We Welcome Your (Signed) Letters

Yet another of the many many attorneys on the Mattox Thrive team.

WEEKEND OBSERVATIONS?
A few things I noticed the campaigns doing at Art in the Park?

The COOP put on a first-class event. The school seems to be attended by a nice group of people, which bothered me a bit because of what the current town council did to them. Because of a politically connected individual's wishes, the council created rules that made it impossible for the school to move to 32 Llewellyn Road.

http://www.baristanet.com/2006/03/montclair_coop_mansion_for_sal.php
?
Before getting some treats for my kid, I did notice PETER ZORICH in the craft area of the museum. He?s much younger seeming and shorter than I thought (39 and closer to 5 foot than 6). He had his name tag on but wasn?t handing out any literature and didn?t seem to be campaigning. I did hear him praise the Partnership Montclair slate and Joyce Michaelson?s 35 years of experience to someone he seemed to know well. He didn?t seem to be working for votes or be too concerned. That?s surprising since he?s one of the town?s few Republicans and appears to have worked for the Bill O?Reilly Factor on Fox News.

I didn't see anyone from the TED MATTOX Thrive slate at the event. I did see hundreds of his fliers on cars around the area. I agreed with most of the points on the fliers. The current town council pushed through a lot of nonsense the last few years. He was present for much of that nonsense and I never heard him make an apology for running with that slate in 2004. I knew they were bad then. He should of known.

JERRY FRIED with his stuffed backpack was outside the museum. I watched him work for the time it took a kid to eat a cotton candy and a scoop of ice cream (maybe an hour). He was a little bit of a magnet. A steady stream of well wishers came up to him. He also seemed to know many others. He gave out brochures and blue stickers. I'm not sure he won over any undecided votes at the event.

thomas

The website says she is an elder law and disability lawyer. It also states...

"She has given lectures and presentations in the areas of Elder and Disability planning in community centers and nursing homes throughout New Jersey"

That's a bad thing?

In case you don't have time to write one yourself, just use this:

"I'd like to use this time to say that I have known (STATE CANDIDATE NAME) for over (ADD # OF YEARS, SO LONG AS IT'S OVER 5) and have only known him/her to have not just great judgement, but judgement that listens to others.

(STATE CANDIDATE NAME) has been a member of my (CHURCH, PTA, CIVIC GROUP) for ((# OF YEARS, SO LONG AS IT'S OVER 3). In that time I have had the opportunity to see (STATE CANDIDATE NAME) work with (CHURCH, PTA, CIVIC GROUP) in many complex situations. And what struck me was (STATE CANDIDATE NAME) ability to hear all sides and come to a reasonable resolution.

That's just what we need!

So as you make your decision, I hope you vote for (STATE CANDIDATE NAME) because s/he will work to bring us (HOPE/CHANGE/TRANSPARENCY/LOW TAXES/IMPROVED SCHOOLS/SENSE OF COMMUNITY/BIKE PATHS)."

*** Feel free to add some real experience you've had with (STATE CANDIDATE NAME). Or that you once saw them walk on water.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

All we need is a Mayor whom believes he is above the law or at the very least is so ignorant that he doesn't recognize that parking facing the wrong way on a street is illegal unless a sign is posted.

From Sunday's Star Ledger, on Ted Mattox

"More recently, he said, he got a $65 ticket for parking on the wrong side of a street that becomes a one-way-only at pickup and drop-off times at the Watchung School. There is no municipal sign announcing the restriction, he said.

I am going to fight that one," Mattox said of his pending municipal-court appearance."

Strange story considering town council members have a parking immunity pass. Put it in their window and they can park anywhere. Maybe Mattox doesn't use his.

READ ALL A PLAWKER ABOUT IT

From Sunday's Star Ledger...

"K. Roger Plawker works for the legal firm that defended ex-Nets player Jayson Williams in his reckless manslaughter trial, though he notes he wasn't actually on the defense team. "Not too much," the candidate said of his role. "We're a 30-attorney firm."

More Lawyer speak? Did you work on the case or not? What does the K. stand for...I "Kinda" worked on the case.

John Duh - why are you spamming multiple threads with the same posts? Which slate are you working for?

