FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joseph M. DiBella, Mayor

1-732-938-4500

February 26, 2006

Improving the Political Climate in Howell

It is often said that politics is a tough business. It is unfortunately especially true here in Howell Township where the political climate has had a long history of being the toughest in the County. In my view, this is sad and we all have to work together to do something about it. Like many people, I am involved in government because I believe in the principles of public service and helping my community. I enjoy being Mayor and working for my customers; the tax paying resident of Howell Township. The job is not easy and I am not perfect. With it comes the extraordinary responsibility of making decisions every day that will impact the lives of thousands.

At times we will agree, and other times we will not. The debate may be passionate and people have a right to feel strongly about the issues that impact their lives, their homes and their future. However, it is my hope that we can all work together to combat some of the nasty and ugly political rhetoric that may sell newspapers and clog up the internet but often times has no place in public life.

Mean spirited and politically motivated attacks on anyone have no place. Hurtful messages left on web rooms or “blogs “are equally as unproductive. They perpetuate a culture of mean-spiritedness that contributes to turning people off to public life and eroding the people’s faith in their government. We all have a constitutional right to express ourselves openly and freely but we also have an obligation to do so with decency and honor. It is unlikely that Lincoln, Jefferson, Truman, Reagan or other great public servants ever engaged in the mean-spirited politics we all see today. Whether it is attacking someone’s family, questioning their integrity or playing political games at public meetings, this all has to come to an end. It simply has no place in public service and we have to demonstrate as a people that we will no longer stand for it.

We can all disagree with each from time to time. It is healthy and a part of the process. But nothing is worth having people smeared or subjected to nasty attacks. If someone disagrees with an elected official or member of the community they have a right to challenge them in an honorable way. In the case of an elected official, they have a right to vote against them again. However in Howell, when someone disagrees with an elected official they now threaten to “recall’ them, which is tantamount to overturning the will of the people and the outcome of legitimate elections. How are elected officials expected to do the business of the people when they have to worry that because someone disagrees with them they may be subjected to politically motivated “recalls” that can paralyze the government?

No one has all the answers or all the solutions to issues we face today. But one thing is for sure; name calling, personal attacks, silly pictures, smear campaigns and the like will not help us address any of the real issues we face. They will only make the issues worse and create an even greater divide among people. Some work hard to create such a divide. It creates the opportunity to distract people from the truth and allows a small few to achieve their political agendas, all at an enormous cost to the tax payers.

I ask that you join me in working to improve the political climate in Howell. Lets all agree that if we don’t have anything nice to say about someone, maybe its best to say nothing at all. If we are going to be critical lets also make an effort to offer solutions to help make our community a better place. If we debate one another, let’s do so with respect for each other and for the great democracy we have. If we are going to challenge someone or disagree with them, let’s do so without personalizing. Most importantly, let’s always treat each other as we’d like to be treated ourselves.

We live in the greatest community on earth. Like most places we have our share of issues. However, let us also be reminded that we have much to be thankful for as well. The issues remain reining in taxes, protecting our precious open space, improving services we provide to our customers and demonstrating that we have an open honest and accountable government. We cannot be distracted by pettiness or political shenanigans along the way. Be assured I will step up my efforts to be sensitive to these issues and I ask you all to do the same.

Please tell me know how you feel about this issue. Please call or email me anytime at MayorDiBella@twp.howell.nj.us. May God Bless our Troops, May God Bless America and May God Bless Howell Township.

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