Veitengruber: Keep Big City Politicians Out of Howell’s Board of Education
By Sue Veitengruber
I have a self imposed rule of not using my Facebook page for political views on candidates. My friends’ beliefs and ideals cover the entire spectrum. However, at the risk of a few individuals never speaking to me again, I have questions about certain BOE candidates on the ballot. Board of Education members are supposed to be the epitome of community volunteers. Howell is not “the big city.” So why, I need to ask, is one candidate being funded by state wide Political Action Committees and the Mayor of Elizabeth? The Elizabeth BOE has been fraught with corruption and nepotism. Board officials, including an attorney, were indicted on fraudulently claiming their kids were eligible for free lunches. Staff members were pressured into contributing to BOE members campaigns. Why does that candidate list her name and “politician” on her election FB cover page? This is not what the Howell BOE needs. It is the largest and best K-8 in the state. I am proud to have been part of the reforms in the 80s as a board member for almost 9 years, reforms that succeeding boards built on to continue the excellence in education in our town. We don’t need the Elizabeth political machine determining the decisions and future of the Howell BOE.
I am also dismayed at candidates who have hijacked a very important issue, the rezoning of West Farms Road. Like most Howell residents, I am opposed to the rezoning. However, it is not an issue for the Board of Education election. Statements such as “We need to send a message to the Howell Council” have no place in a BOE election. Don’t campaign on the backs of the Howell students.
My last day on the Howell Board of Education was December 31, 1989.
The next day, I became a member of the Township Committee and subsequently Mayor. Many of you know that I continue my support for the Howell school system through my work on the Howell Township Education Foundation. I also know that being a BOE Member is hard, often thankless job. You will never make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time, but you do need the support of a broad spectrum of residents and staff. Yes it is about the kids, but not just about the parents. There are many residents, like myself, whose children are long out of the K-8 system. I know my school taxes contribute to the value of my property. And this system did very well by my children who are both successful attorneys in this county.
I tend to look at the big picture when voting for candidates. I once had someone ask me how I could support a congressman who was pro-life and a state legislator who was pro-choice. I responded that it is never about one issue. It certainly is not about big city politics or rezoning when it comes to the Howell Board of Education. Tomorrow I will be voting for Chuck Welsh, Jeanne DePompo, and Tim O’Brien. I believe they were faced with very difficult decisions over the past three years, and after taking in all the facts and research, they made the best decisions for the students of the district. I have known two of these people personally for many years. Chuck, in particular, was an outstanding educator , school administrator, and community volunteer ( and my daughter’s high school social studies teacher.) Tim and Jeanne have been active as community volunteers and advanced the educational goals of the Howell system. Yes, there have been controversial issues over the past few years, and you may not have personally agreed with every action taken by the majority of the board, but I do believe these three people are the best choice for ALL Howell residents and the Howell School system. I hope you will consider them as you make your choices in tomorrow’s election. The polls are open from 6 am to 8 pm.
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This must be some joke. Sue Veitengruber? Really? She is THE most hated person in Howell. Whatever she says, people do the opposite. She was booted from office, lost her county committee seat and is regarded as the most hateful person in town. Lets all pray this is a one time sighting and not her getting back engaged. Don’t say you were not warned!
Most hated? Hahaha. You must have missed the Chamber of Commerce dinner last week where I, along with two other citizens, a business and non-profit, were honored. I was honored for my years of service to Howell Township. No, I have no interest in “getting back involved” politically in Howell. This is my personal observation and who I will be voting for tomorrow. I have lived for almost 40 years, and plan on being a resident for another couple of decades. And while there are those who may not like my opinion, there are a lot who do. And, BTW, I always use my full name so people know who is making the statement.
@ Sue – you must be kidding when you try to tie Elizabeth problems to Howell. One thing has nothing to do with the other. Ask yourself why the school taxes are so high in Howell.
Partof the problem is that you bonded and built 2 new schools when only one was really needed.
We now see the fruits of what the BOE did – closed schools, high taxes.
A fromer member was asked why 2 schools were buit and the answer was “becasue we felt we would only get one bite at the apple.”
You are known as one who has complained about everything under the sun.
Stick to things you know about. That should rather limit your comments.