I think Unity has put together a slate of very nice people (well, except for one!)

But, my issue is I think Hartnett has gone unchecked in the last few years (one, small, example is this recent 72 hr. street parking notice).

Unity has Tobin, who seems to go along with Hartnett all of the time. That's a problem for me. Especially as he seems to have assembled this slate. But Tobin is not in my ward, so it comes down to the remainder of the slate.

If Hartnett stays as Town Manager, I see Tobin going along as he has for the last few years and I'm not sure anyone on that slate has what it takes to tell Joe no. Sorry, nice people, but I just don't see them putting an end to Joe's desire to be ruler of all he sees.

I guess it comes down to the same things every one wants, lowert taxes and some level of openess and civility from the council. They all promise this. But I'm really concerned about which slate is going to at the very least, keep Hartnett in check.

"Unity has Tobin, who seems to go along with Hartnett all of the time. That's a problem for me. Especially as he seems to have assembled this slate. But Tobin is not in my ward, so it comes down to the remainder of the slate."

What a lie. The slate was formed by Fried and is led by Fried. Tobin is running for town council.

Vote for him or don't vote for him, your choice, but don't out and out lie here.

Check the Watercooler. They are talking about your lie.

It's not a lie. Originally Tobin was running for Mayor and I believe Jerry Fried was running for 3rd ward, possibly on Tobin's ticket. That of course is no longer the case, for whatever reason (probably based on some failure on Tobin's part).

Fried seems like a good guy. I have nothing against him. It's just a belief from meeting with him and talking with him.

I didn't post anything on the Watercooler, the post was from Mark Reynolds, a member of the Thrive Montclair slate. The only person "talking" about the "lie" is a poster named Pat Gilleran, no one else. Who is the "they" you are talking about. One poster is not a "they".

Sorry if I rankled with my opinion. I didn't seem like much to actually get upset about.

As I said, regardless of who's ticket it is, Tobin is on it and the only member with prior experience, but he seems to be a Hartnett crony. I just don't see anyone else there ready to tell Joe "no".

2 posters have posted about it. That is a "they". Soon more will follow.

"Originally Tobin was running for Mayor and I believe Jerry Fried was running for 3rd ward, possibly on Tobin's ticket."

How do you know this? Do you have documents to prove it? Is it just a feeling and you have ESP or are you part of the Thrive campaign just like that soccermon person?

I have never been happier to live in West Orange.

"Soon more will follow"

How do you know this? is it just a feeling? Do you have ESP or are you a moderator on the Watercooler and have access to posts?

I still only see one, that is not a "they". Was it yours?

If you been to enough meetings you'll know that there's no love between Tobin and Hartnett.

Just take one example: Tobin is absolutely nuts about spending town money for vehicles. The town buys all sorts of vehicles. Police cars. Dump trucks. Pickup trucks. SUV's.

Tobin has insisted Hartnett document the reasons for each and every vehicle.

What's wrong with the old one, why do we need the
particular new one.

Tobin has been the only council member giving Hartnett this grief.

It's wrong if you think the two of them are buddies.

No, it wasn't mine and I'm not a moderator there. I just knew that those in the know would find your lies to be stupid, offensive, or just plain irrelevant.

You think that moderators have access to posts that aren't written yet. GOOD ONE!

Which member of the Thrive campaign are you?

You didn't bother to answer the questions about your lie about Tobin.

Where is the proof? and what does it matter? It must matter to you because you;ve chosen to lie about it.

"Tobin has been the only council member giving Hartnett this grief. "

Seriously?

"You didn't bother to answer the questions about your lie about Tobin."

The fact is the original slate had Tobin as mayor, it was well reported....but it doesn't matter, believe what you will.

My point is still, regardless of who's slate you believe it to be, it's only experienced member is a Hartnett crony and the remainder, in my opinion, don't seem like the types to stand up to Hartnett. Sorry that bothers you so.

C'mon, don't be silly.

The post was just meant to say Tobin has been giving Hartnett "grief" re. cars, suvs, etc.

Mattox has certainly been in there questioning and questioning more (this is a Mattox compliment)

"The fact is the original slate had Tobin as mayor, it was well reported....but it doesn't matter, believe what you will."

