The Facts About Bail Reform and Middletown

 

Following up on last night's Candidate forum and blog post concerning Affordable Housing here in Middletown, below are the facts that I put together regarding NJ Bail Reform. 

Tony Perry likes to play to his base by disseminating false narratives and fear mongering on many issues affecting Middletown and unfortunately people gobble it up because they don't know any better.

Bottomline is you can't have it two ways, according to US News and World Reports, New Jersey ranks as the 6th safest State in the Country and Perry constantly maintains how the FBI lists Middletown one of, if not, the safest town in the United States!  

Bail Reform is not contributing to raising crime rates in NJ. As a matter of fact, it's contributing to keep our state safe. Experts from all over the country commend NJ's bail reform efforts and consider it a model to follow.

History of Bail Reform in New Jersey

 

New Jersey’s bail reform was a bipartisan effort aimed at addressing the unfairness of the cash bail system, with Republican Governor Chris Christie playing a key role. Before the reform, individuals charged with minor, non-violent offenses were often stuck in jail simply because they couldn’t afford bail. At the same time, those accused of serious crimes, but with deep pockets, could pay their way out and roam free. The system was flawed, allowing wealth to determine freedom, not risk to public safety.

 

Governor Christie pushed for reform, which led to the passage of the *Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act*, effective in 2017. It was based on a risk assessment rather than the defendant’s ability to pay. The idea was simple: if someone posed no threat to the community and was likely to show up for trial, they shouldn’t be locked up just because they’re poor. On the flip side, dangerous offenders could be detained without bail, regardless of their financial resources.

 

In 2014, New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment to change the bail system. Christie, along with lawmakers from both parties, championed this reform as a way to make the justice system more equitable. The reform’s primary goal was to ensure that jail time before trial was reserved for those who truly posed a danger or a flight risk, not those who couldn’t afford bail.

 

Why Bail Reform is Good for New Jersey

 

Bail reform has had numerous positive effects in New Jersey. It has significantly reduced the number of people languishing in jail for minor offenses. This not only saved taxpayer money but also upheld the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty. Before reform, many people, often from low-income and minority backgrounds, were coerced into pleading guilty just to get out of jail faster, even if they were innocent.

 

The reform has also helped to reduce overcrowded jails. By focusing on risk, rather than wealth, New Jersey’s justice system has become more fair. Low-risk offenders can continue with their lives—working, supporting their families, and contributing to their communities—while awaiting trial. Meanwhile, those deemed high-risk remain in custody, regardless of their financial means.

 

Additionally, the reform has addressed racial and economic disparities. Previously, people of color and those with fewer financial resources were disproportionately affected by the old cash bail system. Now, the emphasis is on fairness and public safety, not money.

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry’s Anti-Bail Reform Stunts

 

Despite the proven benefits of bail reform, not everyone is on board. In Middletown, Mayor Tony Perry has been one of its loudest opponents. Last year, he made headlines by launching a series of anti-bail reform stunts, arguing that the reforms make communities less safe. Perry’s criticism echoed fearmongering claims that bail reform was leading to dangerous criminals being released, which have largely been debunked by data.

 

Perry’s stance, fueled by a few high-profile cases, led to dramatic gestures, including press conferences and resolutions calling for the rollback of bail reform. However, these stunts were criticized as a colossal waste of time by both legal experts and local residents. Critics pointed out that Perry’s actions distracted from real issues facing the town and were based more on fear than facts.

 

One of the key arguments against Perry’s position is that, despite his claims, crime rates in New Jersey have not spiked because of bail reform. In fact, most studies show the reform has helped streamline the system and made it fairer without increasing crime. Perry’s opposition, therefore, was seen by many as politically motivated and not grounded in the actual outcomes of the reform.

 

Conclusion

 

New Jersey’s bail reform, enacted under Governor Chris Christie, has been a positive force for fairness and public safety. It prevents low-risk, non-violent offenders from being jailed simply because they can’t afford bail, while ensuring that dangerous individuals are detained without regard to their wealth. The benefits are clear: fewer people stuck in jail unnecessarily, less taxpayer money wasted, and a more equitable justice system.

