The Hopewell Valley Democratic Club

ROCKETS RED GLARE - The 2011 Independence Day Celebration at Alliger Park

For those of you who missed the spectacular Independence Day fireworks display at Alliger Park this year, click on the video clip below . . . and prepare to be amazed. 

For more information about the Valley’s Parks and Recreation facilities, click here.

 

TRENTON TIMES - 06/22/2011: Vanessa Sandom to replace John Murphy in Hopewell's general election race after his withdrawal

By Lisa Coryell

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - Democratic Committeeman John Murphy announced yesterday that he is withdrawing from the general election race, citing the increasing demands of his job.

The Hopewell Township Democratic Committee has unanimously endorsed Vanessa Sandom to run in his place.

“John expressed his regret that the increasing time and travel demands of his job force him to withdraw from the coming election,” said Carol Kleis, chairwoman of the local Democrats. “We wish John success in his career and are grateful for his inspired leadership as member of the Committee and past deputy mayor.”

Sandom, who earlier this year announced she would not seek re-election to a fourth term, will join Democrat Allen Cannon on the November ticket.

“I had planned on taking a hiatus from local government but John’s withdrawal from the race would have left the Democrats without a seasoned voice on the committee,” Sandom said.

“I felt it was my duty to continue the good work the Democrats have done for the township and I look forward to working with Allen next year.”

Murphy has served on the township committee since 2006, including two years as deputy mayor. He will serve out his current term, which expires in December.

HOPEWELL VALLEY NEWS - 03/31/2011: Compelled to respond

To the editor:

I had the opportunity to read Mark Iorio’s recent letter where he expressed his concern for what he viewed as a lack of “respect and good manners” toward Mayor James Burd during the Township Committee meeting on Feb. 28. I was one of the residents who expressed my dismay at Mr. Burd’s handling of the new Municipal Court judge appointment at that meeting and assume some of Mr. Iorio’s comments were directed toward me. As such, I feel compelled to respond.

What frustrated me at the Feb. 28 meeting was not only the Municipal Court judge selection process that was utilized, but the mayor’s complete lack of interest in considering or even responding to those who expressed concerns over the process. Time and time again, whether it was from interested township citizens or other Township Committee members such as Vanessa Sandom or John Murphy, concerns were raised and calls were made to modify the process. Time and time again, all of those concerns and comments were met with a deer-in-the-headlights-like silence and complete lack of response, other than a curt “thank you” (I should also point out, to comment on Todd Brant’s related letter (“Political theater?”) that “thank you” was the mayor’s singular response to not only Ms. Sandom, but to everyone who commented on this issue.

And Ms. Sandom was not the first to comment. So what she had to say or how she said it had no impact on Mayor Burd’s inability to respond. He had plenty of opportunity prior to Ms. Sandom’s comments and it was clear that he had no interest in having “a real discussion” on the issue. No explanation was offered with regards to the chosen selection process’ merits or rationale, nor any valid reasons provided as to why the chosen process was appropriate or an improvement over that which had been utilized in the past. It was only after Mayor Burd was pressed in a manner in which Mr. Iorio seems to view as inappropriate that he finally responded with something other than “thank you.”

Though the mayor’s attempted explanations at that point were woefully inadequate, at least there was a response. While it is unfortunate that Mayor Burd required the township residents to go to such a length to warrant his attention, that was his decision. Mr. Iorio stated in his letter that it is his goal to “raise the debate bar to a higher level.” That is a noble goal and one that I wholeheartedly support. However, a debate involves a two-way discussion, which, at the very least, requires an acknowledgement of, and response to, the opposing party’s views and concerns.

I have no doubt that Mayor Burd is a gentleman and I respect the fact that he has chosen to spend a considerable amount of his personal time and effort to serve his community. However, with regards to the Feb. 28 Township Committee meeting, if there was any lack of respect demonstrated at the meeting, it was on the part of the mayor and his complete disregard for the opinions of his fellow committee members and township citizens. We are not talking about filling some minor township-related position. Selecting the Municipal Court judge is one of the most important appointments the Township Committee will make this year. All citizens should view it as their obligation to hold their elected officials accountable when making such important decisions. If the mayor (regardless whether that mayor is Mr. Burd or anyone else) chooses to ignore Hopewell Township citizens’ concerns, there isn’t much anyone can do to stop him. But neither the mayor nor Mr. Iorio should act surprised or upset when that chosen course of action elicits an “acerbic” or “caustic” reaction. That’s how democracy works.

