Over the years, I have fought hard for the residents of Edison Township, and when Mayor Jun Choi spoke to me about running for mayor in the 2005 Democratic primary, I encouraged and supported him.
But as a Democratic committeeman in District 76, I feel the need to ask some very simple questions and inform the general public about the compromises apparent among the leadership in the Democratic organization.
Our current chairman, Dr. Tom Paterniti, embraced Mayor Choi after he beat Spadoro in the primary. They both promised the township change, both within the Democratic organization and the way residents are treated.
Three years later, I am sickened to report that I had more faith in the Spadoro administration than what is taking place today. Choi and Paterniti spoke of a more efficient government. By definition, efficient means doing more with less. Choi recently extracted a 52 percent increase in his salary by demanding it from his handpicked council. To make matters worse, he hired a team of out-of-town people making upwards of $120,000 a year who were also given township cars, gas and toll money to boot! He has raised taxes by 35 percent and has promised more to come [editor’s note: When asked to clarify, Russomanno said he added the tax increases over the past several budgets together]. He is currently negotiating with builders to develop property in north and south Edison, which will lead to more housing, making it very difficult for our young residents and seniors to handle these future tax increases.
Why is Dr. Paterniti so silent? What happened to their promises of change?
As chairman, Dr. Paternity must acknowledge the broken promises of Choi’s 2005 campaign. As Democratic chairman and a Choi supporter, he is responsible for Choi’s actions as mayor and, like a good parent, it is his responsibility to remind Choi of his promises to change.
Residents can no longer be viewed as commodities for politicians and their self-interest. As an elected committeeman in my district, I demand that Chairman Paterniti call on his mayor to begin working within the parameters of their 2005 election promises and stop using the diversity of our township’s voters as a political pawn in Choi’s games.
Anthony Russomanno
Committeeman
District 76
Edison