 

In Middletown, Mayor Perry’s objections to bail reform have been criticized as fearmongering and a distraction from more pressing local issues. His dramatic stunts have not changed the fact that bail reform is working and making New Jersey a fairer place for all its residents.

The Facts About Affordable Housing And Middletown

This evening I participated in a virtual Candidate Forum against Middletown's sitting mayor, Tony Perry, that was sponsored by the League of Women Voters. I did an extremely amount of prep for the event that I'm happy to say paid off because most of what Tony Perry had to say I was ready for. One of the topics of the forum that came up concerned the issue of Affordably Housing in Middletown and how that affects residents. 

Tony Perry and the Middletown Republicans have long been opposed to providing affordable housing options in Middletown, often exaggerating the amount of mandated housing that is needed and crying about "unfunded" Trenton mandates. Perry pretty much reiterated that opposition this evening. 

Below is a research paper, with the facts, that I put together to prepare myself to tonight's forum. I think you'll find it informative and I hope it answers questions that residents may have as opposed to taking Perry's over exaggerated, misrepresentative and often inflammatory objections. 

I'll be sharing a couple more research papers that I prepared tomorrow a long with a link to where you can watch a recording of tonight's LWV Middletown Committee Candidate Forum.

Enjoy!

Middletown, NJ’s Opposition to Affordable Housing

 

Middletown, NJ has long opposed state mandates to build affordable housing, a sentiment that has been amplified by local leadership, especially Mayor Tony Perry. In recent years, Perry has made exaggerated claims to fuel public opposition, most notably asserting that Governor Murphy’s mandate for 1,500 affordable units will lead to 6,000 new homes and apartments in Middletown. Perry claims that for every affordable housing unit built, developers are allowed to construct four market-rate units, causing alarm among residents about potential overdevelopment. However, a closer look reveals that Perry’s statements are both exaggerated and misleading.

 

History of Affordable Housing in New Jersey

 

New Jersey’s affordable housing debate dates back to the *Mount Laurel* decisions in the 1970s and 1980s, where the state’s Supreme Court ruled that municipalities must provide their “fair share” of affordable housing. These landmark cases sought to prevent exclusionary zoning practices, which allowed wealthier towns to use zoning laws to avoid building affordable housing. 

 

To enforce the court rulings, New Jersey established the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) in 1985. COAH was tasked with setting quotas for affordable housing and ensuring that municipalities complied with the court’s decisions. From the start, COAH faced pushback from suburban towns resistant to state mandates, particularly from wealthier communities concerned about changing their local character and increasing density.

 

Republican leadership in the state, particularly during Governor Chris Christie’s administration, was often at odds with these mandates. Christie went as far as refusing to appoint new commissioners to COAH, leaving the agency defunct and throwing affordable housing planning into disarray. When Governor Phil Murphy took office in 2018, he dissolved COAH entirely, recognizing that it had been rendered ineffective. Murphy sought to re-energize the state’s commitment to affordable housing, but he encountered fierce resistance from municipalities like Middletown.

 

Middletown’s Recent Opposition and Tony Perry’s Claims

 

Middletown has consistently pushed back against affordable housing requirements, with Mayor Tony Perry leading the charge. His claim that the town will need to build 1,500 affordable units has been used to stoke fears of overdevelopment. However, it is unclear where Perry came up with this number. The claim appears to misrepresent the long-term housing projections for Middletown.

 

A 2016 consultant report, which is not official but provides a planning framework, offers a more nuanced picture. On page 96 of the report, it estimates that Middletown would need to build 1,461 affordable units between 1999 and 2025—a multi-decade projection, not an immediate requirement. Perry’s suggestion that the town faces an imminent mandate to build 1,500 affordable units is an exaggeration. This number spans decades, meaning it is a long-term goal, not a sudden demand that would overwhelm the community.

