Barnegat Incumbents Say NO to Meet the Candidates’ Forums

I consider myself very fortunate to live in a Great Democracy, the United States of America; I thought it was the right of each citizen to be able to know all the facts during the pre-election process to be able to make an educated voting decision.   One way to get all the facts is to have an opportunity to hear the candidates talk about issues together.    This can be done by coming together in a forum where each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions submitted by residents.   Not a debate format but just a question and answer format.

Well,  here in Barnegat two Candidates running  for Township Committee, Al Cirulli and Jeff Melchiondo, have refused to participate in two requested Meet n Greets/Questions and Answers.  One was being sponsored by The League of Women Voters (a non-partisan group) and the other being hosted by the Senior Communities of Horizons at Barnegat and Mirage (non-partisan groups).   The other two candidates Susan Conway and Elaine Taylor have both responded YES to attending these two events.

As a Barnegat Resident I am asking:  WHY don’t they want the opportunity to answers questions like:  How would you lower the Township’s portion of our taxes?   Is it because, they’ve chosen affordable housing (more units than mandated) over affordable living; and higher taxes and wasteful spending (free used artificial turf installation cost high) over common sense.  

Mayor and Committeeman, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

Sincerely,

Rose Jackson

Barnegat Resident