People are elected sometimes by a large margin and sometimes they just squeak by. The bottom line is they are accountable to all the residents in the City no matter how big or small their margin of victory.

This is why I was puzzled at a recent Perth Amboy Council Meeting. A resident made a comment to a specific Council Member that they barely won their seat.

I didn’t see that resident’s point for making that statement. If you look on the City’s website, each Council Member has their contact information listed. I didn’t see an asterisk next to any of the Member’s names stating their vote count.

For that matter, if a resident has a problem, I don’t believe an resident would refrain from discussing a problem with any Council Member based on the number of votes that the individual received.

Our neighbor South Amboy despite having a much smaller population and square miles has a ward system. Depending on what section of town you live in, you are represented by one particular Council Member and they also have Council Members-at-Large.

Would this system work in Perth Amboy? Personally, I don’t think there would be enough people interested in running in each ward. It wouldn’t surprise me if people were elected by write-in votes based on the ward they are in. I talked to some residents who frequently speak at the Council Meetings. I suggested that they should run for office. I told them that they aren’t afraid to speak their minds and are often approached by others to speak for them. Sometimes because they fear speaking in public, especially at Council Meetings. Plus the residents I urge to run often come to the meetings with statistics, articles and other information to backup what they are saying.

I remember when one of these residents I spoke to about running said that they already had a job and are too busy to be on the Council. Frankly, you are already doing the work! Need I remind you that some of the Council Members have full time jobs.

Another argument of theirs was that they were of the ‘wrong ethnic persuasion’ to win. All I can say is: I’m not buying that. If people see that you are a fighter, especially if they feel you are fighting for their cause, surprises can happen. Just remember, it is very difficult to be in the hot seat. Once you are an elected official, you can become target practice.

But there are definitely some things that you can control or bring more light to. You may have difference of opinions with your fellow Council Members. By talking things out, you may be able to persuade them to come around to your point of view.

There may be things that you want to change when it comes to how Municipal Board Members are appointed. Pay to Play could be better monitored if you were on board. Developers may think twice about promises they know would be impossible to keep and you could play hardball just as skillfully as they do.

I know all of this is hard work. If you show the same passion when you get up to speak at the Meetings, I am sure that you’ll be more than up to the challenge.

A friend of mine called me and said he heard that nine people are running for Council this year. I told him, “I can’t be concerned about that right now. What matters are not the number of people who say they are going to run, but who will qualify after their petitions are handed in? Then, let the games begin!” Are you in?

C.M.