 

Additionally, Perry’s assertion that developers are automatically allowed to build four market-rate units for every affordable one is misleading. In reality, the affordable housing process in New Jersey is much more complex. The state operates on a credit system, which provides flexibility for municipalities. For example, towns receive extra credits for senior housing, assisted living, and rental units, which can reduce the overall number of market-rate units required in an affordable housing development. The notion that each affordable unit automatically translates to four additional market-rate units oversimplifies the process and inflates the numbers, fueling unnecessary fears among residents.

 

Builder’s Remedy Lawsuits: The Cost of Opposition

 

Middletown’s refusal to comply with affordable housing mandates has led to a number of *Builder’s Remedy* lawsuits. A *Builder’s Remedy* occurs when a municipality fails to meet its affordable housing obligations, allowing developers to sue the town and gain approval to build larger projects than the town might otherwise allow. These lawsuits have become costly for Middletown, leading to settlements that often favor developers and include more housing units than if the town had been proactive in planning for affordable housing. 

 

The financial burden of these lawsuits falls on local taxpayers. If Middletown had complied with affordable housing requirements early on, it could have avoided these legal battles and maintained greater control over the size and scope of new developments. Instead, the town’s resistance has led to expensive settlements and larger developments, the very outcomes Perry claims to oppose.

 

Conclusion

 

Middletown’s opposition to affordable housing, driven by exaggerated claims from mayor Tony Perry, reflects a broader resistance from suburban towns across New Jersey, particularly those with Republican leadership. Perry’s alarmist claim that Middletown faces a mandate for 1,500 affordable units, which could lead to 6,000 new homes, misrepresents both the timeline and the mechanisms of affordable housing. His statements stoke fear about overdevelopment, but the reality is far less dramatic. The 1,500 units are projected over multiple decades, and the credit system provides flexibility that Perry’s narrative ignores.

 

Middletown’s refusal to engage constructively with the state’s affordable housing mandates has led to costly *Builder’s Remedy* lawsuits, placing a financial burden on taxpayers and resulting in larger developments than would have been necessary had the town been proactive. By complying with affordable housing requirements, Middletown could regain control over its future development while ensuring that it meets its legal obligations to provide affordable housing. Perry’s exaggerated claims do more to stir opposition than to address the real issues facing the town, and ultimately, they leave Middletown in a worse position both financially and developmentally.

Upcoming Candidate Forums / Debates

(Info provided by MiddletownDemocrat.org)

Cliff Notes From Oct. 27th BOE Meet The Candidates Forum

I couldn't attend the Oct. 27th Middletown Board of Education Meet The Candidates Night, hosted by the Harmony Elementary School PTO because I had to work. Fortunately for me (and you), my friend Roxanne did attend and sent me her notes from the evening which appear below (keep in mind that her notes are not transcripts from the evening, they are NOTES).

I found Roxanne's notes very helpful and I wish to thank her for taking the time to type them out and send them to me to share. I hope that those that read this post will find her notes as helpful in determining who to vote for on Tuesday as I have.

Opening Statements:

Christopher J. Aveta – resident of Middletown for 10 years, 2 kids in M‐town schools, lawyer. Was previously on the BoE and served as chair of finance committee, instrumental in curricula and tech updates, progress began when he was elected in 2010, hopes to be elected again.

Mark Bouthillette – 13 years in district, 3 kids in schools now, former Marine Corps, carpenter, worked with IT/Webhosting company for Merrill Lynch, feels connected with district, team player

Ernest Donnelly – 40 year resident, passion is education, was an educator – teacher, vice principal, principal and superintendent, chairman of the tech committee, wants to make improvements in safety

Sue Griffin – 17 yrs in district, 4 children went through schools, president of the BoE now, 3rd year on the board, been serving in some capacity since 2000, 2 most important aspects of her job – the children and tax payers’ money

Helen A. Henkel – 23 year resident, 2 kids went through M‐town, service back to the community important to her, RN that works with children with cleft palate, able to work with families, professionals due to this experience

Question and Answer portion:

Question 1. What are the educational gaps or weaknesses in Middletown schools?

