By KATHY MATHESON
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

In a city as troubled as Camden, political scandals come and go. But city officials grown accustomed to such troubles were rocked Monday by the news that a simmering scandal at the Camden Parking Authority had turned violent.

Former Camden Parking Authority chief Anthony Scarduzio, the focus of a state investigation, was found dead of a gunshot wound in Monroe. And an authority whistle-blower, Joseph Bowen, was found critically wounded in a related shooting 2.5 miles away in Washington Township.

"I was absolutely floored," said Pete McHugh, who headed the Parking Authority before Scarduzio.

McHugh, who lived in Camden for 50 years before moving to Williamstown, said he couldn't remember anything this shocking since city resident Howard Unruh went on an unprovoked shooting rampage in 1949, killing 13 people.

The shootings occurred less than two months after former Mayor Milton Milan was sentenced to more than seven years in prison on corruption and other charges.

Scarduzio left the parking authority on May 31 after it was revealed he had close ties to vendors doing business with the authority. He was the target of a criminal investigation by the state Attorney General's Office and a lawsuit filed by Bowen. State officials said charges were soon to be filed against Scarduzio.

Assistant Business Administrator Richard Cinaglia, demoted by the state last week from his position as the city's chief financial officer, said there is a culture of corruption in the city, an "attitude that anybody can do whatever they want in Camden and get away with it."

But Cinaglia also said he was shocked by the shootings, especially since he had seen Scarduzio recently at a Camden Riversharks baseball game and the former authority chief was laughing and joking around.

Jose Delgado, a school board member, said Monday's events should not reflect badly on Camden. After all, Scarduzio did not work for the authority anymore and the gunfire occurred in another county, miles from Camden's City Hall and the Parking Authority.

"Does this give a black eye to Washington Township?" Delgado said.