From the Sidelines: Democrats Outnumber Republicans at Tea Party Debate

       Who would have thought it. The Montville Area Tea Party sponsored a Debate for Montville Township Committee Candidates and two no shows were two of the Republican Candidates. The Democratic Candidates out numbered the Republican Candidates by 2-1.  That means simply that there were two of us and one from the other side who admitted he almost didn't come himself. To his credit he said he had made the commitment and therefore did show up.

       I have had the pleasure of speaking and debating before the Tea Party before by invitation and although we are miles apart on national issues when all is said and done this debate like others was simply about local issues. It was about pot holes and police protection, property taxes and local money issues and zoning. One of the hot button issues was a building currently under construction in Towaco where it seems that zoning has taken a vacation. Many expressed their concern about the size and nature of the project and wanted to know how it got approved in the first place. The answer is simple. When you allow an unchecked government complete control they are going to do what they want. This isn't about partisan politics. It is about local government and you might as well call it Team A which happens to be be in complete control of what happens in Montville Township.

It also isn't about just voting no on an issue. A no vote by a politician might just be about being able to say you voted no in the next election. The role of a government leader has to be more than that. If you believe that a no vote is what is required then you need to say why and you need make those yes votes explain their yes vote. You need to force the discussion with questions and sometimes rally the public by letting them know what you see as a problem. You won't get that from any Team A elected official in Montville Township. You need a strong Team B to get there.

In the end the people there, Tea Party or not, were just Montville Township residents who wanted to hear what local candidates had to say about local issues.