Spencer Cutter, Hopewell Township

HOPEWELL VALLEY NEWS - 03/24/2011: Represent us all!

To the Editor:

I am a member of the public who took the time to attend the March 28 Hopewell Township Committee meeting. I was greatly disappointed and offended in reading the letters that appeared in a recent Hopewell Valley News by Mark Iorio, Hopewell Township’s GOP municipal chairman, and Todd Brant, who has served as treasurer for the campaigns of Republican Committee members James Burd (our current mayor), Michael Markulec (our former mayor before Mr. Burd) and Kim Johnson.

While both Mr. Iorio and Mr. Brant do seem to acknowledge that Mayor Burd could have been more inclusive in the way in which he handled the hiring of the township’s new judge, they spend the majority of their time chiding the two Democrats on the committee for complaining too stridently about Mayor Burd’s handling of this issue.

Mr. Iorio further states: “It is one thing to argue an issue in earnest and yet another to allow a meeting to dissolve into a scolding session.” I contend that frustration often creates tension. I am left to wonder how many times a member of the committee should have to express concerns. At what point does the behavior concerned become an obvious ethical violation? Our current committee seems to be aligned by party. The minority might as well just be dismissed as their objections fall on deaf ears. What is worse is that the mayor, knowing full well that his selection would be approved, did not hear the pleas to evaluate the process further.

Mr. Iorio also states: “There were also several residents who came up to the podium to discuss their displeasure with the process. Some were civil and others were not.” Well, I was one of those people.

It seems to me that any time our political leaders (and their backers) chide the public for voicing their concerns, they do a disservice to democracy. I am a veteran of 25 years of voluntary service to our nation. In that time I have willfully defended democracy and freedom in Grenada, Korea, Europe, New York, Washington D.C., Afghanistan and Iraq. The enemies of democracy are both foreign and domestic. I am blessed to have made this Valley my home. My criticisms of local politicians and their policies were referred to as “uncivil,” or “bickering” or “insulting.” As anyone can see by looking at the footage of my statement (at www.HVDemClub.com), there was nothing rude in my comments to the mayor nor in my plea that he would at least reconsider his process before the vote took place.

On the contrary, I find their mischaracterization of my exercise of my fundamental political rights to be “insulting.” I find the policy of excluding committee members from the selection process of our new judge to be “uncivil.” I find the appointment of this new magistrate in our community, without adequate debate or analysis or plain old neighborly discussion, to be exactly what I fought against while serving my country at home and abroad.

Mr. Brant says: “The work of the members of the Hopewell Township Committee is to address the concerns confronting Hopewell Township, and not turn the committee meetings into a political theatrical event.” On the surface, this seems reasonable enough. Of course, the concerns confronting Hopewell Township are what the Township Committee should be concerned with! But when the majority bulldozes the minority party’s representatives on the committee, when it prevents them from even being a part of the process of choosing our township’s new judge, there is little left for them to do but voice their concerns and dissatisfaction with the process.

Mr. Brant calls this creating a “political theatrical event.” I call it representing the interest of the entire community. Both Mr. Iorio and Mr. Brant feel free to exercise the rights that our Armed Services protect with their lives. The Constitution is historically reaffirmed by those who give their lives to ensure all have equal rights. Mr. Iorio and Mr. Brant insist that some respect should be shown to those who disrespect the office and the community they are sworn to serve. That suggestion is as insulting as ignoring the community one swears under oath to serve.

The democratic process is too valuable to good order and peace to be selfishly pushed aside on an egotistical whim unless, you are one who does nothing to contribute to its protection. Politicians should see their representation of the people as an honor. It is disheartening to have proof in the mayor that we are not all represented and there is no interest in the concerns of the community. While you gentlemen may applaud the mayor’s lack of response, I contend that it was not civility that held his tongue, but his inability to explain his process’ link to the Constitution and democracy.

You gentlemen should highlight the process and examine it. All of us are not blessed to be eloquent in our conveyance of our perspective. We are, however, protected in our right to express our perspective. I think we all agree that we should expect our representatives to represent us all, not merely themselves.

 

Allen Cannon, Titusville

March 15, 2011, HVDemClub.com Editorial -- Bickering and Insults by Liberty Bell

I was flabbergasted by the letter of Mark Iorio, Hopewell Township GOP municipal chairman, which appeared in the March 10 issue of the Hopewell Valley News, and which comments upon the February 29 Hopewell Township Committee Meeting.

