The City of South Amboy is embarking on either electing a new mayor or reelecting the existing one. June 3, 2014 is the primary. The two opponents have been placing ads, sometimes attacking each other or the previous administration. As with most elections there will be letters either supporting or attacking candidates that are sent to the paper. We reserve the right to edit or not publish letters. (See our editorial policy). Reasons why letters are edited include: length (some letters are just too long) or strong accusations against a specific person with no evidence to back it up. In recent letters, some of the statements made by the letter writer are ambiguous. The letter actually made the candidate that the letter writer was supporting be put in a questionable position.

My advice to anyone who writes a letter to the editor to support a candidate should look it over at least 3 times before you submit it for publication.

When the late Bill George was writing about the Vas administration, he would receive concrete evidence mailed to him from those who knew what is going on. Many times they asked to have their names withheld. A lot of this evidence was sent to Bill George, even after Vas was out of office.

So please, when strong accusations are made in your letters, either produce paperwork or photos for backup.

Although what you say may be true, and you are very passionate about a candidate, a produced true documentation is your best friend. Even with those facts presented before the voters, your candidate may still not get elected. There are many factors involved in winning an election: the good, the bad and the very bad.

I think in the long run, the voters want to see positive progress made.   If it isn’t produced, your promises were just empty words.

For instance, here are some things done by some of the regular attendees at the Perth Amboy Council Meetings. They may accuse some members of the administration of discrepancies in statements they made during the Meetings. When those residents come before the Council, they will actually produce an ordinance, resolution, photos or communication and even OPRA requests to back up their statements. Those residents may not always get the response they were looking for, but they always come with something in hand.

In the past, I have gone to South Amboy Council Meetings and I can tell you which residents always spoke with paper in hand and had their facts presented in a clear and precise manner.

Remember four years ago how brutal the election in South Amboy became. The election for Mayor was won by ONE VOTE. This was after several challenges by the candidate who came in second. Also voters, you need to look back at that election and the ads to see what platform each candidate ran on. What did each candidate say about the previous administration? What makes a candidate who previously wanted to continue the policies of your predecessor suddenly portray that predecessor in a negative light?

Mayors have the power to appoint people to certain positions. What people were kept in appointed positions?

One wonders what makes an adversary become a supporter. To have the support (MONEY) of your party is a very big asset in South Amboy.

As an aside: I remember in the 2010 Perth Amboy City Council Election, the top vote getter was a person who did not have a lot of money backing them or the party’s endorsement.  So, you never know.

As in any administration, you will always inherit the good with the bad from your predecessor.

The most important thing candidates can do is concentrate on moving the City forward. That is to bring in industries and businesses that will create jobs for your residents.

South Amboy is a small town of 1.548 square miles. When I walk in the downtown area (Broadway), I see two empty buildings. Both buildings have at least two levels.

Either one of those buildings could be converted into a clothing/shoe store. Other possibilities could be. Even thrift stores are big. I used to buy furniture made with real wood from these stores and still frequent them.

The residents may not agree with my opinion of what their downtown should be. Perhaps at the Council Meetings or at City Hall itself there should be a suggestion box. The residents should be able to put down what they need the town to be, especially the downtown district.

You have to remember this is coming from a person who is a non-driver (I rarely go to the malls) and likes the convenience of buying basic clothing needs.
The shopping in South Amboy is extremely limited. Although a lot of people complain about Perth Amboy’s shopping district, you can find a clothing store or a thrift store to buy basic clothing items. I would strongly urge whoever is elected Mayor of South Amboy to look into the possibility of having a major franchise invest in the town. I know in the past there was talk about building a hotel on some of the vacant land.

Remember, (especially in a small town) for a business district to survive, you need people from other communities to purchase merchandise goods from your businesses. Remember the quote in the movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come!”

The ferry coming back into town is a good thing. Unfortunately there are a lot of hurdles that have to be cleared before it could be put back into operation. Everyone knows that  it takes a long time.

So when you have something that can be done short term, for instance renovating existing buildings, you should take advantage of it.

Just a few thoughts. I would like to hear yours.

–C.M.