A Reminder to Mayor Acropolis and the Rest of Us

A front page article in the Community Reporter titled Acropolis retains mayor's seat appears in the newspaper's November 12th edition. The article mentions a gift given to Acropolis by his sister-in-law in 2007 following a tough mayoral campaign. The gift was a small glass block in which was etched a biblical quote: "Be still and know that I am God." It is kept on a bookshelf in the mayor's town hall office. Mayor Acropolis noted "vicious and vile" things said during the campaign and made this observation: "To me, it's difficult in this world to run for office."

Unfortunately the mayor if right. It is difficult to run and that very fact discourages some from even trying. Vicious and vile campaigning is seen in elections for state and federal offices as well. The biblical quote adds some perspective though. Although the world is beyond our control is is not beyond the control of the one who created the world. God overcomes the vicious and vile things of this world and helps his followers cope with them.

Mayor Acropolis Wins Election

Stephen C. Acropolis won the election for mayor of Brick on Tuesday, November 3rd. The online Asbury Park Press article Acropolis wins in Brick stated that unoffcial results showed Acropolis easily defeating his opponent Gregory S. Kavanagh by a 15,750 to 9,654 vote tally. Republican council candidates, incumbents Joseph Sangiovanni and Dan Toth won reelection and new candidate Domenick Brandoote also won. The only Democrat on the council, Kathy M. Russell, was defeated. Some voters credited Mayor Acropolis with the widening of Route 70 in explaining their support for him.

Mayoral and Council Contests on Nov 3rd

On Tuesday, November 3rd, there will be a municipal election held in Brick. Mayor Steve Acropolis is running against challenger Gregory Kavanagh. Mayor Acropolis is touting the following in this campaign:

• Cutting spending by $3 million


• Relief of traffic congestion on Route 70


• Completing the Traders' Cove project


• Demolition of the Foodtown building

There also will be Township Council races. Republicans Joe Sangiovanni, Dan Toth and Domenick Brando square off against Democrats Kathy Russell, Harvey Langer and Joseph Lamb.

Corzine's Spending Practices

Tom Moran authored an article in NJ.com titled Gov. Corzine's use of vast wealth is 'corrosive' to N.J. public. Moran alludes to Corzine's liberal spending of his personal fortune during past and present New Jersey political campaigns.

A particular example of this in the present gubanatorial race is disturbing. It concerns about $90,000 given to Rev. Reginald Jackson who is head of the Black Minister’s Council. As the linked article notes, "The money was earmarked for church programs and for Jackson’s campaign to become a bishop in his church organization."

An endorsement of Corzine by Jackson followed the gift. That Jackson's endorsement motives are called into question is obvious. But when was the last time Corzine gave money to a church or a clergyman? Has he ever given to such a cause on a magnitude approaching $90,000? If not then his gift looks like a blatent attempt to secure an endorsement from a prominent individual. Buying reelection as governor.

Some may point out that neither Corzine nor Jackson violated any laws. In addition Jackson is free to maintain that he would have endorsed Corzine anyway. But there is an appearance of a conflict of interest. There is also a distinction to be made in how campaign donations are used. If donations pay for ads and travel expenses as opposed to being earmarked for an influential or prominent individual, one could argue that the funds are directed for legitimate campaign useage. Persuasion and the costs of campaigning evoke no moral qualms. Bribary, even if not legally defined as such or thought of by the participants in this light, is altogether different from a moral perspective.

School Election Results

All four funding proposals on the ballot were soundly defeated in the special school election held in Brick on 9/29/09. The vote count is given as follows at this time:

Proposal No. 1
Yes votes = 3,228
No votes = 6,550

Proposal No. 2
Yes votes = 3,327
No votes = 6,396

Proposal No. 3
Yes votes = 2,809
No votes = 6,554

Proposal No. 4
Yes votes = 3,589
No votes = 6,182

It was a landslide defeat for the funding proposals.

Election Held on 9/29/09 in Brick

There is an election in Brick tomorrow featuring several proposals pertaining to school expenditures. Should voters approve authorizations for funding? Polls are open between 11 AM and 9 PM. The total for the bond referendum amounts to more than 172,000,000 dollars. The money would be alloted to purchase equipment as well as for additions and improvements to various schools in town.

I've received an election notice in the mail and think the interpretive statement falls far short of being a useful explanatory device. There are monetary figures correlating to state grants and bonds. The number figues are many and the explanation too complex for one trying to decipher how much the proposals would add to property taxes.

The August 8th edition of The Brick Times may be more helpful. A front page article from that edition titled Public Does Not Give Warm Welcome To School Referendum Presentation was authored by Eric San Juan. In it was the claim that an approval of all four proposals would add $147.31 annually to property taxes for homes assessed at a value of $100,000. The average assessment in Brick is said to be $134,700.

I do not know if the property assessment figures provided in The Brick Times article are accurate but this is the type of information sought after by voters. Education is very important and probably most voters either have or had children of their own who attended schools in Brick. Still, these are not good economic times and the addition of about $200 to an average home's taxes is not welcome news. The election outcome will be eagerly anticipated by many.