Outgoing Committeeman 'One of The Good Guys,' Resident Says

Dear Editor,

December is a month of many mixed emotions as we reflect on the year ending and anticipate what may happen in the year about to begin. Again this year, as we see the intractable dysfunction in Washington and in Trenton, it is hard to avoid the view that the patients really are in charge of the asylum. Our elected leaders, such as they are, continue to disappoint us.

And yet the truth is that there are actually some very good, honest, truly patriotic and caring men and women who have dedicated themselves to elected public service. I know. I’ve met some of them. And while the good guys are outnumbered by the less-than-good-guys, we should all be thankful that they continue to bring sanity and responsible positions to public policy and the workings of our government.

Sadly, here in Long Valley, we’re about to lose one of the best good guys I’ve ever met. A Township Committeeman for many, many years, including a good number of stints as Mayor, he has, through his words and deeds, shown us all what it means to be caring, honest, dedicated, thoughtful and, perhaps most of all, respectful of the public whose interests he has worked so hard to protect and promote over the years. Working within New Jersey’s woefully broken structure of state, county and local government, he’s done so, as far as I can tell, with the highest degree of integrity, dedication and long hours of plain old hard work. Agree or disagree with him, he has always been ready to engage in a conversation. His positions have been buttressed by thoughtful and well articulated reasoning. You always understood that he did his homework. He knew what he was talking about. No ideologue he.

As they say, character is what we do when nobody is watching. In the world of local municipal government in New Jersey, there have been many occasions when, quite literally, nobody was watching. And so for many years he has toiled away, often out of the public’s eye, unsung, unheralded. Many people in town don’t even know his name. But no matter. He has done what he’s done because he truly cares about this town and the people living here. For all these years he has done his best with a demonstrated strength of character and integrity the rest of us wish we had.

As he ends his time on the Township Committee, I hope everyone will attend on Monday, December 15 at the Township Committee meeting. We can honor him and thank him. He’s certainly earned the honor of being called Committeeman Tracy Tobin. I suspect, though, that he considers neighbor and friend even better.

So thank you Committeeman Tobin. Thank you, Tracy. Well done.

Harlin Parker
Washington Township