Aveta – mainly in elementary school, gaps in grammar, spelling, need continuity of instruction in the formative years

Donnelly – articulation necessary for all levels especially with 17 schools, listen to teachers and parents for feedback

Griffin – Chair of the curriculum committee, feels language arts and writing and also handwriting are issues

Henkel – need to know what the impact of the Common Core standards will be for our students, civics education lacking

Bouthilette – Core Curriculum implementation is key, working together with BoE, admin, staff and families

Aveta – language arts scores and interpretation need to be discussed with teachers. Parents confused about how their children are doing.

2. Common Core – opinion of? Viable for Middletown to opt‐out?

Bouthilette – mandated by state, need to implement, it does take away from face‐to‐face teaching time, but we need to find a way to make it fit with our town

Aveta – it’s here, cannot opt out of a state mandate, needs to be addressed by parents and staff together

Donnelly – Follow the rules and regs of the state mandate, common core was put together by teachers and researchers, already spent $ to prepare for Common Core and PARCC testing, let’s see results first, adapt it to help us

Griffin – opening up a discussion with teachers, need to make it a continual conversation

Henkel – not a proponent of Common Core, not sure if we should wait to see long term results since it might not work, encouraged people to contact legislators about making changes

3. Leading concern among special needs parents in Middletown?

Donnelly – always seeking to improve educational opportunities, listen to parents, constant communication, help bridge special and regular ed

Aveta – parents and students want to be heard, need the least restrictive environment possible

Henkel – communication to be open at all times, adapting education to that child, not adapting child to the education, advocacy for children and parents

Bouthillette – 100% for inclusion classes Griffin – looking at each child individually

Donnelly – inclusion for special needs, try to keep students in district at all costs

Henkel – we’re all part of the same team and we need to remember that

4. With a potential debt/deficit looming over the next year, how will you deal with a substantial loss to the budget?

Bouthillette – supplying the best education possible is our goal – esp preparing students for a global market, make collective decisions, cannot promise that taxes will stay the same.

Donnelly – we’re capped at a 2% budget increase, need to review all accounts and programs – perform an audit to see what is working and what can be cut.

Aveta – Chair of finance in the 3 years he served, had a surplus, the $5.5 million deficit was caused by state, need to have a contingency plan if that debt comes to fruition, questions some employee practices like early retirement

Henkel – properties that are owned and unused by the district should be assessed and sold off, check out administrative costs and potentially cut there

Griffin – look over budget and see what parents/community wants/needs

Donnelly ‐ $5 mil debt is a surprise to everyone, state is seeking money from 7 years back, want to ensure that we can still provide same quality education

5. Budgeting for future construction/maintenance costs?

Aveta – submitting any grants possible, see where we are before asking public to help subsidize, moving forward will need to have to do it better

Bouthillette – work going on now is only phase 1

Donnelly – neglected facilities was his cause when he initially ran for the BoE, successfully installing new roofs and boilers and these will last for years, also continuing the maintenance supervision to ensure a huge undertaking doesn’t need to occur again

Griffin – putting together a long‐range facilities plan – 5 y ear plan, keeping track of current issues and conditions

Henkel – Regular maintenance key, also need to check to see if we really need more buildings –unnecessary storage structure that cost $300,000?

Aveta – continue to make smart decisions going forward

6. What about the redistricting issue?

Bouthillette – not an easy process, would need community involvement for sure, also need a long‐range plan

Aveta – hardest sell is in the elementary schools where people feel the most community, what would be best for all residents?

Donnelly – currently have undertaken a “strategic plan” for the district that will be looking 10 to 15 years out. No one will redistrict until that plan is reviewed. What would be right for students/schools?

