Tom De Martini, Patch Staff

Email: thomas.demartini@patch.com

Phone: 610-390-5568

Hometown: Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but consider Middletown, N.J. in Monmouth County my hometown. That's where I grew up. 

Birthday: July 20

Marital Status: Married my wife Mary on April 10, 2010.

Professional Background: Began my journalistic career as a high school senior in the sports department of the Asbury Park Press at the New Jersey shore. My journalistic experience is diverse. I covered the financial markets in New York for Dow Jones Newswires and the now-defunct Bridge Information Systems for more than eight years. I've worked and written in various capacities for the Newark Star-Ledger, the Bergen Record and several defunct publications (do you see a trend here?) including the Woodbridge News-Tribune and Cable World magazine. I've covered horse racing for 16 years on a freelance basis for Kentucky-based industry publications. My most recent experience before joining Patch was at The Morning Call, serving as an editor for (the defunct) Chronicles weeklies, as a staff writer and a freelance municipal and sports reporter.

High School/College: A total New Jersey education, graduating from Middletown North High School and Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University. 

Hobbies:  Cooking. I love to prepare meals. Summer at the Jersey Shore. Horse racing at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. for however long it lasts, which may not be very long. The N.Y. Mets, the N.Y. Giants and the N.Y. Rangers. Exploring the Philadelphia Art Museum with my wife Mary and step-daughter Kristen. I like to play poker when visiting Atlantic City and Las Vegas, but I'm a fish.  

Favorite flicks: The Godfather I and II. Goodfellas. The Paper. Let it Ride. Heartbreak Ridge. Rounders. Morning Glory.

And now a word from our sponsor….Be right back….

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for editors to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to those beliefs. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that editors' beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know. 

 Okay, I'm back….

Tom's Beliefs….

Journalism: I believe in old-school journalism. Report the facts and report them correctly without sensationalism. Be a watchdog, but detached -- don't allow personal feelings to influence reporting. Be tough, but fair. Take time to investigate thoroughly. Be tactful. Listen well. Allow people to tell their side of the story, but don't wither under pressure from anyone who wants to spin. Patience and dogged determination serves journalists well. Never show allegiance to any team when sports reporting. There really is no cheering in the press box.

Politics: 

How would you describe your political beliefs? Conservative. 

Registered with a certain party? Republican. 

 Religion: Lapsed Roman Catholic.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

How the current state of the economy affects the lives of everyone from property and school taxes to sewer and refuse bills. The cost of everything increases, but people's paychecks largely stay the same -- or get smaller. How do we as a community deal with that? How will local government and school boards, given the economy, squeeze every penny from budgets and stop waste in an effort to minimize tax increases. How will libraries, parks and other community resources be funded in the future under such austere cirumstances? We need to find ways to increase local employment and stop laying off talented teachers. What's happened to the casino monies that were supposedly targeted for municipalities and education?

Where do you stand on each of these issues?

We'll never have to stop paying property and school taxes, but some formula needs creation in Pennsylvania to stop the runaway train of taxing and spending before state and local deficits become as large as they've become in New Jersey.