Early this year on February 2014 I asked this council to please consider changing the form of government from non-partisan to partisan. Now that our municipal elections are held together with a partisan general election in November. This past primary the county paid out $34,000+ for poll workers in Perth Amboy that only l had a 2.01% turnout. That means out of 24,000+ registered voters, only 496 people voted. That is a shame. Including Perth Amboy, a Primary will be at no cost to Perth Amboy.

A primary will take place with or without Perth Amboy. If this council moved to a non-partisan election to November with a general election where those who are running had a run-off in a primary, our municipal candidates should have to do the same. Not doing so cost Perth Amboy taxpayers money in November that could be avoided. Where is the democracy here? People are not represented properly. It is an educational process. You have elected officials taking advantage of our voters.

They only come in to work hard so that they can get back in return. It’s time to let the people of their party decide who should represent them on a general election and the only way to do so is to have a primary. This change should come from our elected council members and especially those who moved the election to November. I am asking this council to put this as a resolution for a vote in September’s Council meeting. Thank you, Leslie Dominguez-Rodriguez Perth Amboy Democratic Chair