Griffin – need to hear from the community, also the strategic planning committee needs to report out, information is on the website – wants input from everyone in the Middletown community

Henkel – it’s everyone’s responsibility to shape the Middletown school district, not just BoE and educators, if we pay for it, we should be making the decisions

7. Describe an effective Board Member

Griffin – present, active listener and participant, willing to compromise, don’t take things personally

Donnelly – communicator, listener, respectful, solve problems, not micromanaging a district, listen to recommendations from admin

Aveta – involved, respectful of other’s views, ask questions, compromise

Henkel – advocate for the children, need to leave personal attacks aside, compromise, gather information

Bouthillette – team player, work with colleagues, input from rest of BoE, make decisions based on the facts, not personal beliefs

8. How can there be a more transparent and open culture in Middletown schools?

Bouthillette – the BoE is a liaison between the community and the education system, need community members to go to meetings, bring info to attention of the BoE members

Aveta – wants participation from community members all of the time, not just when big issues arise

Donnelly – Hiring a competent superintendent that can work with everyone is important, need to find someone who is willing to work with BoE and admin

Henkel – be open to all communications, willing to talk

Griffin – always sees the same people at meetings, inviting more to speak out and attend, always willing to talk

9. What is your educational philosophy?

Griffin – every child should be able to perform at their best at all times, not everyone will be an A student, but everyone can achieve in their own way

Aveta – every student should have the best opportunity to achieve at their best ability

Donnelly – continue to help students strive to improve, increase level of rigor each year

Henkel – everyone should be able to meet/exceed their dreams, meet every concern of every parent/student

Bouthillette – best education possible to make this the best community possible, afford our students the opportunities to be successful later in life

Closing statements:

Henkel –open to contact, serving the community of students and parents, CHILDREN FIRST and everything else takes a back seat to them

Griffin – Fighting for children to continue to learn, thrive and grow

Donnelly – takes education seriously, proud to serve, keeps himself involved on variety of meetings, need a united, equal opportunity Middletown

Bouthillette – passionate about Middletown and the ed opportunities, brings a diverse background, team player, progress of all, willing to take time to better himself by going to training

Aveta – Wants to continue to serve his community, wants to learn from mistakes of past, ability to compromise and works well with others

MEET AND GREET LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AT MIDDLETOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY THURSDAY OCTOBER 13th

Middletown, NJ - A "Meet the Candidates" forum has been scheduled to introduce the local Democratic candidates at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Oct.13 at the Main Branch of the Middletown Public Library located at 55 New Monmouth Rd., Middletown.

The open public session will give residents the opportunity to meet the candidates for Middletown Township Committee, Jim Grenafege and Carol Fowler, to discuss issues affecting Middletown and to exchange ideas for making Middletown’s government more responsive and the town a better place to live.

Jim Grenafege is an advocate for small, transparent, representative government focused on local tax relief and community quality-of-life. He actively champions for fiscal responsibility, government accountability and timely open access to public information. Jim often challenges status quo policies and practices of local government and offers alternatives to better serve the citizens of Middletown Township.

Carol Fowler and her family are lifelong residents of Lincroft. She has been a member of the Lincroft First Aid and Rescue Squad for the past 28 years and she currently serves as the Director of the Center for US War Veteran Oral Histories at the National Guard Militia Museum, where she also works as Assistant Curator. She feels that taxpayers have been exploited long enough by those currently sitting on the Township Committee who seem to serve their Party Chairman and other cronies more so than the residents of Middletown.

MiddletownPatch: Three BOE Candidates Seek One-Year Term to Address Pressing Issues

Currently up over at MiddletownPatch is an article which profiles the three individuals, Leonora Caminiti, Allen Burns and Ernest Donnelly, that seeking to be elected to the Middletown Board of Education to fill the 1 year unexpired term left by Dan Skelton, who stepped down from the board earlier this year.