If it was so "well reported" show us some citations.

I only see citations like this:
http://www.montclairtimes.com/page.php?page=16948

"Gerald Tobin has announced his aspiration for the upcoming May 13 Township Council election, and it?s not running for mayor.

"Rumored for months to be seeking the municipality?s top elected seat, Tobin will instead vie for a third term in the 1st Ward as part of the UnityMontclair slate."

So, it looks like you are citing rumors as being fact and then spreading said rumors as fact.

Gerry Tobin sent me a letter in January asking for a donation to "Gerry Tobin for Mayor". He sent the same letter asking for donations to the entire Montclair Democratic Committee. I met with Jerry Fried also in January at which point he was flip flopping from At-Large to 3rd Ward. After realizing what little support he had in town Gerry Tobin lobbied Fried to run for Mayor in his place. The remainder of the slate was put together by Tobin.

"The remainder of the slate was put together by Tobin."

And you know that HOW? Were you there? Did you have conversations with the candidates that joined Fried's slate? Were you cc's on e-mails as Fried set the slate up?

Funny that you don't identify yourself as the Thrive Campaign Manager..

Disingenuous in my opinion!

I don't care if the slate was "put together" by mickey mouse.

Who cares.

Jerry Fried is running for Mayor and leads the slate.

Tobin is running for town council as are the others on the slate.

When they registered the slate with the town they did with Fried running for Mayor.

The Unity Montclair slate is running on a platform of:

? Responsible Fiscal Leadership
Careful stewardship and a long-term view toward financial expenditures

? Strong Schools
Maintaining the core of Montclair'?s values, including excellence and
diversity, while looking for efficiencies

? Fresh Ideas
"outside the box thinking"... "'how can a new idea work', rather than why
the new idea won't work!"

? Community Involvement
Employing Montclair?'s most vibrant resource. Restoring the Joint Capital
Investment Advisory Committee on "Day 1". Arts and the Montclair ?brand?

? Responsive Government
Communication with, not at, residents including a Hot Line to the Council

? Committed Environmental Activists
Dedicated to making Montclair a model for sustainable communities

? Civil Discourse
A Council that WELCOMES the views of all, listens and informs

Those are the facts. Take your rumors and peddle them somewhere else.

Every candidate is running on that same platform...big deal.

So the campaign manager, according to Hiding, posted some info on how the slate was assembled...again, big deal. Why is Hiding so vehemently opposed to the fact that Tobin is a big part of this slate (in the sense of being the only experienced candidate)? Is it that Tobin is seen as a liability and supporters want to keep his name from being associated with the rest of the slate? Too late.

Doesn't the truth count for something?

What is being released here by the Thrive campaign Manager about the Unity Slate doesn't appear to be true.

Will the Thrive campaign stop running a negative campaign?

I stand by my post regarding the formation of the Unity slate. My information is firsthand.

Feel free to contact me at Henrydekoninck@thrivemontclair.com

The Truth:
Jerry Fried began as an independent candidate for at-large, switched to independent candidate for 3rd ward (Jerry Fried on the ballot against incumbant Jerry Freir - insanely funny) then ultimately joined up with Tobin/Weller team ALREADY IN PROGRESS. (at first glance Tobin/Weller seemed like an unlikely pair but have been working together for quite some time as members of the 1st ward Montclair Democratic County Committee)

Tobin was unable to garner town-wide support (and couldn't get any African American candidates on his team) then propped the well meaning yet inexperienced Fried up in the Mayoral position and fell back to the comfort of running for re-election in 1st ward. Tobin has been VEWWWY VEWWWY QUIET lately. Unity is hoping we forget that Tobin the "tax increase voting" incumbant is on their slate when it slams "the current council" in debates. Who's really running things? Who's the slick experienced status quo politician repackaging his slate as change?

The facts (also supported by town clerk and news articles):
November 17th
Jerry Fried will throw his hat into the ring for Montclair Township Councilor At-Large in the next election.

January 2nd
biking enthusiast Jerry Fried has announced that he would, for now, independently seek a first term as an at-large seat on the seven-member ruling body.

