To the Editor:
Regarding the Herald’s Feb. 4 editorial column “Breaking the Cycle: Cape May Needs Competitive Elections,” I couldn’t help but ponder the Herald’s own role in fostering “real opposition … with serious candidates.”
Over the past 30 years I wonder how often the Herald actually supported “serious competition.” During that time the Cape May County Democrat party has nominated many highly qualified and serious candidates to run for the office of freeholder (now commissioner). In the spirit of fostering real opposition, how often in those 30 years has the Herald ever endorsed a Democrat candidate for that office? (With the possible exception of Jefferson Van Drew, and look how that worked out.)
Democrat candidates over the past 30 years have offered innovative ideas to improve county government, decrease spending and taxes, eliminate “pay to play” and provide for greater transparency and public participation. Most of the Democrat candidates were serious individuals with distinguished records of community involvement and success in business, academia and government. All were committed to making Cape May County a better and more affordable place to live, work and raise a family.
Despite those qualities and qualifications, how often has the Herald offered an endorsement to any of those candidates? In the spirit of supporting “real opposition,” perhaps the Herald might have opened its editorial mind and considered giving those candidates that earned it an editorial nod of approval. That just might have given a boost to their efforts to break the one-party stranglehold on county government and let some light shine on that institution.
Lately, the Herald has been strongly advocating for a more open and responsive government in Cape May County. I applaud those efforts, and I trust the Herald will continue to be a voice for greater transparency and supportive of good government. One way to achieve those objectives would be to give serious consideration to candidates who could use an editorial fair shake.
