WHAT IS SO POLITICAL ABOUT VOTERS ACTUALLY GETTING TO VOTE FOR MAYOR?
Nothing, says Neptune Government 4 All. It is our core belief that having a vote in who your elected officials are, is basic to democracy. Right now, the mayor is a one year (virtually) rotating post! That’s not democracy at its best! And, that’s why NG4A, a non-partisan group, decided to get together and initiate this effort to put a change of government question on the ballot this November.
Right now, the executive and legislative functions are combined and secretive. Who is watching the store? The politicians are in on the deal and the taxpayers are left out. As it stands now, the Mayor is selected behind closed doors. Direct voter election of the Mayor should be the right of the people.
Yet recently, NG4A has seen some disturbing, albeit expected, push back from those same elected officials via comments in the media, in an attempt to keep their system of patronage in place. These elected officials are suggesting this grass roots movement is nothing more than politics,
It’s simply about a change to a better system,” said NG4A’s Luke Tirell. “We’re working to get the question on the ballot and give the voters the right to choose their mayor. We’re already seeing that when Neptune voters learn about the benefits of this change, they overwhelmingly support it.”.
NG4A is also hearing from residents that they would like to have their own neighborhood council members. They would be better able to address the important issues all across Neptune: crime in Midtown, parking in Ocean Grove, speeding in Shark River Hills, as well as development along the Route 66 corridor in West Neptune. To have only five minutes in front of a podium twice a month at a council meeting does not allow residents the opportunity to fully address those needs. Instead, having a Council person from their own neighborhood and accountable to those voters allows for more effective attention to local issues, in addition to the big picture issues.
“Is Neptune Township not right for the same style of government that Old Bridge, Piscataway Township, and many other municipalities use?” asked NG4A’s Charlie Demaria, “Neptune, much like Piscataway, is a very diverse community made up of a number of very different neighborhoods, each with its own unique needs.”
On the NG4A website, www.ng4a.net there is a list of nearly all of those municipalities, both small and large, that use the Mayor-Council form of government.
DeMaria continued, “Neighborhood representation in our local government and direct voter election of the Mayor will result in a more accountable and cost effective government for Neptune taxpayers. Change like this will benefit the taxpayers. It’s not about politics, it’s about empowerment.”
The suggestion that the people’s right to vote for a mayor is outweighed by some small financial cost to place it on the ballot is not right. There actually is no great cost in placing this on the ballot.
Most importantly, over the next few weeks, Neptune Government 4 All will be talking about the benefits of this plan, especially how it will benefit the taxpayers. All you have to do is go to our website, www.ng4a.net to find the fact sheets.
No sound bites, just facts.
Visit www.ng4a.net for more information and let us know that you want to sign the petition. Send a message that you support full democracy and the voter’s right to choose on the November ballot.
This Neptune citizens’ plan for a change to neighborhood representation will put taxpayers first. We can’t afford not to change.
If you are interested in helping this grass roots, non-partisan, initiative, email us at: [email protected]. You’ll see how non partisan we are!
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Everything would depend upon the powers granted to the Mayor – is he/she just basically a chairman of the meeting? Or does he/she have powers well above the other elected officials?
Do the voters elect the president of the local Board of Education? Approximately 2/3 of the property tax bill goes to the local Board of Ed. Shouldn’t that position be filled by direct election (if you accept the argument as stated in this posting)?
Sorry, but until more details are provided on the actual form of government involved, I don’t believe one can properly argue either way.
TheDigger,
You pose important points. Those in Neptune can start visiting our website later this week for much more information and answers.
But, the most import thing is that this needs to get on the ballot so that all Neptune voters can decide on the merits.
TheDigger,
But, to answer your last line directly; currently Neptune has a Township form of government and we are proposing a Mayor-Council form.
The Digger is right – under a most counsel -manager forms of government, the mayor position is still ministerial.
Instead of a one year rotating position it will be a 4 year rotating position. Seems like you are further removing the mayor from the people.
The better part of you plan, that you should really be pushing, is the ward system.
Be very wary of a ward system, which it sounds like you are proposing – “neighborhood council members” – which can lead to serious problems in dealing with issues affecting only one locality within the municipality – each “neighborhood councilperson” (or “ward” representative) will want tax dollars spent in their “ward” if they are to vote for tax dollars to be spent in another ward.
This also usually leads to a “strong” mayor, weak council with more powers residing in the mayor, and of course, a higher salary paid to the mayor.
Also, do you elect the president of the local Board of Election? If not, why not (following your arguments as relates to the Township)?
I guess you are lucky I don’t live in Neptune. I would probably have a hard time supporting ward politics. Too divisive.
Actually Digger for a place like Neptune I think the wards are best, and while I don’t disagree with your remarks about the problems it could bring (I agree with you), I think it is worth solving those problems to get to the benefits of a ward system.
Ward systems are for places with very diverse neighborhoods who have diverse interests.
Neptune is certainly one of those towns. The folks on Springwood Avenue have nothing in common with the bucolic Ocean Grove or the sublime and suburban Shark River Hills.
The problem is, does Springwood Avenue ever have a shot at representation?
I always pushed for a ward system in Asbury Park. The town is broken up into geographic quarters, and the southwest section rarely has a voice on the counsel (I think once in my lifetime).
That might explain why the southwest is the most ingnored and problematic of all the sections of Asbury Park.
Also, if the goal of building 3200 condos along the beach front comes to fruition in Asbury Park, they will definately want a ward system, because those new folks will have the numbers to take over everything (not saying that would necessarily be a bad thing, but it is a numerical fact).
everything about government by nature is “political”.. with always competing interests and agendas.. it is true that a regular mayor/council form winds up with the elected mayor, (with yes, a 4-yr. rather than a 3-yr. term), having all the focus and ceremonial deference,( and a seat at the NJ Mayors’ Ass’n., and another AC conference each year,for whatever that’s worth) but actually winds up being “weak,” and just the tie-breaker, if there’s a vote- tie.. am all for Neptune shaking things up, but am not sure one will ever see “politics” out of ANY movement regarding representation for the taxpayers, it’s the nature of the beast, and we need to be diligent as voters, wherever we live, and hold these any and all of the elected clowns accountable, for all the ways they spend OUR money!