January 16th
Township Councilman Gerald Tobin has quietly picked up a candidate packet for Montclair mayor.

January 16th
Bike Montclair's Jerry Fried has thrown his cap in the ring to run for Montclair Councilor-at-Large in this year's election. Jerry, who says no slate is a good slate, is running independently.

January 16th
Residents who have picked up Township Council candidate packets

Mayor
Ted Mattox
Gerald Tobin

At-Large Council
Gary Walsh
Jerry Fried
Kathryn Weller

And your point?

My point - the Unity slate will not sue the town. The Unity slate has been running an ethical campaign where they tell you what their platform is and what they will do in specific instances. They are well informed and are not hotheads.

Thrive is all attorney's except the developer/contractor and hothead Ted. Thrive is spending spending spending trying to buy buy buy the election.

Why is Ted surrounding himself with attorneys. We don't need to ask with Ted's history.

The past is Prologue!

A vote for Ted is a vote to send your money into the abyss.

I live in the first ward and am strongly considering voting for a mixed slate with Jerry Fried for Mayor and Roger Plawker for my Ward choice.

Remember you don't have to vote for a whole slate.

My point is sharing the truth.

Unity's Gerry Tobin is the one who ignored the 300 residents who petitioned the council to drop the $800,000 Wayfinding signage program not Ted.

Ted took the side of the residents! Stood with them to stop cronyism and no-bid contracts. He filed a lawsuit WITH the residents instead of hiding behind the scenes like Tobin is trying to do right now.

What did Ted get out of joining with residents in the lawsuit?? NOTHING, except the ability to sleep at night knowing that he stood WITH the residents in doing what is right.

Can Tobin or Michaelson say when the chips fall they are on the side of the people or their political buddies???????

We all know it's the latter.

Actually Mattox did get one thing...a big bill since he paid out of his own pockets.

funny thing is, before the council decided to use taxpayer funds to fight it, did they vote in open session including public comment on whether they should? NO

When they decided to file a frivolous counterclaim, again with taxpayer funds, did they vote in open session including public comment? NO

If they had, what would the public comment have sounded like? Something along the lines of...you're giving no-bid contracts to your old pals and now you want to use taxpayer funds to allow you to continue to do so?? Are you kidding?

Mattox posted an email from Trembulak on the Unmoderated group and Trembulak agreed that the no-bid contracts were not legal. So did they stop? No again. They decided to look for a loophole giving their favorite groups special status to continue to allow the funneling of money.

What does the MEDC really do again besides the farmer's market?

"Mattox posted an email from Trembulak on the Unmoderated group and Trembulak agreed that the no-bid contracts were not legal. So did they stop? No again. They decided to look for a loophole giving their favorite groups special status to continue to allow the funneling of money."

Mattox posted a letter but Trembulak did not post anything in agreement.

Show us where Trembulak agreed that the non-bid contracts were not legal.

I've read the letter and it doesn't say this.

BRANDNEW IS CLAIMING THAT MATTOX HAS MADE LOTS OF POSTS BUT IT'S NOT TRUE.

Either the post doesn't say what Brandnew claims or Mattox hasn't posted it.

Brandnew = new shill for the Thrive Mattox campaign

What are you taking about? I never claimed anything other than someone posted Mattox's answers to the candidate questions on the Watercooler. Since you didn't seem to want to believe this, I posted the actual post.

Do you actually get paid by the Fried team for misleading people??

No you didn't post an actual post.

show us where you posted the actual post with Ted Mattox's answers in them.

SHOW US!

Here again is the post from the watercooler from Kevin Courtney with Ted Mattox's responses to his candidate issues/questions. It was posted today at 1:07pm.

I am very pleased to post mayoral candidate Ted Mattox?s response to the
questions that I posed on the Watercooler. I highly commend him for
publicly stating his positions on these issues. I continue to be
disappointed that none of the other mayoral candidates have cared to
respond. I honestly believe that it is their responsibility to address
these issues so that we can elect the best possible representation.

For the record, I am not a member or a supporter of any political slate. I
am a 25-year Montclair resident who wants to make an informed selection in
the voting booth. Finally, I still encourage candidates Michaelson and
Fried to respond, as we still want to know!

