The following letter written by Lincroft resident Melanie Elmiger appears this week in
the Independent and for the record, I could't agree more!
It’s that time of year again, when masses of election signs sprout up on our roadsides with just names and a tagline to state the candidates’ objective. As a Middletown resident, I was struck by the contrast between the signs for Township Committee and how they are meant to speak to me as a voter.
The enormous signs for Republicans Gerald Scharfenberger and Kevin Settembrino tower over the others with the bold headline, “The Christie Team.” This says to me that these candidates are riding Christie’s coattails to Trenton and that they intend to work for the governor rather than for Middletown residents. In fact, Scharfenberger already has a lucrative state job as the director of the Office for Planning Advocacy. The signs reveal these two Republicans are political candidates who seek their own interests and are not citizen candidates who will work for Middletown’s interests.
In contrast, there are the modest signs of Democrats Linda Baum and Pat Olsen, which simply state, “A Better Middletown.” This conveys to me that they want more for us, and their sights are set on improving things in Middletown. Their focus is here, and they won’t be using their committee seat as a springboard for a job in state government.
It is time to replace the all-Republican Township Committee with balance and diversity by electing two Democrats who will bring new ideas to the floor and present public debate rather than participate in rubber-stamp voting.
The lofty signs of Scharfenberger/ Settembrino are meant to cast a shadow on the new light and transparency that the Baum/Olsen team will bring to our town. I will vote for these women because Middletown matters to me and to them. I don’t want my representatives to be on Christie’s team — I want them on Middletown’s team.
Melanie Elmiger
Lincroft
10 comments:
No matter the candidate or the party I believe political signs are a blight on our landscape and do nothing but junk up our township. I admire the many municipalities who have a ban on these roadside atrocities. I wish the entire state could be cleared of the worthless clutter of those ugly signs.
Or it could just reflect the fact that they have raised more money and bought bigger and better signs than their opponents.
Oh, and trust me Melanie, they weren't trying to influence YOU at all.
LOL
Anon 5:17,
I guess I will be seeing a for sale sign on your lawn soon?
For all the complaints I hear on this site, yet the reality is that you are actually getting a good deal for the taxes you pay. Middletown has a far less tax burden than some of the neighboring towns. I guess some people will complain no matter what!
Anon 12:21 AM,
Re-read my comment. I'm not complaining about taxes or the township, I'm complaining about the politicians whose signs are cluttering our streets for no good reason. I love this town and have lived here for more than 50 years so no, you won't be seeing a For Sale sign on my yard. I have to laugh at your comment about people complaining no matter what: this blog is rife with people complaining and whining and the messages get rather negative and critical. If you think MY post was worth a mention, then you obviously haven't spent much time on this board.
Anon Oct 24 @ 6:18,
Bigger does not mean better when it comes to representation and service. The point of the post was about trying to capitalize on being part of "the Christie team" was more important than serving Middletown taxpayers.
Anon Oct. 25 @ 12:21,
What do you consider a good deal: excessive health care costs that require budget amendments year after year; excessive bonding year after year; lack of transparency; independent audits that point to accounting irregularities and gimmicks to cover shortfalls and manipulation; charge backs that lack detail; Gerry "Mendacity" Scharfenberger claiming that the turf fields will not cost taxpayers anything and claiming that fees will cover the costs and then declining to provide concrete evidence that his claim is accurate (see most current version of Middletown Matters)? It isn't about the tax burden of other towns. It is about the tax burden in Middletown and what the taxpayer gets in return for paying taxes.
Motormouth 12:21a.m.(Sharfey's cheerleader) Shut the hell up for a change,AH.. None of us are interested in your crap!NONE OF US !
Hey Melanie, I believe it's Gerard, not Gerald. For such big signs, you should be able to see the correct name.
"The Christie Team"- something rather embarrassing watching two grown men hide behind someone else's brass set.
These two are eunuchs!!
They can't run on their record of waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars--"taxpayers first no longer works, so they decided to run on Christie's record of waste and abusing taxpayers at town hall meetings.
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