Letters: Bencivengo must resign

From: State Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer, Middlesex)
To the editor:
   On July 12, Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo was absent from his office at the Hamilton municipal building yet again, because he was instead in a federal courtroom, this time being arraigned on five counts of corruption-related charges. While Bencivengo continues to claim that he can juggle the job of the full-time mayor of New Jersey’s seventh-largest municipality while defending himself against these serious allegations, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the people of Hamilton will suffer as the mayor diverts his attention away from his official duties. The residents of Hamilton deserve a mayor who will put the greater community needs in front of his own.
   While all Americans are entitled to the presumption of innocence, our elected officials must be held to a higher standard and should treat public office as “public service,” not personal entitlement. These charges continue to draw dark clouds over the community. With Bencivengo still at the township’s helm, there is a continued appearance of impropriety and corruption, which fairly or unfairly, casts a shadow over the local government. The residents of Hamilton deserve to rest easy that their tax dollars are going to improving their community rather than into corrupt officials’ and politicians’ pockets.
   Local, county and state lawmakers — including the state’s top-ranking Republican, Gov. Chris Christie — have called for Bencivengo to step down, yet he continues to selfishly put his desire for power and a salary paid for by Hamilton’s taxpayers above the needs and well-being of the community he was elected to represent. The residents of Hamilton deserve a mayor they can trust to successfully lead with the entire township’s best interests at heart.
   As he continues through this trial, more distractions will present themselves and keep Bencivengo from performing his functions as mayor. He must tender his resignation immediately.
Senator Linda Greenstein
14th Legislative District
(D-Mercer, Middlesex) 