Two weeks ago, I accepted the Middletown Democrats' offer to join their ticket and seek a seat on the Township Committee. All my life, I've considered myself a Republican. However, the reckless policies of the local GOP majority led me to conclude that my conservative views on taxes, spending, and borrowing were not being represented by the all Republican Township Committee.
I am not a politician. I am a wife, mother, and longtime volunteer with Lincroft First Aid. I am running in this year's election because it's time to depart from "politics as usual." I oppose handing no bid contracts to politically connected friends. I favor increased transparency and believe there is a way to cut spending without jeopardizing our first class police department and parks programs. Unless we pay closer attention to our municipal expenses, we may one day find ourselves asking where we were when things went off track, where did the money go, and when did the quality of life in Middletown begin to slip? By that time, it will be too late.
In the months ahead, I look forward to meeting with as many residents as I can. I believe the surest way to understanding the concerns of working families and seniors is to knock on doors and listen first hand. My running mate Jim Grenafege and I intend to do just that.
Sincerely,
Carol Fowler
Candidate for Middletown Township Committee
17 comments:
Very well said. Thank you, Carol.
Thanks Carol for admitting that your a Republican. Now answer this question. If you are so disgruntled about the local Republican party and your disgruntled with politics as usual, why not run as an Independent? Sounds like your switch was more about being offered a chance to run with a major party rather than being a disgruntled conservative.
anon 9:15, Let me answer for you.
Running as in Independent in this town with no financial support is virtually impossible. Look at Tony Avalone's primary challenge last year.
Why shouldn't she run as a Dem.?
Party affiliation in local government is not as important as in the national scene.
Republicans in this town don't exactly fit the mold of fiscal conservatives either.
Elections cost money and only the independently wealthy can afford to finance their own election campaigns.
The local republicans are ignorant of the discontent of a great many residents in this community. The political climate is rotten to the core as these republicans lie and cheat to win,using slander and defamation of character as their tools.
Many of these disgusted residents are sick to death of the tactics and refuse to be affiliated with the current crop of republicans in this community today.
There are better choices!
Thank you,Carol and Jim, for your courage to DISSENT and run for public office. May you have success in your endeavors.
Why didn't she run in the primary as a republican. The democrats can't find anyone else to take Desleazybos spot so they pick a republican. If I was a democrat, I would be upset with who is running this party in Middletown.
Obviously the gop is worried about Carol running for office. When an arrogant, napoleonic character like septembrino who has lived in town for only 3 years gets elected and now they have a trashy novel author running why shouldn't they be worried?
Carol has demonstrated her commitment to this town by dedicating her adult life to volunteer service to it's residents. It has been a long time since we have seen a gop'er sitting on the committee who can make that claim.
Hey gop, wake up, we are tired of your antics, no bid contracts, strong arm tactics, deceptive financial practices and your inability to do math. Our taxes went up 14% last year because you knew the 2% cap was coming. By raising taxes by 14% you were able to pad future budgets. We understand that, although you thought we would not. Your arts center is a money pit, you give away health benefits to members of the sewerage authority in violation of the twp. ordinance. Then the sewerage authority kicks back "surplus funds" to help you balance your budget. Which is nothing more than a covert property tax. You take money from the library under the threat of laying off police officers. You people are a sham and do not deserve the privilege of representing us.
Carol I wish you great success and admire your willingness to run for office.
Believe the sleaze in this town is the Middletown Republican party and the liars and the cheats and cronies that are politically connected.
If you refuse to march to the drumbeat of Peter Carton,you are not even considered until they feel threatened by your challenge to them.
Don't believe that ask Patrick Short or Sean Byrnes or even some reublicans who have served.
It is refreshing to see the Middletown republicans squirm as more and more decent people seek change in their government however that may be accomplished. Even if they must change affiliation or have no party affiliation at all. The freedom to CHOOSE .
