Letter: Lansdale Councilman Supports Re-Election of Incumbents

The primary election is upon us, and with it, a couple of choices exist for the residents of Lansdale. My name is Jason Van Dame, and I currently sit on Borough Council. I was appointed to fill a term that ends this year.  My name will be on the ballot this November as a candidate for this seat, but, as a registered independent voter, I am not required to participate in the primary.

But I would like to offer some thoughts and observations for those that are not yet decided on how to vote in this primary.

When I first heard about the open seat and request for applications to fill the council position, I was immediately interested. It was shortly after the 2012 elections, and all the political propaganda that goes along with that process.

Talk of filibusters, and budget sequesters made the news headlines regularly. Nothing but spin and positioning about why things can not be done, from these men and women we elect to do the business of running our government.  

But here in Lansdale something was different. In 2009, a group of bipartisan candidates was elected to Lansdale Borough Council, and since that time the difference has been noticeable. This group campaigned on some very specific and important issues, and they followed through on their promises. I admire this quality in people, and what better way to support this culture than to get involved.  

Now, it is primary election season, and with that comes a flood of political propaganda from the party machines. It seems that the parties have reverted to their old ways. Candidates they once endorsed are making too much progress by working together with members from opposing parties. Now, they have each chosen a new slate of candidates to endorse, and I find their platforms intriguing.

First, they all talk about fiscal responsibility, and keeping an eye on our taxes. Well, this is exactly what these current members have done.  Yes, our taxes and utilities increased, but so has every cost that these funds cover.  And the increases have been modest.  Advertising these increases as percentages is a great tool to incite public outrage, but the reality is Lansdale is still a very inexpensive place to live and do business by comparison to other communities.

I do not want to spend a dime more than I have to, but I do want to live in a town that has a balanced budget, provides high quality services to us as residents, operates and maintains a great park and recreation system, staffs a full police department, and invests in its infrastructure.  Without these things our quality of life in the borough will regress, and our property values will go down.

Second, I hear a great deal about openness and transparency.  This is perhaps the biggest misstatement, based on my experience.  As proof, I would offer the argument about the money spent on consultants.  Government entities are not experts on everything, and therefore they hire consultants to get expert opinions.  This practice is not new, or unusual. The difference is that these transactions are now reported to the public. And the Borough now uses these consultant recommendations to enact policy, rather than shelving the information for future consideration.  

Since being appointed, I have had many questions, and not once have I not received an answer to my satisfaction. I think that the misconception of a lack of transparency can be fixed with a little knowledge. All that one needs to do is ask the questions and answers will be provided, or direction will be given to the appropriate place to get that answer. Committee meetings are where issues get discussed and debated, I encourage you to attend these meetings as they are open to the public.

Televising meetings is a worthy idea, but it will be an expensive undertaking.  If this is something the residents will actually watch, then send a message through the borough receptionist, or email your council representative that we should spend the money on this.  It just seems hard to justify the cost when only a handful of residents ever attend the meetings.

I could continue on, but by now you should see my point. This council is working hard for the best interests of Lansdale.  They have nothing to hide, and will follow through on their word.  It seems that the party system will somehow have their candidates come in and better manage the funds now that this group has put them in order,  not one of them says they could operate at previous rates. It seems to me that when the propaganda sent out to glorify their candidates uses incomplete details, twisted facts, or misleading statements to get their message out, perhaps that is their character, and that is what you should expect from them if elected.  

So vote on Tuesday for those you think will be best for our town. I would encourage you to keep the positive momentum on track, and support our incumbents: Mary Fuller in ward one,  Mike Sobel in ward two, and Dan Dunigan in ward three.  They have proven that they will operate according to their word, and will continue to do so with your support.

Sincerely,

Jason Van Dame
Lansdale Borough Councilman
Independent Candidate for Council