Letter to the Editor: Candidate for Morris County Surrogate Calls for Change

The below article is an opinion piece submitted to Madison Patch by Matt Ryan on behalf of George Tannous, Candidate for Morris County Surrogate.

The current Morris County Surrogate has held the position for almost twenty years. When I began my campaign, most people I spoke with could not even tell me what the Surrogate does.

With millions of taxpayer dollars coming into the Surrogate’s office every year, there is no reason our current officeholder cannot promote the office at every opportunity and take the time to let the people of Morris County know how important its services are. This is totally unacceptable.

If elected, I pledge to make it a priority to promote the office to any interested group. From our seniors to college students, young professionals to working class families, I will make it my first priority to explain the importance of having a will and the services the office provides.

The office of Morris County Surrogate is a non-political office. I’m not running because of a political ideology or partisan politics. This is about people, not politics. It is not a Republican office or a Democratic office. It is about what is right for every citizen of Morris County.

My beliefs on the issues of this office cut across political ideologies and party lines. This campaign is about serving the people of Morris County and doing the absolute best for their interests.

Our current surrogate has been in office for a full generation. Twenty years is long enough to stick with the status quo, too long to collect a salary paid for by us, the taxpayers.

We deserve better from our elected officials than twenty years of the same old policies. Isn’t it time we allow a new generation of Americans to serve the public, breathe new life and put new ideas into place. It is time for a change and I vow to put our citizens’ interests first.

After all, it is the taxpayers’ money that pays the salaries of the office’s employees. This is about doing the right thing on behalf of our citizens. It is about making a change for the benefit of all of us in Morris County. It is about being a part of the solution and for me to serve the people as your Surrogate.

Our country is experiencing challenging times right now; from the economy to chaos overseas. We need real change and true leadership in this country and it all starts at the local level. There are two choices: re-elect the same career politicians and get the same results or elect ordinary citizens that will speak for the people. I urge everyone to make the right choice on November 4.

George Tannous