The profiles are pretty straight forward and standard, nothing controversial but gives each's position on a couple of topics. So, If you weren't able to attend one of the four BOE Candidate Forums that were held over the past two weeks, these profiles may be able to help your decision making process for whom to vote for.

I attended the Candidate Forum that was held on April 14th at Harmony School and out of these three individuals, I was most impress Ernest Donnelly (Caminiti was a no show). He seemed to has a clear notion of what was needed to ensure that the schools ran properly and efficiently and as a former educator and superintendent himself, he knows what to look for when hiring a new superintendent in Middletown.

Allan Burns did not impress me at all, his stances on some of the issues seemed naive and his outright refusal to approve any budget in the future that included a tax increase was unrealistic in my eyes and came across as pandering.

But go over to the MiddletownPatch website and read the profiles anyway and read for yourself, you may walk away with a different opinion.

Also, remember that I have posted audio from the April 19th Candidate Forum that was hosted by the Middletown Republican Party at the Lincroft Inn.

While the forum was not a great venue for the candidates to express their views (questions where directed at individual candidates only, others could not comment) and it seemed somewhat biased, you can hear Burns and Donnelly speak.

Audio From April 19th Middletown Board of Education Candidate Forum At Lincroft Inn

On April 19th 2011, the Middletown Republican Party held a BOE Candidate Forum at the Lincroft Inn.

The first 11 minutes of the meeting consisted of Republican Club business followed by the Candidate Forum. After each candidate was give 2 minutes to introduce themselves the floor was open to questions and answers.

Candidates Leonora Caminitti, Barry Allen Travis and Richard Morrill did not attend but had statements read.

The meeting ran approx. 1.5 hours and can be heard in its entirety below, but I have to admit I haven't listened to all of it as of yet. I have only gotten through the first hour, I will listen to more as time allows between now and the Board of Education election which will be held next week on April 27th.

My one thought on this meeting is that it wasn't much different that the one I attended in person over at Harmony School on April 14th which was written about in this weeks edition of the Independent

Meet And Greet Middletown School Board Candidates at Upcoming Candidate Forums

It's just 17 days before theApril 27th school board election is to be held and candidate signs are begining to sprout up around jug handles and shopping center all over the place.

This year, the field of candidates seeking a position on the Middletown Board of Education is extremely large, four positions are open and need to be filled due to three incumbants not seeking re-election and one resignation earlier this year.

There will be six candidates running for 3 three-year terms and three candidates running for one open seat for a one-year term. The six candidates seeking three- year terms are: Gerry Wexelberg, Bob Banta,John Macrae,Richard Morrill, Bob Superti and Barry Allan Travis.

While the three candidates looking to fill the one-year term will be: Leonora Caminiti, Ernest Donnelly,and Allan Burns. The winner of this seat will need to run again next year in order to gain a full three-year terms on the board.

There will be four Candidate Forums held before the April 27th school board election that give give voters an opportunity to meet and greet candidates starting tomorrow when two forums will be taking place, below is a list:

April 12th:

Sponsored by - Middletown Mornings

Place - Middletown Township Public Library @ 9:30 a.m.

Sponsored by - Lincroft PTA

Place - Lincroft Elementary School’s All Purpose Room @ 7:45 p.m.

April 14th:

Sponsored by -Harmony Elementary School PTO

Place - Harmony Elementary School’s All Purpose Room @7 p.m.

April 19th:

Sponsored by - Republican Club of Middletown and Executive Committee

Place - Lincroft Inn @ 7 p.m.

If you are unfamiliar with the candidate running this year and want a head start getting to know a few of them and their positions on school issue, there are some websites up and running that may help. Bob Banta and Gerry Wexelberg, Barry Allen Travis and John Macrae all have websites that introduce themsleves and let you know where they stand on school issues

I would also like to extend an invitation to all the candidate running for the Middletown Board of Education this year, to send an introduction letter with your thoughts and ideas of how you would make the Middletown school system and the education of our children better.

Send the letters to mikeinmiddletown@gmail.com and I will post them to the blog as they come in.

