight against cancer. If you looked at the charges, the evidence was pretty damning. But if you knew Harry, you couldn’t believe that he would sell himself or even put his legacy in such danger. There had to be some plausible explanation. Part of Harry’s appeal was that he would help anyone, and it’s hard to comprehend that he would suddenly demand payments for helping others. Harry Larrison was about public service. He made tough decisions and it would have been a heck of a battle watching him fight for his reputation. We will never hear the verdict on Harry Larrison, and sadly, he won’t be around to clear his name. In the absence of that, Harry Larrison should be remembered for his good deeds and how, under his leadership, Monmouth County became New Jersey’s finest county.
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