My name is Dan Gross and I am a resident of Jackson who supports the change of government. I’d like to provide the voters with my opinion regarding this important issue so they can decide on some facts as well as opinion. I’d like to summarize why the voters of Jackson should support this change of government and vote yes to the change of government on Nov. 4.
Why should you support the change of government? First, 25,000 registered voters will elect a mayor, not have an acting mayor selected for us from a member of the legislative committee. Second, it provides fair and equal representation with the council being set up as wards, a.k.a. neighborhood and at-large.
Third, partisan politics and party boss influence will be significantly reduced. Fourth, more qualified candidates will have an opportunity to run. Fifth, it is more efficient, can save the taxpayers money and has better checks and balances built in.
Jackson needs these changes today. We need a strong executive in the position of mayor. We need better legislative representation via a council of nine. The six wards (neighborhoods) will represent the various issues affecting those specific areas of town so we can have proper discourse on those issues. The three at-large council seats will represent Jackson as a whole, thus balancing the needs of the town against the individual wards.
In a democracy, we do not allow one area or group to decide what is best, we let the majority of voters with proper representation make those choices. In addition, this establishes a better separation of powers and a set of checks and balances that Jackson does not have today.
The cost of these 10 elected officials could result in a $67,500 savings each year by eliminating benefits for the part-time elected officials and the full-time aide to the mayor. Jackson spends approximately $187,500 a year between salaries and benefits for the Township Committee and assistant to the mayor. If the mayor receives a salary and benefits totaling $95,000, each council person receives a $3,000 stipend and no benefits for the part-time elected official for a total of $27,000, and we eliminate the aide to the mayor and those benefits, the total expended would be $122,000 or a $67,500 savings over the current cost of government.
Partisan politics has a place somewhere, just not in Jackson. It does not seem to be as effective here as in other areas. Instead of bringing out the best candidates to run on the issues, it has brought out the worst. In fact, I am positive that it has discouraged many qualified candidates from running for office because they knew the partisan politics would not allow them to focus on the issues, but rather stay business as usual. Just look at this year’s campaign.
By voting yes to the change of government on Nov. 4, Jackson voters will be making history and ensuring a better future for Jackson and providing better representation for them.
I fully support this change of government in the current format for the many reasons stated above. Jackson needs this change to be positioned to lead in the future and to change the "politics as usual‚" in town. If you like the way things are, vote no, however, if you want to see a change for the better, elect a full-time mayor that will fight for Jackson, gain better local and town representation with the council, dilute the influence of party bosses and partisan political antics, encourage greater participation in the town elections, and save some money, vote yes to the change of government in Jackson on Nov. 4
Daniel P. Gross
Jackson