Sunday, October 25, 2009
A Message From Pam Brightbill, Gerry Scharfenberger And Tony FioreDear Middletown Residents,
The upcoming election for governor has engaged the citizens of New Jersey as few have in our state’s history. As important as the race for governor is to New Jersey’s future, we want to remind you of the importance of our local election to Middletown.
On November 3rd, there is one seat open for the Township Committee. We are proudly supporting Planning Board member Steve Massell for that seat. Steve brings a solid history of public service, first as a county committeeman and most recently, as a member of the planning board. His record of protecting the town from overdevelopment and protecting open space is unmatched. Steve’s vast knowledge of real estate will be invaluable in expanding the commercial tax base and ensuring fairness to all residential property owners.
His opponent, on the other hand, brings a disappointing record of unethical behavior and poor judgment, support for high density development through low-income housing and support for the destructive policies of Governor Corzine and the Democrat majority in Trenton. This troubling record includes:
- Voting against abolishing COAH, the $18 billion, taxpayer subsidized, low-income housing program.
- Voting to support Governor Corzine’s budget, even though it had a severe negative impact on Middletown.
- Refusing to meet with department heads during the budget process.
- Voting against open space in Middletown.
- Responding to an offer of assistance from the township committee with an obscene e-mail that was even copied to the female member of the committee.
- Attempting to increase his salary after only two months on the committee.
While we have repeatedly reached out to work as a team, these overtures have been unequivocally rebuffed in favor of divisive, partisan, and obstructionist behavior.
During our time in office, it has been a pleasure to have gotten to meet and know thousands of the residents in our town. We know what you expect from your elected officials and we know the direction that you want for our town. You have told us that you want honesty, efficiency and a 110% effort in working together to look out for the interests of Middletown, even in the face of immense pressure from outside special interests. Steve Massell is the embodiment of those qualities and knows what it takes to lower taxes, protect our open space and most important, relentlessly fight the destructive policies of Trenton and keep Middletown one of the top 100 places to live in the country.
We ask you to talk to your friends and neighbors and impress on them the importance of good government in Middletown and to achieve that goal, to elect Steve Massell to the Township Committee in November.
Please feel free to forward this to other Middletown residents.
Mayor Pam Brightbill
Deputy Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger
Committeeman Tony Fiore
