Charlie Kratovil, a 2003 Hillsborough High School graduate and current editor of the online news site New Brunswick Today, addressed the Hillsborough Democratic Alliance on Dec. 5 on the topics of investigative reporting and community organizing.
His talk followed re-election of Meryl Bisberg as the group’s president. Jim Bergstrom was voted vice president, and Howard Greenberg as treasurer.
Ms. Bisberg highlighted the accomplishments of the organization in 2012, including several neighborhood open houses, Obama calling parties during campaign season, an Obama debate watch party, and multiple politics book club sessions.
In addition, local civic organizations, Somerset County Democratic candidates, the Princeton Democratic Club (PCDO), Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, and candidates for NJ Assembly 16th District had all been guest speakers at monthly meetings in 2012.
Mr. Kratovil was energetic, knowledgeable and grass-
roots oriented, said Ms. Bisberg. He spoke about the importance of attending township government meetings so that you are informed on issues, recruiting people to stand up for their rights, and being willing to engage a wide spectrum of people, she said.
He said that organizing a ballot question is a great way to pull people together, according to Ms. Bisberg. In November, he and a group of New Brunswick citizens campaigned successfully for a ballot initiative to have school board members elected, after prior unsuccessful attempts to end school board appointments, she said.
“Charlie’s talk was refreshing,” said Ms. Bisberg. “It’s great to see a young person from Hillsborough so engaged in his community and so willing to work for real change , not only by using the web and social networking, but also by knocking on doors and working with the constituency, neighborhood by neighborhood.
Our own HDA by-laws state that we should build ‘camaraderie with fellow Democrats and other citizens who support [these principles of] transparency in government, responsible fiscal and social policies, accountability of elected officials, and community involvement and voter participation’.”
The Alliance’s next monthly meeting is Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Avalon at 393 Amwell Road. A book club meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 17. To be discussed is “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism” by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein. RSVP to [email protected].
President Obama’s inauguration follows on Jan. 21.

