Competition Needed in School Board Races

To the Editor:

I read with dismay and irritation that the people of Gloucester Township will not have a choice in the 2011 school board elections. I was further disheartened to learn that those running for re-election have proposed raising taxes once again. Maybe if the residents of Gloucester Township had a viable opposition party to keep the majority party in check our taxes may not be so high.

Less than two weeks ago I issued a statement agreeing with the call for Camden County Republican Chairman Rick DeMichele’s resignation because of his lack of commitment to fielding opposition candidates. Last Thursday Mr. DeMichele announced his resignation but today his legacy lives on in Gloucester Township. The local Republican organization has failed in their role as opposition party to field any candidates for neither the Gloucester Township School Board nor the Black Horse Pike Regional School Board.

This is a travesty and an insult to the citizens of Gloucester Township. With no opposition voice, the ruling party is free to do as they please with no substantive challenge. The combined budgets of the two school boards are roughly $150 million, more than double the municipal budget, yet with two open seats on the K-8 district and four members seeking re-election the township Republicans have decided to sit on the sidelines. One fact that makes this even more mind boggling is that the school boards have vowed to raise taxes on the already burdened and beleaguered citizens of this great town. But not one word of opposition has been uttered from the so called opposition party.

Attitude reflects leadership and the Gloucester Township Republicans are a mirror image of the county party. Maybe that is why so many Gloucester Township Republicans have high-paying taxpayer funded jobs in exchange for their support of failed policies in the county organization. Perhaps if these people were more interested in speaking on behalf of the people and not currying favor for patronage we would have a real opposition party in Gloucester Township. Accepting patronage makes you part and parcel of the problem and incapable of being the solution.

Like people of the past, our citizens refuse to accommodate a government that believes it can replace the will of the people with its own. Today a voice of reason and opposition is being heard, South Jersey Citizens United exists because we believe in fiscal conservatism, responsible government and being an advocate for the people. Our membership is comprised of Republicans, Democrats and Independents who are truly interested in keeping government honest and educating the people to further insure our community’s best interest are being served.

Government derives its power only by the consent of the people. Let the word go out now to those who would rule with fear and corruption, regardless of political party, that we the People are watching and will no longer stand by in silence. The right of the people to dissent is inalienable and not to be abridged by no man.

South Jersey Citizens United will take the place of any political organization that refuses to honor their commitment to The People. We will be the shining light on the hill and the real voice of dissent. 

Regards,

Tom Crone

Executive Director

www.SJCitizensUnited.org