Regards,

Kevin Courtney

Answers to Questions Posted on the Montclair Watercooler:

Board of Education:

Q: Elected vs. Appointed B.O.E?

A: There is no evidence to support whether an elected or appointed board is
more efficient or fiscally responsible. I support a referendum. To
suggest (like the other mayoral candidates did during our Mayoral Forum on
channel 34) that the people who ultimately pay the bills are irresponsible
and couldn?t possibly determine, via voting, their own future and that of
their children is an insult. Schools in Montclair will always be funded
appropriately because even those folks who don?t have children in the school
system realize that good schools mean higher resale values for their homes.
I say give the residents the credit they deserve by letting the ?people?
decide. I would also add to the conversation the possibility of a ?hybrid?
board, with members who are both elected and appointed, as we have seen
deployed in Camden Public Schools, Washington, D.C., Detroit and elsewhere.

Q: Taxpayer Approval on B.O.E. Budget?

A: This issue may or may not be tied to the question above depending on the
type of board the municipality has selected. My own feeling is that the
public should be able to vote on any single cost of more than more
$50,000.00 annually. This excludes essential operating costs and required
maintenance, but would include labor contracts and optional upgrades of
facilities, etc.

Q: Do I Support Building a New School?

A: Yes, I support building a new school, but the school as originally
promised with the original price tag. That means a school with a pool and
community center. I would not support a school at a cost of $40 million.
This project is already three years behind schedule and an estimated $8
million dollars over budget already.

I?ve gone back ten years on this issue, and to my knowledge an official
report does not exist that performs a cost benefit analysis between building
a new school versus offering each existing school approximately 35 million
dollars in upgrades and expansions staggered over the same bonding period as
the purposed new school. The township would save millions in interest alone
and each existing school over the bonding period of the new school would
have been completely renovated/expanded.

Let?s not forget, the district?s own numbers predict that enrollment is down
by more than 100 students next year alone.

Authorities:

Q:Abolish the Water/Sewer Authorities?

A: After having seen the gross mismanagement of these township services to
the tune of half a million dollars, separating these services out seemed the
only option in an effort to gain financial clarity of these deficit ridden
departments.

Now we are at a point where the township has regained fiscal control over
the situation and we no longer need this type of internal relationship.
There are however a few fiscal and funding advantages to separating out
water/sewer.

Bottom line: We need to find a way to include the fees for these services in
the property tax bill so it can become deductible. I have no real issue
with reversing the creation of the Sewer and Water Authorities. The
township should present this issue to the residents so that the people can
decide. For the most part, this issue is about funding this service. The
service to residents has not materially changed.

Development:

Q: Do I support restricting developers to buy, raze and rebuild bigger or
multiple dwelling units?

A: Yes. I would discourage residential units (more trash, congestion, less
parking, more school kids, etc.) and promote commercial ratables whenever
possible.

Q: Do I support selling parcels of township land to developers?

A: For township land which is already developed, such as the contaminated
former gas station on Orange Road, I would sell. There is no real
opportunity for a park or green space there (did I mention it was
contaminated?). I would not sell the Wildwood lot though, we must preserve
what little green space we have in town. In fact, as the Township Master
Plan dictates, I would look for every opportunity to create additional green
space. We should not be afraid of not building.

Municipal Government:

Q: Do I support restricting Montclair Municipal Employees from Moonlighting
for other towns while they are full time employees.

A: Yes, for non-union management employees. Here is why: I believe that
managers and above in general make enough in salary and wages to dedicate
themselves to Montclair?s issues. Further, I always wonder how well
employees can self regulate their commitments to two management positions,
family and all of life?s ups an downs before it affects their ability to
think proactively about doing the best job they can for a single employer.

A: No, for all other employees. The theory is that if a non-management
employee, for example, a janitor, wants to work after hours for another
school district, I believe this would be okay. His task and obligation to
the township of Montclair is limited and extremely focused with a daily
finite, measurable goal?.. to clean the school. While I do not expect
?thought leadership? as a part of that position?s requirements, I would
expect the ?janitor? to make efficiency recommendations from time to time.

It should be noted that there are dozens of legal and employment issues that
surround this topic.

