When I read that Andrew Lucas had decided to campaign for a spot on the Manalapan Township Com-mittee, I applauded his decision to step up to the plate. At a time when apathy and disillusionment are the norm, when many people don’t even register to vote, it is encouraging to see a young person want to take an active role in the political process.
What a disappointment it was to read Gerard Ward’s personal attack on the new candidate in the Aug. 11 edition of the News Transcript.
It seems that Mr. Ward has a problem with the fact that Mr. Lucas doesn’t own his own home. One of the hallmarks of our democracy historically has been that an individual’s rights are not linked to wealth or ownership of property.
The cheap shot about the candidate living at home with his parents also shows an obtuseness to the realities of affordable housing in our area and a seeming ignorance of the fact that this very much represents a national trend rather than a personal failing.
As for the candidate being in his 20s, Mr. Ward should not have to look very hard to find many elected officials who began their careers while in their 20s and lacking government experience.
Mr. Lucas is a lifelong resident of the community, has a college education and an interest in trying to make a difference. It is refreshing to see someone willing to get involved. Mr. Ward professes to disdain a mudslinging campaign yet his letter qualifies only as a vituperative attack on Mr. Lucas.
Although his candidacy has just been announced, Mr. Ward faults Mr. Lucas for not having a program in place to solve the problems of overdevelopment and traffic congestion that have been escalating over a 20-year period.
It is naive and unrealistic to criticize Mr. Lucas for not purporting to have all the answers. I hope the new candidate will not be discouraged or disillusioned by the harsh realities of partisanship. We should value anyone with the idealism and willingness to volunteer their candidacy for an opportunity to serve their community.
Kathryn Toth
Manalapan