Letters
Vote no to Jackson change of government

In 2003, 4,648 Jackson residents voted against changing our township government to a mayor-council form elected in a nonpartisan May election.

There is no doubt that Jackson voters rejected the proposal out of dislike for both the (nonpartisan) May election and the balkanization of Jackson by introducing a ward system of representation. There is also no doubt that most of those who voted for the proposal did so because they were hoodwinked by the carrot (directly elected mayor) and never shown the stick (May elections, patronage, runaway taxes, ballooning cost of code change and “special projects,” and the rest of the baggage train of government change).

The change of government proposed as a local question on this November’s ballot by the Charter Study Commission we elected in November 2004 is a regurgitation of the defeated November 2003 proposal. The special interests-backed majority on the Charter Study Commis-sion tried to sugar coat the stick by reducing the council membership to five at-large elected members, eliminating the offending wards, but kept all the rest of the change of government baggage train.

The commission recommendation for nonpartisan May elections to be decided by simple plurality (no runoff election) is blatantly intended to ensure minority rule by single-issue driven factions of a thousand voters or less organized by self-promoting popularity hound politicians.

With no primary elections to screen the candidates and impose a measure of party discipline and adherence to a platform, any number of candidates can run for every office thus dividing the township into as many virtual wards as needed to ensure control by deep pockets special interests. A bunch of people following a leader without a platform is a clique at best and a gang at worst. May elections (like April school board nonpartisan elections) at best have average turnouts of 15 percent of registered voters, whereas November general elections average around 42 percent. It all boils down to factional discipline around single issues.

All the chest beating talk by the special interest-backed Char-ter Study Commission majority about May elections bringing out the “more educated voters” who will focus on Jackson issues undistracted by national and state issues and free the candidates from the control of party bosses at local and county levels is just the moaning and groaning of a clique of frustrated and/or discredited or ethically challenged/compromised politicians who want to do their own thing as long as they can pass it off as “for the people” (and just who are the people they profess to serve?).

Why are they running from their party and what does Committeeman Michael Kafton know about “Government in Jackson is broken” and when did he know it (his fellow Democrats on the Township Committee of late have joined in the mantra) that we the voters should know and they have failed to “fix” in six years of Democrat majority rule?

If this inane proposal passes, are they all going to declare themselves “independents” and run to fix the mess “those nasty Demo-crats” brought upon Jackson? And are they all going to run for mayor?

The special interest-backed majority on the commission have deliberately understated the potential cost of the proposed change in government to the long-suffering Jackson taxpayers. The cost to change the government in Dover, where they voted in a mayor/council form in November 2003, has passed $500,000 and counting for legal fees alone, mostly for rewriting the administrative code to fit the transition to big city government.

In addition, taxes have increased over 40 percent in two years of mayor/council government.

Jackson voters, it is not just “Vote your Mayor,” it is all about the cover-up of special interest greed-driven patronage and cronyism and taxes that will balloon out of control to finance worthless vote-buying projects. “Try it (the proposal), you may like it” does not cut it — remember if you let in the faceless, unaccountable, minority government brought on by May elections, you are stuck with it for five years before you can throw the bums out, if you still have anything worth saving.

Vote no to May elections, no to Local Question No. 1. Send the salivating special interests a message: Jackson is not for sale.

Nicholas Antonoff

Jackson

Family in Jackson will remember kindness of first responders

My husband was a Depart-ment of Defense (DOD) police officer who died on Sept. 28. There were several people that responded to a 911 call that I placed. I could never thank each one of them individually, but was hoping they might read this.

We wanted to say thank you to all of the following people who responded within minutes of the 911 call:

The Jackson Police Depart-ment for your care and professionalism in dealing with the death of my husband, James Turner. The children and I will always remember your care and patience.

The staff of Fire Station 55, MONOC Units 820 and 821 and Jackson first aid for not giving up and taking care of my husband.

The Regency Club Apart-ments maintenance and staff for their assistance.

Thank you also to the Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) Department of Defense police for making arrangements and keeping us going through a very hard time in our lives.

Our children will always remember your kindness. I could never thank each one of you individually, but know that you touched our lives and we really appreciated everything that you did.

John, Anna, Joseph

and Wendy Turner

Jackson

Volunteers from Howell showed victims they really have a heart

I would like to commend the people from Howell, which included representatives from the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Howell Police Athletic League, and those private citizens and high school students who headed down to Selma, Ala., on Sept. 24 to provide a day of fun to children who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

It is through acts of kindness and caring such as this which has made Howell a place I am proud to live in.

Too often acts such as this go unnoticed. Knowing some of the folks who participated in this endeavor, I can say firsthand that their willingness to take part in such an event is a true testament to their character as it relates to helping their fellow man. These folks are blessed.

Too often we only read about the bad things in our local papers.

Perhaps more folks should step up when duty calls and help one another in times of need. I am proud to know some of these fine folks and they surely bring out the best of the type of people that live in Howell.

Phil Sanfilippo

Howell

County sheriff asks for assistance with annual toy drive

This year we could not wait for the holidays to approach before seeking your help with our 2005 Sheriff’s Department annual food and toy drive. In light of the recent disasters along the Gulf Coast, local charity efforts have been exhausted with hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

I feel that our efforts will be needed even more this year. Last year we were able to distribute toys to over 1,000 children of need in Ocean County, and so far this year we are ahead of last year with the number of families calling and asking for our assistance. We honor all requests from infants to 12 years old. Unwrapped toys, gifts and nonperishable food are collected and distributed by the Sheriff’s Department. Those interested in making donations may contact Mary McHugh at (732) 929-4756.

Bill Polhemus

Ocean County sheriff

Toms River