To the editor:
I can recall few if any occasions over the years that I have agreed with your opinions on political topics. However, I have to applaud your editorial in last week’s Post, "Weak GOP is bad for township."
The voters of South Brunswick (and especially those that did not vote) will now reap what they have sowed with the elimination of the only voice "screaming into the wilderness" (your words); namely Ted Van Hessen. The comments of Councilwoman Carol Barrett, "I can’t believe we got rid of Ted. Now we can get some things done in the town," appall and sicken me.
She has got to be kidding. Who has been the dominant party for the last seven years? The Democrats. Why do they have to wait for the removal of the only voice of reason on the council to now, with an all Democratic council and mayor to "get things done"?
I read into her comments that "getting things done" is a signal to all of their many cash contributors that it is now a free for all and payback time. Mr. Van Hessen was the impetus for the passage of the (admittedly flawed) "pay-to-play" ordinance, and was a constant watchdog for the taxpayers of South Brunswick. Without him, I can visualize a Politburo-like rubber stamping of no-bid professional contracts (insurance, engineering, attorney, etc.) for the ruling party’s "buddies." I am sure with their resources, and with no dissenting voices, they will figure out ways to circumvent the pay-to-play ordinance.
With all their resources, outspending the Republicans 20-1 or more, they still made the conscience decision to get down in the mud and really stick it to Mr. Van Hessen with the obscene mailer sent at the last minute smearing him with tax cheat charges.
Shame on them. Shame on the voters of South Brunswick.
I call on the South Brunswick Post to be the ombudsman for the presently disenfranchised citizens of South Brunswick. Please publish the list of Democratic campaign contributors. Match this up with current businesses doing business with the township. Continue to editorialize and question their budget decisions and political maneuvering.
I call on the Republican Party to look into the mirror and make a decision. Are you going to continue the "old-school" way of being the "whipping boy," or are you going to fight fire with fire? Why not reach out to new blood that is willing to get down in the gutter with the Dems and have an old-fashioned street fight? Or just continue to lose by 2,000-vote margins to weak Democratic opponents and bemoan your fate.
I call on my fellow citizens of South Brunswick to watch the council meetings on Channel 3 (as I do), or better yet, attend the meetings and pepper the Politburo with questions. The prospect of watching another four years of the screwball comments and off the wall input of Ms Barrett are almost more than I can stand, but I have to admit, it will provide another four years of entertainment.
I personally pledge my time, resources and money to support an alternative to the current sorry state of affairs. It will probably take the (inevitable) scandal to finally bring down the Democratic domination, and that is sad.
Ken White
Monmouth Junction
