Holmdel Native Takes Portsmouth First Ward

Congratulations to my good friend Sean Dunne, who was elected as a councilman for the First Ward of the Portsmouth, Ohio City Council Tuesday night.

Sean Dunne

Sean is a Holmdel, New Jersey native and a former Independent candidate for the NJ State Assembly in LD13.  It was during that campaign that I got to know him well and we became fast friends. He left the area after that campaign to accept a teaching position at Trinity College in Ireland, where he stayed for a few years before coming back to the Holmdel. He left again in 2013 to accept a teaching position at Shawnee State University in southern Ohio.

Since his arrival in Portsmouth, he was able to work on a variety of community projects with Shawnee State students and other community members and was successful in applying for a $25,000 grant for Spartan Municipal Stadium and an application to Preservation Ohio that resulted in the stadium’s inclusion in their 2017 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. Both of those achievements move the stadium closer to restoration.

He also worked with a number of groups and organizations outside of the Portsmouth area to bring positive attention and produce positive results for the city. He worked with Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office and Senator Portman’s Office, the NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Film, NFL Foundation, the Detroit Lions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New York Giants and ESPN. And led an effort involving the Southern Ohio Port Authority and other individuals in improving Portsmouth’s Wikipedia page. The page had served as a point of online vandalism for years, which drove businesses and residents away from the city.

I wish Sean well, the good people of Portsmouth are lucky to have him.

Letter: ELECTION RESULTS - VICTORY!

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:

Dear Editor,

The people of New Jersey won on Election Day. Not only did we get Ambassador Phil Murphy, an all around great guy, elected as Governor, we had many local victories too.

In Toms River, we enjoyed a Democratic victory with 3 of 4 Township Council Seats going to Democrats Daniel Rodrick, Laurie Huryk, and Terrance Turnbach. Congratulations to the local team!

Vin Gopal knocked out Republican incumbent Jen Beck in Monmouth County's District 11, to become the district's next State Senator. I know Vin Gopal will be a strong voice in Trenton for working class families.

We must all work together to undo the damage Christie did to New Jersey, and make the Garden State Progressive Again! Yes to legal cannabis, women's and LGBT rights! Hands off Assata Shakur! Black Lives Matter! Recognize Lenape Native Rights! Make Housing a Right! Free College! Free NJ Weedman! Expand Public Transportation! Support Unions!

Let's take a left turn in New Jersey Politics.

Rev. Dr. Eric Hafner
Toms River

The Wrong Way to Rebuild the Democratic Party

An excellent and thought provoking article for Democrats was published this past weekend over at Politico.com stating how Democrats need to embrace a new vision, that dumps the failed leaders of the past.

"...Ours must be a community created through inclusion. But people will never feel included if progressives embrace the same old losing playbook and elevate the same powerful insiders to positions of privilege. Instead of propaganda, Democrats need to articulate values and vision for America—to spread messages Democrats truly believe in, messages that resonate on an emotional level and speak to people’s real material concerns. If the Democratic Party can’t offer something inspirational that is grounded in the core values of justice, equality and solidarity, we may need to build a party that does...."

 It really is something that Democrats should be thinking about, but I don't think they will. Right now the Democratic elite are still in denial after loosing the election last November, which became evident on Saturday when they chose Tom Perez as the new head of the DNC rather than a more progressive and forward looking leader like Pete Buttigieg.

You can read the full article .... HERE  

According To Moody's Democrats Win Big In 2016

It may be a little premature to be making such bold predictions but nevertheless I'm happy to read all about Moody's take on the 2016 presidential election:

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Our Moody's Analytics election model now predicts a Democratic electoral landslide in the 2016 presidential vote. A small change in the forecast data in August has swung the outcome from the statistical tie predicted in July, to a razor-edge ballot outcome that nevertheless gives the incumbent party 326 electoral votes to the Republican challenger's 212. 

Just three states account for the change in margin, with Ohio, Florida and Colorado swinging from leaning Republican to leaning Democrat. The margin of victory in each of these important swing states is still solidly within the margin of error though, and will likely swing back and forth in Moody's monthly updates ahead, underlining the closeness of the election to come. Furthermore, three of the candidates for the Republican nomination enjoy favorite-son status in Ohio or Florida, potentially making the outcome of those important states even more unpredictable.

It takes 270 electoral votes to win a U.S. presidential election. Our July forecast predicted a Democratic win with 270 electoral votes, to 268 for the Republican, regardless of who wins either party's nomination. Read More: Deep Dive Into Moody's Model.

The primary factor driving the results further to the incumbent party in August is lower gasoline prices. Plummeting prices and changing dynamics in global energy markets from Chinese weakness and the Iranian nuclear deal have caused us to significantly lower our gasoline price forecast for the next several years. This variable is very significant to voter sentiment in the model, with lower prices favoring incumbents....

Read More

Letter: That is why I shall vote for Patrick Short

I want to commend the efforts of Middletown Township Committee member Patrick Short to represent the Committee minority position and the majority of the taxpayers of Middletown. Too often the Republican committee people try to ramrod their proposals through without proper consideration of the budgetary cost. Too often the majority members try to control the information and limit the rights of the public. It is only through Patrick Short's involvement that we now have minutes, resolutions, etc., online.

I just found a book title, "Listening is an Act of Love," I believe that Patrick's willingness to listen to us when we speak at meetings, instead of interrupting, whispering to a neighbor, fiddling with hair, arrogantly demanding his "proper" title, making faces, as the majority members have done, shows his great caring and respect for us citizens.

Patrick has kept his promises. I feel safe and represented when I see him on the podium. That is why I shall vote for Patrick Short in November and I recommend that you do the same to preserve his valuable voice on the Committee.

Carolyn Schwebel, Executive Director
Equalizers

Patrick Short: Why This Election In Middletown Is So Important

In this video, Middletown Democratic Committeeman Patrick Short, discuss why this years election in Middletown is so important for everyone.

If Short were to loss this election, the two party system of checks and balances will be no more after just 2 years.

The Middletown GOP will go back to its old ways, that is a super majority Republicans will once again reign over the township.

During the past 2 years with Democrats Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes presiding on the Township Committee, township government has become more open and transparent, bonding and spending has decreased and there has been no more rubber stamping of pet projects that only benefits a few.

What the Next President Inherits

What could be more important than the upcoming election? What the next president actually does once elected. While a feverish media dissects Palins wardrobe and plumbs Joe Wurzelbachers biography, real challenges for America are piling up. Domestic struggles over marriage and abortion rights will define who we are, and our response to global conflicts and crises will define our place in the world. The end of the campaigning is just the beginning.