Your Commentary Inspired Me

I was sent the following by a reader who was inspired by me to comment on some of the nonsense that Middletown's acting mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, wrote and submitted to the Asbury Park Press for the candidates feature which was posted online earlier today. Enjoy!

A Commentary on Scharfenberger’s statements in APP

I'm running for a seat on the Middletown Township Committee simply because I care deeply for the township (yeah…that’s why you gave us a 14% tax increase this year… ) and want to help shape its future. I have two children who have gone through or still attend Middletown’s public schools and want our community to be affordable ( a 45% tax increase in 5 years is “affordable?”), desirable and in possession of all of the fine qualities we now enjoy when they grow into adulthood.

One of the most daunting tasks elected officials in New Jersey face is how to cut property taxes (you have NEVER LOWERED TAXES AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL). While Middletown Township spends far less per capita than any of our neighbors, it is imperative that we lead the way further in cutting spending and lowering property taxes. (If you haven’t found a way to lower our taxes in 5 years, you should thrown out of office!!!) Thankfully, the reforms that Governor Christie has proposed will give local governments the ability to cut the size of government and lower taxes that they don’t have now.

As residents of Middletown, we understand why we have been named one of the top 100 places to live in the country by Money Magazine. As residents of New Jersey, we also know that we are the state with the highest property taxes in the nation. We must immediately cut the size of government and find innovative ways to provide essential services. (Why haven’t you done this after five years?) This will take tough decision-making and creative ideas. I look forward to partnering with Governor Christie to return our state to a place where generations of people can afford to live (I can’t afford another term of Gerry!) and raise their families.

All Candidates For Middeltown Board Of Education Urge Approval of School Budget At Friday's Forum And Other Observations

Friday morning I attended the Middletown Board of Education's Candidate Forum at Panera Bread in Middletown. This last of three forums was hosted by Stephanie Murray of the Middletown Mornings organization. When I got there Friday morning I didn't quiet know what to expect in the respect of turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised to see over thirty people in attendance.

Ms. Murray opened the forum by having each candidate take a minute and a half to introduce themselves and explain why they felt they should be elected to the BOE this year.

Six of the seven candidates were in attendance and in order of their opening remarks are:

Patricia Walsh
Dawn Diorio
Gerry Wexelberg
Michael Mascone
Vincent Brand
Leonora Caminiti

Chris Aveta, who is running on the same ticket as Mascone and Brand was not in attendance Friday morning.

I recorded the meeting in its entirety and was going to break it all down into individual questions and answers, but because I have been hit with some kind of "Bug" that attacked me late Friday night and have been in bed since, I have decided just to post the whole recording.

It runs for 46 minutes but seems to play faster than that. The meeting was fast paced and kept all of those there engaged.

For me the only real news that came out of the forum was that each candidate agreed that the this years school budget should be passed by voters on Tuesday. Failure to pass the budget would only mean more drastic cuts that would penalize students and teachers alike.




After the forum was over I mingled amongst the crowd and spoke to a few candidates. I had a very nice conversation with Mike Mascone and Vinnie Brand, both of whom were polite and cordial but who took exception with me for my earlier blog post that accused them and their running mate Chris Aveta of being lap dogs for Middletown Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore and the Middletown GOP.

Each profess that they had only met Fiore no more than three times and wouldn't even recognize him if the saw him in the street, which I took with a grain of salt put didn't pursue.

I told each of them that my problem wasn't with them as individuals but with the perceived endorsement of Fiore, who signed Brand's and Aveta's school board petitions.

Brand thought that it wasn't a problem and that Tony Fiore (or anyone else for that matter) should be able to openly endorse his candidacy if they so chose.

I disagreed with that statement and I let them know that for years the Middletown GOP has tried to gain influence over the Middletown BOE to varying degrees of success. And when they did gain control several years ago with their "Back To Basics" slate of candidates it was a disaster. The expansion and upgrades to Bayshore, Thorne and Thompson Middle Schools were over budget and wrought with problems, and contract negotiations ended when over 200 teachers were sent to jail.

