I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the two letters by Russ Garroway and Anthony Benfatto attacking "Mac" Womack and Carlo Socio for declaring themselves independent of the North Brunswick Democratic organization. On the other hand, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since that kind of blind loyalty is exactly how the Puleio/Matacera/Shamy Demo-crats got this town into trouble in the first place.
Just so your readers know, Russ Garroway is the son-in-law of Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Jeanne Endler. Now, is it any wonder why he is upset Womack and Socio are trying to open up the process and take power out of the hands of the party bosses? Furthermore, Mr. Garroway says he is a longtime committeeman who is committed to representing the people of his district. Actually, Mr. Garroway has only been a committeeman for about two years, and no one I talk to in District 19, which he represents, has ever seen or heard of him. Who exactly then are these legions of upset people he refers to?
As far as Mr. Benfatto, he has also been closely aligned with Democratic Party boss Vito Puleio for many years. For him to question the motives of Mr. Womack and Mr. Socio based on his perception that public officials should be blindly loyal to the organization only underscores the fact that the existing North Brunswick Democratic organization needs a full-scale housecleaning.
Hopefully with this background, residents will be more enlightened as to the motive for these attacks. Fortunately, the people will have the final say on primary day, June 3.
Richard P. Bemiss
North Brunswick