A Great Time at Meet The Candidates

9 October 2012 – 2148 EDT

 I have just returned from a “Meet the Candidates” night in Wyckoff and wish to offer my observations and the new things I have learned. A note here; a few things I did learn, which concern me, will be the subject of my next blog.

 Tonight I was a bit amazed at myself, first of all. Being a long time member of the Werner Von Braun category of political activity (“Once a rocket goes up who cares where they come down, it’s not my department”) I have been oh so wrong for many years. Since started on this personal journey to enlighten myself I have had the great honor to meet some really fantastic people. Some of whom I can think of as friends also.

 Now I have written, often, about Mr. Kevin Rooney. Not too long ago a blog on just the subject of our candidates for Wyckoff Township Committee. I have been lucky enough to have spoken to Kevin many times on many subjects. What amazes me, constantly, is the breadth and depth of knowledge Kevin has, the honorable way he takes seriously his current office, and he total dedication. But I shall attend more to this later.

 For this moment I wish to expose something I had not seen before. Tonight I learned a lot more about Haakon Jepsen then in all the times he and I have spoken. It was his total passion for his future place on the Wyckoff Township Committee. It was an experience. If there is one quality in Haakon that supports his candidacy and his election to office is just this. He is a man driven to serve Wyckoff in any way he can.

 Haakon’s path to this started in the Wyckoff Post Office where he met Mayor DePhillips and just asked, “What can I do?” That on statement brought me back to the days of JFK, when we all asked the same question. Maybe it is not totally correct that a Republican invoke the name of JFK, but it was the times and the thoughts. And Haakon has revived that same feeling and determination. “What can I do?” Yet there is more, much more to this candidate. He brings great passion and drive. He brings a determined need to serve all of Wyckoff, in any way can. You can hear it in his words, you can see it in his eyes, and you know Haakon’s words are true for his deeds follow through. I sat back and thought to myself now here is someone truly worthy of my vote and my confidence. He is a man, younger than myself, who has the drive to stand up and say, “What can I do?” and truly mean it.

 Now I ask you all who read this, is this not the person you want in public office? Is this not what Wyckoff needs for today and for tomorrow? This is not a man with some agenda for creating a world view. This is a man who wants to serve his local community in the best possible ways.

 I know Haakon and Kevin are walking around Wyckoff, introducing themselves and meeting the residents. We spoke of the things they had seen and the things they can do to make life in Wyckoff a bit easier for some, get involved and help people who truly need it and to take the concerns of all Wyckoff residents to heart and act upon them.

 When you meet Haakon Jepsen and speak to him I am convinced that you will feel the same way and you cannot do anything but VOTE YES for Haakon Jepsen. It is a time when we all need to ask “What can I do?” and one very real thing YOU can do is to VOTE for Rooney and Jepsen on 6 November 2012.

 Going back to my third paragraph now.  Have spoken many times on how much I respect and appreciate Kevin Rooney. What I must add at this juncture is this. Every time you speak with Kevin you will be blown away (as we said in my time). Understand please that Kevin not only serves Wyckoff in so many ways, but his family does also. His wife, Hayley, is a very active member of the Wyckoff VOLUNTEER Ambulance Corps and his daughter, Jordon has been taking a very active part in support of his re-election and just doing the hard work of keeping everyone informed. Tonight I did get a deeper peak into the life of someone on the Wyckoff Township Committee.

 Did you know that there are 7 AM meetings of different departments? Did you understand that a committeeman spends MANY extra hours each WEEK attending to the business of Wyckoff and attending to matters big and small? Bet not!

 And yet Kevin has been stalwart in accomplishing every one of his assigned and so many unassigned duties.

 What all readers must understand is Kevin Rooney is not just a person who sits at two meetings a month and some committee assignments. It was Kevin who started the Meet the Mayor meetings, giving up Saturday time on behalf of Wyckoff. It was Kevin out and about Wyckoff when the trees were literally crashing down around us. It is Kevin Rooney who has led the path in keeping our taxes at 1% increase. It is Kevin Rooney who helps out residents in so many ways you cannot even begin to fathom it. And I have but a glimpse into one of the most kind hearted men I have ever known.

Mind you Kevin will not say these things. He is a modest man, a man who takes his jobs seriously and a man who seeks to find a positive outcome under difficult conditions. Frankly Kevin Rooney is a man who will carry the water when no one else will.

 For these reasons alone you should VOTE YES for Rooney and Jepsen for Wyckoff Township Committee.

 I will always recommend them both for Office because they are men who will be there for the residents first and not some world view agenda.

 Now do not just take my word. Come out to a Wyckoff Township Committee meeting and see Kevin and the entire Committee in ACTION! The next meeting is 16 OCTOBER 2012 at 7:30 PM at the Wyckoff Town Hall. Become really educated in just how Wyckoff truly works by coming to an open, public meeting! It’s your Town, become involved in how it’s governed and also find out “What can I do!”