In my opinion, there is no room for partisan politics on the school board and just having the Deputy Mayor's signature on both Brand's and Aveta's petitions is enough to raise doubts in my mind and others.

Fiore's signature on those petitions poison Brand's, Mascone's and Aveta's candidacy for the board of ed no matter how sincere Vinnie Brand's and Mike Mascone's insistence to me that they are there own men and that they would not be influenced in any way by Fiore or other members of the Middletown GOP.

With that being said, listen to the audio and make up your own mind, but most importantly vote "YES" for the budget and vote for the candidates that you think will be the best representative for your and your child's best interests on Tuesday April 20th

Wouldn't it Make Sense To Show Up To a Candidates Forum If You Were A Candidate?

Last night the Middletown Board of Education held the first of three Candidate Forums for residents to meet and learn about those people that are seeking election onto the school board.

I was unable to attend last nights forum because I was on "homework" assignment but I hope to attend one of the other two scheduled events.

From what I have been told about last nights forum only five of the seven candidates bothered to show up! Mike Mascone and Vinnie Brand, two of the three individuals backed by Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore did not show. In his absence Brand had a lenghty statement read by the moderator, which at times was not coherent.

Here's what an anonymous commentator had to say about last nights event concerning Mascone , Brand and Aveta:

"...With the times being so serious I don't understand how 2 candidates who want to run for this extremely important position not show up for these events. Where's the dedication and commitment that is needed?

These critical times require experience which wss quite obvious in the exchanges between the current BOE members and Mr. Aveta, but at least he showed up...."

I have to agree with the commentator, if you are a serious candidate how could you not make last nights forum,what was so important that Mascone and Brand couldn't show up to meet potential voters?

Mascone must have been very busy because he didn't bother to respond to the invitation for last nights event, and who knows about Brand, maybe Vinnie Brand was too busy making jokes about his kids somewhere to take the forum seriously.

Middletown School Board Candidates' Forums: Meet The Candidates for the Upcoming April 20th BOE Election

For interested residents who wish to make an informed decision about who to vote for in the upcoming school board elections the Middletown Board of Education will be holding a series of Candidate Forums starting tonight. These forums will be sponsored by various township organizations and are a good opportunity to meet and hear from the candidates that will be seeking election onto the Middletown Board of Education.

Those seeking election on to the School Board are:

Dawn Diorio
Leonora Caminiti
Gerald Wexelberg

Patricia Walsh

Michael Mascone
Chris Aveta
Vincent Brand

And will be sponsored by and take place at:

Organization: Lincroft PTA
Place: Lincroft Elementary School – All Purpose Room
Date: Wednesday, April 7
Time: 7:30 p.m

Organization: Middletown Republican Club
Place: Lincroft Inn
Date: Wednesday, April 14
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Organization: Middletown Mornings
Place: To be determined
Date: Friday, April 16
Time: 9:30 a.m.



An FYI for those that think partisen party politics should have no place in the education of our children should note that the ticket of Mascone, Aveta and Brand seems to have been put together by Mayor Scharfenberger and Deputy Mayor Fiore in an apparent effort to have more control over the school board.

All three candidates have ties to the Middeltown Soccer League and Deputy Mayor Fiore. The Middletown Soccer League supported the Mayor and Deputy Mayor's efforts to have a sports complex built at West Front Street Park in Lincroft and now tht the plans for new turf fields in town have fallen through, all three have a vested interest in seeing that the artifical turf fields at both Middeltown High Schools are opened for the personal use of Middletown Soccer.

Deputy Mayor Fiore's signature can be seen on both the Brand and Aveta petitions

Do Mascone, Aveta and Brand have the best interests of the students in Middletown at heart or are they more interested in partisen politics and seeing their best interests are taken care of first? That is a question that should be asked of them during these Candidate Forums.