Manalapan Man Urges Township Committee to Pass Resolution Opposing Torture

Resident Ray Kalainikas is a familiar face to anyone who attends or tunes into the Manalapan Township Committee meetings.

In 2011, Kalainikas has attended multiple meetings — nearly every one — requesting that the Township Committee support a resolution opposing the use of torture. Minus a simple “thank you”, his comments are often ignored by the governing body.

During a March 23 meeting, when Kalainikas attempted to argue about his proposal with the Township Committee, Mayor Andrew Lucas threatened to call the police if he continued to disrupt.

During his comments, Kalainikas said that it is not enough for officials to simply say they are against torture; they must formally oppose it through a resolution. If they do not it Is a “green light” for the U.S. government to continue the injustice, he said.

Kalainikas presented the governing body with a Trenton Times article, "Speaking out against torture", about a 2007 poll which revealed that 54 percent of people who attend religious services think that torture is sometimes justified. He called on religious leaders and residents in the community to join his effort to get this resolution passed.

Once again, he requested a response from the members of the Committee regarding their position.

“It is frustrating for a resident who comes here, speaks up, and does not get a response. I strongly feel that we all deserve an answer,” said resident Gloria Close, in Kalainikas’ defense.

Kalainikas’ request of the Committee dates back to 2009, when former Mayor Richard Klauber had considered supporting such a resolution.

In a letter to Klauber dated May 21, 2009, Kalainikas expressed his desire for a resolution in three parts: “opposition to torture, opposition to secret and unlimited detention, and opposition to to the suspension of a person’s legal rights."

Kalainikas also wrote that he wanted the resolution to be forwarded to the White House, Congressional leaders, and all governing bodies of Monmouth County; however, the Committee did not take action.

After Kalainikas spoke, his wife, Deborah Smarth, took the floor and had strong words for the governing body – that they should be ashamed of themselves.  

“We elect you as officials to take positions and to engage in civil discourse with the citizens who go out and vote for you,” said Smarth, accusing the officials of hiding behind the dais.  “I’ve never seen the Manalapan governing body become such a closed governing body,” she added.

After addressing budget matters, resident Ted Lindner added that he also thinks the township should have a resolution opposing torture.

In his response, Mayor Lucas said that he likes to answer a question once and unless his position has changed, he doesn’t feel the need to repeat himself.

“I think that your best recourse as a resident or as a citizen that wants to address an item of national importance is to address it with your representative in Congress or your U.S. Senator,” said Lucas.

Deputy Mayor Ryan Green went on record opposing a torture resolution for similar reasons.

“While I’d be flattered to think that our national government and the President of the United States would review our resolution and do something with it, I think that’s unlikely, so I would like to stick to the business that directly affects Manalapan Township,” said Green.

Committeeman Don Holland appeared to be annoyed with Kalainikas. Holland said that he has already answered him about this issue on two separate occasions. 

“I’m against child pornography; I’m against murder; I’m against robbery. Are we gonna have to pass a resolution on everything we think is wrong? My vote is still no - for the third time,” said Holland.  

Kalainikas tried to respond to Holland, but Mayor Lucas intervened and said that public comment was over. Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin also told Kalainikas he was violating the meeting rules.

“We’re paying your salary and you’re not doing your job in terms of democracy,” said Kalainikas to McLaughlin.

“You never have give-and-take,” added Smarth.

As the exchange was heating up, Mayor Lucas asked McLaughlin if he should call the police. Kalainikas had not engaged in threatening actions and remained seated. He stopped calling out and the tensions subsided.

Committeeman Jordan Maskowitz did not go on record for, or against, a resolution.

“I, too, was going to respond to Mr. Kalainikas, but in light of what I saw just result, I’m going to pass on that comment,” Maskowitz said.

In an email to Patch, Smarth said that Maskowitz owes the public a direct response to the question.

“They (the Township Committee members) do not answer questions at public meetings when questions are raised and they selectively answer or comment only on what they want. This is a ‘corruption’ of representative democracy and a republican form of government that our founding fathers formulated when setting the foundation of American government,” wrote Smarth, who said she has taught Political Science at a college level.

Committeewoman Michelle Roth said that she is personally opposed to torture. “But I also agree that this is a federal issue, and this is not something that the Township of Manalapan can control,” she said.

“I see governing bodies in other parts of our state pass resolutions on issues over which they have no direct control,” said Smarth in her email. “For instance, Freehold Township promoted a resolution to reinstate the death penalty.”

On Jan. 18, the Freehold Township Committee passed a resolution to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes, such as the killing of a police officer. Their action followed the slaying of Lakewood Police Officer Christopher Matlosz on Jan. 14.

The request has been echoed at the state level where state Senator Robert Singer (R-Ocean) introduced legislation which seems to have stalled for now, according to NJ.com.   

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Kalainikis will stall on his own request or continue to fight the Township Committee on an issue he is very passionate about.

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