Poster 12:41....what are you afraid of anyway ???? Mind your own business not the business of everyone who disagrees with you !!
CLEAN UP your "own backyard" before you condemn others !!!
anon 12:43, I believe anon 11:52 answered your question. Last year
Tony Avalone ran in the Republican primary against Sharfy & Settembrino.
He did well, but couldn't beat the Republican establishment.
Why is it so important to you that Carol is a registered Republican?
All that matters is that someone wants to make a difference and is willing to stand up to the status quo.
If she ran as an Independent, there would be no financial support.
Are you threatened?
By what right does the local Republican party tell Democrats what they should be angry about? I notice these same squirrely characters don't have the cojones to criticize their former Republican peers who turned to the Tea Party. Why didn't Tea Partiers simply work within the Republican party to improve it?
Well, you CAN learn something new every day.
For example, before I read this blog today, I thought that there were state laws about awarding contracts, that everything above a certain dollar amount had to be put out to bid or go to a state approved contractor. I can't wait until the Concerned Citizen's... uhm, I mean, until Ms. Fowler tells us exactly what "no bid" contracts she's talking about...
And I also learned that local Democrats really don't want us all to vote for a Democrat at all, after all, the first chance they get, they nominate a Republican.
I'm glad I stopped to read this blog today - aren't you?
Legion
No bid contracts are such as the arrangement T&M has with the tc to have an exclusive on engineering work. Remember the Library's engineer was not good enough for the tc so T&M gets that work.
State contracts are a scam. Better prices can be had when work or purchases are put out to bid. It is not at all unusual for vendors to beat the "state contract" price. This was created by the politicians to take care of their cronies. All purchases over $500. should go out to bid. We would save a lot of money by doing so.
Having experience in this area I know it is true.
The "cheerleader" at it again. This TC is a disgrace and it is time to depart from "politics as usual".
The only ones ignorant of the facts are the local republicans and their carpetbaggers and that's not really ignorance they practice,it's deception.
Thank you,Carol and Jim,for taking up the cause to represent the people in this township. May you have much success !
Legion, Apparently you and others feel it's a big deal that Carol was a Republican. People change parties all the time especially when they get disgusted by what their party has done like here in Middletown.
She's not a politician, so changing parties is even less important.
Most people register at 18 and never change. Doesn't mean they agree with the party they're affiliated with.
I'm a registered Republican, but I didn't vote Republican last year.
Anon at 11:08
Apparently your "experience" doesn't include the annual bidding process that a great number of Middletown service providers must undertake, and I am pretty sure that includes engineering services.
As far as the Library project, the fact is that it will be a Township project and, since the Township has an engineering firm under contract (to save $ by the way) it makes more sense for that firm to do the engineering.
To repeat - that saves taxpayer dollars, plus the paving project can possibly be wrapped into a larger paving contract... because? That's RIGHT, that SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS!
But at least you have some experience, right?
Maybe you should run for Township Committee ~ are you an actual Democrat?
The local hacks can always whip up some scenario whereby hiring cronies equals protecting the taxpayer. The only experience that matters in the Middletown Republican universe is a taste for gutter politics coupled with regular donations to the republican coffers.
I have to laugh when I read people belittle others for lack of government experience as if writing trash fiction endows one with a superior understanding of public administration.
Maybe Ms. Fowler should just start some wacky petition to remove a TC member so she can get her credentials "republican" style.
Democrat, no, republican no, able to make my own choice without being told how to vote, yes.
Apparently you are not aware of the many costly blunders the town has had with T&M over the years. But I hear they put out an elaborate hospitality room at the League of Municipalities convention in AC every year.
How many weeks have you lived in town?
Hmmm... If Carol can flip flop her political party to suit her needs I can't wait to see how her concerns and ideals flip should she get in. Time to smell the coffee Carol, you are more of a politician than you claim to be. Hopefully not everyone will be drinking the cool aid your serving just because a mom is at the serving table.
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