Social media is at the center of controversies for three local government leaders this week.

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Stafford Township Council members are meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss a police investigation that allegedly targeted a man for being an outspoken critic of Mayor John Spodofora.  At issue - a now-defunct Facebook page that accused the mayor of lying about his military service in Vietnam.

The Asbury Park Press reported that Spodofora asked Stafford Township Police to investigate the page belonging to township resident Earl Galloway on the grounds that it might be considered identity theft.  The ensuing three-month investigation eventually expanded to involve the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and a grand jury, and even spread to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).  No evidence of wrongdoing was found, and no charges were filed.

Meanwhile, Union Beach Mayor Paul Smith is drawing criticism after posting a joke about President Obama on his own Facebook page, which insinuated that the President is a Communist, a Muslim, and an illegal alien.  Smith says he has the utmost respect for the office, but he told The Jersey Shore Insider that he does not believe President Obama was born in the United States.

And in Marlboro Township, Public School Board Vice President Victoria Dean is under fire for an article she posted on Facebook regarding a school district's plans to observe Muslim holidays.  The Asbury Park Press reports that a commenter left a derogatory response about Muslims on the post, which Dean appeared to "like."

 

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