LETTER: Manville GOP’s campaign strategy — a recap

Richard Onderko, Manville

The Manville Republican’s campaign message and strategy were perfectly clear and fully executed this election cycle.
I have been told by one longtime resident that this was the dirtiest campaign ever run by Manville Democrats, and I am not one bit surprised.
Control is truly at stake. More importantly, the overall direction of our town is at stake.
We exposed Democrat special interests like their desire to bring OTB gambling to our residential neighborhoods where, in contrast, Manville Republicans are against the thought. It looks like OTB is not going to open on a highway in Hillsborough so where do you think it will eventually end up?
As for applying for extra state aid, Manville Republicans in 2014 were in favor, and Manville Democrats rejected the thought. Democrat campaign literature lied and said we didn’t even apply for aid, only to mislead you once again.
Democrats in Manville simply like higher property taxes and presented no plans or ideas to lower them. Republicans have tried to vote down budgets and restrict additional spending, but never had the four council votes to make it stick.
Democrats have also spoken out against more flood buyouts and misled on their campaign literature about the flood study and “cost to benefit” ratios. Manville will not see any mitigation efforts like Bound Brook did.
The results of the study are in no matter what Democrats say. Floodwaters will only go higher in Manville. Republicans favor more rounds of buyouts to move all out of harm’s way.
As for the ethics of some of our elected officials, Ed can “laugh” about it all he wants, but I hope we see the day where full “trust” is restored in Manville’s governing body.
I am confident we will see that day where our elected officials are held accountable for their actions that directly resulted in their personal gains.
In the recent past, one prominent Republican in town accused myself and two fellow Republican council members of ethics violations, which were purely phony charges filed only for political purposes. I thank them for alerting me to the process under the state’s Local Finance Board procedures.
Why someone would attack their own party is a mystery to me, but I guess personal friendships must come first to some.
I would like to thank all voters and residents who supported our campaign this Nov. 4 and for their kind words of encouragement to carry on. Win or lose, the Republican team did the very best at speaking the truth and remaining focused on the issues that matter most to all, like our escalating property tax bills right here in Manville, New Jersey.
On the other hand, Manville Democrats tried to character assassinate and distort our record by telling lies of what Republicans stand for here in Manville.
I pray that the voters have seen the difference, heard our message and have voted both Republican candidates to victory! 
Richard M. Onderko 
Manville 