Reprinted from the April 3, 2014 issue of the Times of Trenton.
I wish to respond to Irwin Stoolmacher’s highly partisan and inaccurate guest editorial “It’s about more than West Windsor’s attorney” (March 27).
First, I believe the mayor was elected by a minority of West Windsor residents — a third-party candidate siphoned off votes that I believe would otherwise have gone to Hemant Marathe.
Second, Mr. Stoolmacher insults the intelligence of the mayor’s own supporters by implying they found the ballot too difficult to figure out. You only have to open your eyes during campaign season to see all the lawn signs showing who’s running with whom.
Third, the council is within its right to advice and consent on the hiring of an attorney. It is not obligated to approve a contract for an attorney it does not want.
Finally, I take exception to the way Mr. Stoolmacher describes Councilman Bryan Maher. I found it to be unprofessional and unworthy of a guest editorial. I did have a hearty laugh, though, when he termed the mayor data-driven, while, he says, Councilman Maher is not. Really? Mr. Maher tears apart financial statements for a living. Thanks to him, we now know where the township’s financial skeletons and waste lie. He’s been a godsend for the taxpayers of West Windsor.
The real problem that Mr. Stoolmacher and the mayor have is they no longer enjoy a rubber-stamp council that will do the mayor’s bidding. The administration is now forced to listen to the majority of residents who aren’t as enthralled with him as is Mr. Stoolmacher.
The people of West Windsor spoke clearly last November. It’s time the mayor engaged with council to make our town better.
Jim Solloway
West Windsor