Iorio begins by admitting, “It is clearly the case that Vanessa Sandom and John Murphy had a valid point as to the way in which the (new municipal judge) interview process unfolded. It could have and should have been more inclusive. Ms. Sandom and Mr. Murphy were not involved in the interview process for each candidate and should have been.”

So, this is the true Republican line. What Mayor Burd did wasn’t sanctioned. It was an error.  A booboo.  Made with the best of intentions, but still a mistake.

Then, as soon as Iorio announces the inadequacy of Mayor Burd’s approach to this judicial appointment, he goes on the attack.

He first downplays the Mayor’s Forest-Gump-like, bumbling mishandling of the affair, and labels him “Gentleman Jim Burd,” a kind of verbal pat on the head designed to contrast him against the venomous harpy across the aisle – Democrat Vanessa Sandom.

Then, he recasts Mayor Burd’s abject refusal to be inclusive during this judicial review as a well-intentioned, but not-quite-so-successful political stumble, while Ms. Sandom’s criticism of Mayor Burd’s judicial policies is painted as “unnecessary bickering and insults.”

Iorio adds, “In this case, Mr. Burd made it clear that it was not his intent to exclude anyone.”  No, despite numerous strident warnings by Ms. Sandom and Mr. Murphy beforehand, Mayor Burd excluded the minority party from all substantive involvement concerning this judge replacement by . . . by, what exactly?  By accident?  Is that it?  It was just an accident?

Mr. Iorio is drawing the party line here:  We’re standing behind our Mayor.  And we’d rather paint him as a bumbling, but at least not mean-spirited bobble-head than some autocrat intentionally excluding his fellow Township Committee Members from key decisions.  After all, autocrats aren't faring particularly well these days – at least not in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.

The trouble is, this "Gee, I didn't really mean to exclude anyone" routine simply doesn’t add up.

One only has to examine the taped sessions of previous Township Committee Meetings to see Ms. Sandom warning Mayor Burd that his policy was exclusionary and dictatorial before he went ahead and codified it, and before he selected the one candidate that he and the rest of the Republicans propped up before the minority Democrats on the Committee and said, “See.  Here’s the guy.  Vote for him (and him only).  Or don’t.  But, as the minority, it doesn’t really matter what you think.  We’re going to ‘vote’ in this new judge regardless.”

It is disingenuous to paint Mayor Burd as an incompetent leader versus the bully that he’s become because the facts speak otherwise. He was warned again and again and chose to pursue this course.  He didn’t stumble upon it.  To imply that he did insults not only Mr. Burd, but the intelligence of the concerned citizens of this valley.

And to blame the minority for speaking out against this perceived injustice is like complaining of someone’s accent or choice of words when they rush into a room yelling, “Fire.”  Who cares if he doesn’t have an upper crust, old school accent, if he isn’t lifting his pinky finger in exactly the right way as he picks up his tea cup?  Instead of simply running away, or putting their heads in the sand, Sandom and Murphy came back into the room just to warn Mayor Burd, Mr. Marculek and Ms. Johnson.  They yelled, “Fire,” and are continuing to yell Fire, and all that they’re getting back in return is, “Hush, stop that yelling.  It’s rude.”

When I hear Mr. Iorio describe the opposition’s dissent as “bickering and insults,” I am reminded of King George speaking of his “traitorous” subjects over there, in the new world.  Those damned bickering and insulting Colonists in Boston, dumping all that taxable tea in the harbor.  Really, have they no manners?  But when you can’t beat them on substance, the old debating maxim tells us, try and beat them – or beat them up – on style.  Perhaps that will distract the masses from seeing the truth.

To top it all off, King Mayor Burd didn’t even have the courtesy to debate with, or respond to the members of the community who came out the evening of February 28 to voice their dissatisfaction about the judge selection process.  No, wait.  He did respond.  He said, “Thank you,” and then moved on to close the discussion.  Were these citizens satisfied with Mayor Burd’s response?  Click here to see for yourself.

My advice to you is, Mr. Iorio, the next time someone rushes in yelling “Fire,” whether he's a Committee Member or ordinary citizen voicing his opinion, don’t tell him to shut up, sit down, and be quiet. Don’t tell him he’s rude, or ill-mannered, or prone to “bickering and insults.” Stop and actually listen to him. You never know.  He might actually be trying to help this town, and you in the process.

 

Liberty Bell

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