Q: Do I support privatizing services such as garbage collection to reduce
the cost of municipal government?

A: Yes, for the obvious reason of saving money. We should also consider
making trash collection a shared service with surrounding towns or a county
issue.

Q: Do I believe that the town council should vote their conscious or vote
representing the desires of their constituents when there is a difference.

A: The council should never vote together for the purposes of getting along
with each other. Each individual councilor has his/her constituents. Each
councilor should fight for what their constituents want as long as it not
illegal or doesn?t pose a public safety threat. It it?s illegal, we can
look at making it legal if the issue is within the municipality?s
jurisdiction. I was elected to the council by the residents, not my fellow
councilors. I will only be held accountable by the residents of Montclair.

Affordable Housing:

Q: Do I support local government mandated affordable housing?

A: Yes, Montclair?s commitment with respect to affordable housing is
reflected in our voluntarily adopting state Council on Affordable Housing
Guidelines (COAH). Montclair has exceeded the requirements set forth by
those guidelines.

The COAH website defines the commitment as:

New Jersey municipalities enter the COAH process voluntarily. We do so by
filing a housing element (required by the Municipal Land Use Law as part of
each municipality's master plan) and a fair share plan establishing a
realistic opportunity for the provision of a predetermined number of units
affordable to low and moderate income households as well as an affordable
housing obligation directly related to certificates of occupancy issued for
residential and non-residential market rate development.

http://www.newjersey.gov/dca/coah/about.shtml

Q: If so, how much taxpayer money would you allocate to fund this
initiative?

A: Currently we support Homecorp, a not-for-profit here in Montclair, as our
point organization regarding this issue. They have been awarded a no-bid
contract worth about 40K per year along with a forgivable loan of another
200K to provide additional affordable housing units that developers don?t
provide.

Affordable housing in Montclair is extremely tricky. Any taxpayer funding
increase over current levels that raises taxes endangers those residents
currently finding it difficult to support the current tax burden. I will
not support additional affordable housing if it will financially endanger
those residents already living on the financial edge in Montclair.

Also, I?ve been seeking a legal way to exempt senior citizens who are
retired and living on fixed incomes from continued tax hikes. Simply put,
at retirement, their taxes would remain at that level until they sold the
property or expired.

Q: If so, what would be the mission of this program (affordable housing for
seniors, low-income citizens wanting to move to Montclair, or low-income
residents)?

A: In order: Seniors, low-income residents, low-income citizens (any
person, not just citizens) wanting to move to Montclair.

Thanks to Kevin Courtney for these questions. Please keep in mind my post
repeated below:

POST:

I would be more than happy to answer all these questions, although complex
issues such as affordable housing and how to fund it (or not) are not
answerable in one word. I hope not to offend anyone but to suggest that
complex issues can be answered in this manner only demonstrates a serious
misunderstanding of municipal government and how it must sync up legally
with county, state and federal laws and still represent the will of the
local residents as best it can.

Additionally, giving a one word answer is only helpful if all the readers
have an in-depth understanding of the issues to begin with. If someone
doesn't understand the intricacies of the issue, my one word answer, while
clear, will still mean different things to people that have varying levels
of understanding.

Should you have any more questions, please call me at home, 973-744-3772 or
contact me via contactus@... directly.

Ted Mattox

Candidate for Mayor

Councilor at Large

So, Mattox can't post his own responses. Is this Courtney dud his representative?

First he has wifelet post for him now this other person. Next it will be the tooth fairy.

Hi, I'm the toothfairy and Ted Mattox asked me to post this for him.

blahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblahblah

Ted Mattox

Big deal! Joyce rarely posts her own responses. And when she does, she comes off as condescending as she does in person.

Better than Fried who hasn't posted at all...and why would anyone care as long as the answers were posted? And Kevin posted that he has no affiliation with any of the slates.

Again, feel free to call Mattox and ask him if they are his responses. He included his phone number.

Time to eat your words:

From: Jerry Fried [mailto:jerryfried@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:27 AM
To: Kevin Courtney
Subject: Re: Critical Questions for the Upcoming Town Election

What are you talking about? Fried posted no answers on the Watercooler.