YOU BETTER DO YOUR HOMEWORK

As the ads appear on TV for back to school supplies it calls to our attention that summer is coming to an end all to quickly. Parents are gearing up to getting the little darlings back to school, “thank God.” With the changing of the leaves, the pulling out the fall sweaters and the kids off to college we will be entering September and October for our fall and winter line up.

This will bring us to the “Silly Season” better known as our local elections. This is a time when Democrats and Republicans take sides and try to make themselves look good or the other side look bad to win your hearts or at least your votes. The “cannon” fire from each side over the last number of years has been mostly using a parking garage and the business community as a wedge between the citizens and business community, many of which also live here. The Democrats promoting business and the re-development and the Republicans opposed to development and business. This is the exactly opposite to each party’s state and national posture…..strange don’t you think?

This year is different and why all residents and business people in Red Bank had better do their “homework” regarding who you vote for in the coming election.

It brings us to the realization that whether you loved, just agreed with or disagreed with our Mayor Ed McKenna and our town counsel Red Bank has accelerated to being one of the most desired towns to live, work and play. In addition we no longer have the second highest tax rate in the state, we are now 26th. After 16 years as Mayor, Ed McKenna will not be running in the next election.

The leadership of the day to day operations of the town of Red Bank, as well as the ability to provide leadership for future issues is critical to the future of our town. Red Bank, like most small towns and cities have major budget, planning and tax issues that need qualified leaders who have the ability to deal with a 17 million dollar budget. They also have to have the dedication to Red Bank residents and the business community to form a balance that involves our town as a “great place to live, work and play.” We had better do our “homework” to make sure whoever we elect to our town council and our next major is truly qualified to operate and manage our town.

When you apply for a job, you need to present your qualifications before you get the job…we need to acquire the qualifications from every candidate to make that decision. Name recognition cannot be the motivation for a vote….just being around for a number of years doesn’t cut it…we have seen that from our mistakes in the past.