Clark Ignores Chance for Voter Input

(CMCH) – Seventeen days after being challenged by GOP candidate Melanie Collins to debate the important issues facing Middle Township voters, Democrat, Mike Clark, continues to ignore the opportunity to address the voters and hear from them directly in a debate format.
“I find it hypocritical that Mike Clark would issue a press release saying he wants residents to have more input, yet he has completely ignored our offer to meet him in an open debate on the issues.” Collins’ Campaign Manager, Tim Donohue, said, “We’re ready to invite voters to provide questions and to hear from both candidates. The Clark campaign doesn’t seem interested. It’s easy to criticize from the sidelines. I’m sure voters would like to hear what Mike Clark’s solution to the affordable housing issues would have been. Especially since the old guard behind his campaign created the COAH debacle in the first place and left it for the Republicans to clean up.”
In a press release published on August 12th, Melanie Collins challenged Clark to a series of three debates, to be held under the auspices of the Middle Township Taxpayer’s Association. A letter was also sent to Clark’s Campaign Manager, Jeff Devico.
“Dan Lockwood and Tim Donohue are actually doing what Mike Clark talks about,” Collins explained. “Just last week, I attended a sit down with about a dozen voters at the home of Tim Donohue. It was all about listening to those voters and explaining the strong rationale for the GOP’s agenda for positive change. Mayor Lockwood meets regularly with various homeowners and neighborhood associations throughout the Township.”
Collins noted that it was the GOP majority that took a Township Committee meeting on the road to Rio Grande last year. The meeting focused on issues of particular concern to the Rio Grande area. Committee plans to once again hold a Township Committee meeting in Rio Grande on Monday, September 16th.
“I consider all the voters of Middle Township to be my Citizen’s Advisory Council,” Collins said.
“The folks I talk to are pleased with the open and responsive direction of the past two years. They applaud the reduced influence and cost of Township professionals. They are encouraged that Middle Township voters finally have a majority that puts the taxpayers first, instead of the good old boy network of special interests, that doubled the cost of government from 2004 to 2011.”
Collins, a school teacher with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, says she has a strong grasp of the issues and is confident in her platform of lower municipal taxes, smarter, right-sized government and bold, innovative solutions to the complex problems faced by municipal government.
“I’m ready to have this discussion with Mike Clark in front of the voters of Middle Township,” Collins said. “I see the electoral process as a job interview. The voters will decide whom to hire on Election Day. My campaign is committed to helping them make the most informed decision possible.”
Ordered and paid for by Committee to elect Melanie Collins, Scott Bluth, Treasurer, 21 Acorn Lane, CMCH, NJ 08210, 609-465-9267.