My opponent, Tim Donohue, has issued a 10-step vision for recreation in Middle Township. Like so many politicians, he promises something for everyone. He wants to pay for this vision with a 30-year bond. This means Middle Township taxpayers will be paying for his vision until 2048! Our grandchildren will be burdened with this obligation. Let’s review what Mr. Donohue is really promising.
1. He promises to upgrade various township recreation facilities, taking “advantage of historically low interest rates.” The Federal Reserve has announced it will continue to raise rates. In other words, rates will rise, and your children will pay.
2. Mr. Donohue promises to “maintain strong oversight” over the Wisting Recreation Complex. He was mayor for two years. Did he not “maintain strong oversight” during his tenure?
3. Mr. Donohue promises to “continue to expand” the bike path system. Every township administration has improved upon the bike path system since former Mayor Leusner started it two decades ago. Once again, Mr. Donohue unilaterally seeks credit for the teamwork of others.
4. Mr. Donohue will “seek funding for an addition” to the MLK Community Center. He offers nothing about where he would obtain such funding. If funding is available, why wasn’t the MLK Center expanded while he was mayor? Mr. Donohue is pandering to Whitesboro voters.
5. He has promised to seek funding from the County Open Space Program. The township makes application for Open Space funding whenever it is available, regardless of who is in office. He wants open space money for amenities, not to preserve land.
6. Mr. Donohue proposes to help pay for an aquatic center in Lower Township to be built by Lower Township and unnamed “private” partners. He wants Middle Township to spend our tax dollars on a Lower Township facility. He then suggests Middle Township residents will be allowed to purchase “discounted memberships” in a facility already using their tax dollars. Why should we buy into such a boondoggle?
7. Mr. Donohue wants to petition for a county library branch in Rio Grande. Why didn’t he petition for the library branch when he was mayor? Apparently this was only important at election time. Again, he is pandering to select voters.
8. He also wants to “push forward” with a plan for a new community park and recreation facility on Railroad Avenue in Rio Grande. Is this not an existing plan, a done deal, that was brought to fruition by all three Township Committeemen?
9. Mr. Donohue wants to privatize groundskeeping and landscaping services. Will his proposal include layoffs of existing employees? Is he proposing hiring without benefits and paying less than a living wage so that our neighbors, friends and relatives who take care of the township property become impoverished?
10. Mr. Donohue wants a “larger economic vision,” working with neighboring towns and the county to attract visitors and businesses alike, without saying how this would be accomplished, or what Middle Township’s obligation would be.
In the end, Mr. Donohue’s 10-step vision is short on specifics, and takes much credit for things the township already does while putting Middle Township residents on the hook till 2048.
I too favor upgrading the township’s recreation program, but I only want to spend what we can afford. The first obligation of Township Committee is to keep taxes as low as possible.
Ordered and paid for by Frank E. Toth for Township Committee, 2700 Pacific Ave., Wildwood, NJ 08260
