I would like to add my comments to Jeffrey Dzik’s recent (Nov. 22) letter regarding non-partisan elections in Lawrence Township. I too have a specific party affiliation, but was disappointed in the selection of candidates and in the tone of the campaign this fall.
In non-partisan elections, interested citizens who are not necessarily connected to a political club can put themselves before the voters. In my experience in Ridgewood, where local elections are non-partisan, the number of well-qualified candidates gave voters a wide choice. Candidates tended to be less influenced by party views leading to a broader discussion of issues and less personal denigration among rivals. Of course, some candidates were members of a local political club from which they generated support, but others who ran had independent and enthusiastic citizen backing.
On the downside, non-partisan elections in New Jersey are held in May, outside of the normal November election cycle, as I understand it, discouraging voter turnout. I don’t know the experience of towns with our council-manager form of government, but I think it might be worth assessing the experience of other communities with non-partisan elections to determine if a change is warranted.
David Prescott
Carter Road