The co-owner of a chain of landmark Jersey shore pizza places may soon be reappointed to a local tourism board, even though he and his wife face federal tax charges.
The Press of Atlantic City (http://bit.ly/1tEBPmW) reports the Ocean City Council is due to vote Thursday night on a resolution to keep Charles Bangle on its Tourist Development Commission. The reappointment was proposed by Mayor Jay Gillian and must be approved by the council.
Bangle and his wife own the Manco & Manco pizzeria stores on the Boardwalk and a location in Somers Point. The couple face a 30-count indictment that alleges they failed to report $980,000 in income from 2007 until 2011. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Several city officials said Bangle has done admirable work on the tourism commission.
"Mr. Bangle is an existing member of the tourist commission who we feel has done an excellent job," said Jim Mallon, an aide to Gillian. "Mr. Bangle deserves and is entitled to his day in court and it would be premature of us to make any assumptions at this time. If at some time in the future the information changes, we will review the facts and decide what to do."
But one council member questioned whether he should be reappointed while the legal case plays out.
"This is crazy," Councilman Pete Guinosso told the newspaper. "That doesn't make any sense to me at all. Why would they ever think of putting him back on the Tourist Commission?"