I think educators are a most important part of our childrens development.
I just do not think they should serve on any BOE. Whether they are presently working in another district or retired from this one.
I will never support an educator for BOE as the conflict of interest whether real or perceived is an issue.
Far to many times this has been very obvious in Howell.
Sue is the best thing for Art. She is so polarizing and hated she’ll bring lots of people to the site to comment about (against)her. The chamber must have ran out of people to honor if they honored you. What a laughingstock. You were booted from Howell in every way because you are mean and evil. Whoever you “endorse” for BOE is surely doomed as scores of people will now NOT vote for them if you are for them. Let’s not have to revisit Tabernacle or Keansburg, ok. Please stop the “rehab” tour and spare us all from your hate and evilness.
And one more thing, NO one gives a dam what you have to say or what your opinion is.
Who even knows who’s running? Some bozo named Ziggy campaigned for a county committee seat in my district, got elected and haven’t heard from him since on any candidates, committees or issues. BOE members all stink, just write vote in “no” and let Christine figure out what that means.
Wow, such venom and anger from 3 people who think no one else can have an opinion other than their’s. And Jimmie Jones, I have not been on the board since Dec, 31, 1989. I did not bond and vote for two schools. The last time I was involved in a school election was when additions to Newbury, Southard and Aldrich were voted on in the late 80s. And I still live in Howell, almost 40 years, and plan on being here a couple of more decades.
I grew up in Howell and lived there for 24 years of my life. I work in Elizabeth. Nothing this woman brought up has anything to do with the mayor of Elizabeth for 17 years. I don’t know her political agenda but I do know she misrepresented many things in this article. The board of education and the mayor of Elizabeth have no affiliations. Actually they usually are on quite opposing sides. I still don’t understand how this has anything to do with an election in Howell. But everything she wrote here is completely incorrect.
@Sue V – that’s too bad. People were hoping you’d go away sooner. You think the schools are the best? I guess you never looked at the scores. You were part of the problem.
Like I said; good old Sue is a bonanza for Art as people lining up to post just to disagree agree with her and expose her. She has been on the wrong side of every major issue in Howell for all 40 years which is why she was booted out of everything. Just ask her own neighbors who voted her off the republican party county committee. Think Keansburg, Tabernacle, North Brunswick and on and on. The trail of disaster she leaves behind is unthinkable. It is good that once she pops her head out of the dirt everyone is here to speak out. Just a very hurtful person.
Nicole, everything I said is incorrect? Are you saying the candidate lied to NJ election Law Enforcement when she listed the contributions of the Election Fund of J. Christian Bollwage and several statewide Political Action Committees on her mandatory election report to a state agency?
Then I suggest you report that to NJ ELEC. Here are the contributions listed in a public document. since I did not name the candidate in my original post, I have blanked out the name of the candidate here. You can check out the entire document at: http://www.elec.state.nj.us/ELECReport/SearchCandidate.aspx Type in the name of the candidate and the report will come up.
10/24/2015
New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission
ELEC Received
Oct 24, 2015
6:27 PM
Name Name FOR HOWELL BOE
11/03/2015
10/05/2015 UA LOCAL 9 PAC FUND
2 IRON ORE ROAD, ENGLISHTOWN, NJ $2,000.00
10/05/2015 ELECTION FUND OF J. CHRISTIAN BOLLWAGE
P.O. BOX 1778, ELIZABETH, NJ 07201 $500.00
10/09/2015 LOCAL UNION 400 IBEW PAC FUND
P.O.BOX 1256, WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ 07719 $100.00
10/19/2015 B.A.C. ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY PAC 3281 ROUTE 206, BORDENTOWN, NJ 08505 $100.00
10/21/2015 Name Name 07731 $250.00
PIPEFITTER
LOCAL 9 PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS 2 IRON ORE ROAD, ENGLISHTOWN, NJ
$350.00
Keep it up folks. This new posting traffic will keep Sue glued to her computer. Bet she checks it every few minutes. And a boon for Art as anything “Vitengruber” on this site over the years is a big hit! Because so many despise her and her hate filled remarks and history. Hysterical she is still around. Good she is always called out (see Keansburg, North Brunswick, Tabernacle, and do a “Google” search…. ouch!!)