Sheriff’s spokesperson resigns after two weeks

BY KAREN E. BOWES
Staff Writer

FREEHOLD — Janna Montague, the undersheriff appointed May 2 by Sheriff Joseph Oxley, resigned May 13 amid widespread criticism of her $62,000 starting salary.

Montague, of Long Branch, was only on the job two weeks as the undersheriff in charge of public information. In that time, editorials appeared in several area newspapers, blasting the sheriff for the high salary assigned to Montague, a recent Monmouth University graduate with relatively little work experience.

“The negative media coverage has made it difficult for the Sheriff’s Office to continue to function effectively, and it is in the best interest of the Sheriff’s Office that I resign,” Montague wrote in her resignation letter, according to a press release issued by the Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff maintains that Montague was fully qualified for the position.

“Janna Montague is an intelligent, professional, thoroughly qualified and highly motivated individual who brought contemporary ideas to the Public Information Unit at the Sheriff’s Office,” said Oxley. “Her writing and interpersonal skills were exemplary and made a positive impact on the people with whom she interacted, both within the agency as well as media representatives and the public.”

Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Handlin, also a candidate for state Assembly, reacted to the news of the resignation.

“I’ve made it clear that I believe it was a bad decision to hire this individual in this job at that salary,” said Handlin last week. “Clearly, since the freeholders cannot control the hiring in the Sheriff’s Department but do control the budget, I’m sure the entire board will raise serious questions about the public relations function and the opportunities to perform it much more cheaply in the Sheriff Department’s next budget request.”

There is no word yet on who, if anyone, will replace Montague.

Handlin hopes it will be at a reasonable salary.

“The problem here is, you had a beginner,” said Handlin. “That salary could only be commanded by a veteran with many years of experience. That’s what made it so outrageous.”