Home

Keeping an Eye on the Storm

by Joe Renna

It's the first weekend in September and political campaigns are starting up. I have been addressing issues for the last two months (on this forum, on my website and in the news papers). It is impossible for the people of Union County to know what is going on within County government. There are a few high profile issues that get allot of attention but very few people have the initiative to find out what's going on or the resources to do something about it. It is hard work to get involved and to try to be part of the process. I applaud everyone, on both sides of an issue, for doing so. Our government works best when people get involved, but Union County has been faltering by a breakdown of this system. As a Freeholder I would work towards restoring a more open government.

The problems in Union County, as they relate to the government, stem from the control of the Freeholder Board by one party. In Union County's case, all nine Freeholders are Democrats. The Democrats enjoyed the majority power for nine straight years. The climate of the government over the years has been overcast by the party politics to a point where a hurricane is brewing. The winds are so strong that debris if flying and now it's hitting people.

The problems stemming from an autocratic system, as in Union County, compound to a point where they are unmanageable. The environment created by the Union County Democratic Committee has blanketed the Board of Freeholders. The power of the Freeholder Board lies with the party not the elected officials. The situation has gotten to a point that the party has such a stronghold on the electorate that the election of their selected candidates is almost guaranteed.

This system has caused problems within the ranks of the party. Democrats not in lock step with those controlling the party are alienated. Individuals wanting to participate in government, be it as an elected official or an employee, feel pressure to maintain a persona grata status. Democrats who do not succumb to the pressures, and do what they feel is right, are denied fair opportunity in their government job along with opportunity to run on the party line. This didn't leave many options. Some took the consequences of not selling out, through a job change, or by losing the party's endorsement. Most stayed working and went along to get along.

The ability for County employees to work diligently has been diluted. Union County Government does not work efficiently. There is a tremendous amount of waste and it leads a trail to the coffers of the Union County Democratic Committee. The $340 million County budget has been used to leverage both financial and political support for the party. This secures the chances that the Freeholder Board will retain their absolute power.

The eye of the storm is upon us. If granted another year of business-as-usual our County government will be ripped from its foundation. People must turn out on November 4, 2003 and vote for a change.