In a letter to the editors of local newspapers, Andy Bromberg mentions that candidates for West Windsor Council Lindsay Diehl, Kristina Samonte, and George Borek pledge civility on council and cooperation. In an article in the September 9 issue of the WW-P News it says that “both Samonte and Diehl cited a general lack of civility among council members as part of the reason they’re running. Samonte’s perspective is to view each individual as a neighbor with a different opinion, as resolutions need to be more of a priority.”
When I read this I laughed out loud. This is not how I remember this cast of characters. While preparing for my campaign, I reviewed video of every public meeting from the last three years. One recurring theme is evident: Continuous attacks on a long-term council member who has been elected by the majority of the residents, by Bromberg, Diehl, and Samonte.
The issue behind Charles Morgan’s lawsuits is not what’s important here. What’s important is how the “West Windsor Moving Forward” team, and public supporters, handled the conflict.
Mr. Bromberg has made it quite clear that he does not like Mr. Morgan. That’s fine. Luckily Bromberg is not running for office. His refusal to understand the basic facts would certainly not make him a good candidate anyway. But he is writing letters to the editor and endorsing Borek, Diehl, and Samonte, and they stand with him. I take that to be acceptance of his endorsement.
At the March 7 council meeting, packed with residents there to see the Mayor’s State of the Township address, all three took to the stage to take public pokes at Morgan. They each made one-sided political comments without regard for the facts. Bromberg used the words “senseless and frivolous” and pointed out to the packed chamber that Mr. Morgan lost the election to the mayor 75 percent to 25 percent in an effort to embarrass him. This is civility? He then made public comments at a June meeting where he rants about how he does not understand why Mr. Morgan is doing this, and asks the council to “sanction” him. If he took just two minutes to listen to the facts, he would know why Mr. Morgan is doing this. Others who commented publicly at that meeting understood.
Ms. Diehl goes on to call Morgan a bully at least five times and suggests that the issues between the mayor and Morgan can be solved by circulating a petition to end the lawsuit. Does she not understand how our legal system works?
“We have a bully on our council! One of our five council members is a bully!” Ms. Diehl stated. She then goes on for three minutes also using terms like “frivolous, and senseless.” But at no point does she mention, or show any interest in the actual facts behind why he took such a drastic measure. Three months later, in front of another rare packed house, she calls him some more names and presents her petition signed by .05 percent of the residents. In 90 days she could only get 130 signatures?
This is politics. Exactly what we don’t need or want. She never mentions that the mayor has taken a personal interest in helping her get elected. A seat ultimately made available by Mr. Morgan deciding not to run again, and by the departure of Ms. Ciccone whom the mayor clearly decided not to endorse. I wonder why. Maybe because she is an unbiased, intelligent council member who listens to facts before voting. It’s a shame to see her go.
Then in comes Kristina Samonte who requests that the Council not consider a settlement offer that would end the suit for good by simply adding the words “in writing” and “in a reasonable amount of time” to the existing ordinance that requires the Mayor to report to the elected Council. As with the others, she uses the word “frivolous and senseless” over and over.
Lastly there’s council member Borek, one of the only ones who could contribute legally. What does he do? He all but completely stops communicating with Morgan and makes no effort to end the conflict other than to state that the money spent on attorneys could have been used for something better. In a single sentence he completely dismisses a fellow council member’s concerns. He publicly opposes the notion that the mayor might have to actually report to the Council “in writing” and “in a reasonable amount of time.”
So there’s the 1-2-3 punch from March 7 that launched this “team of civil and cooperative candidates.”
I urge the residents ignore their marketing “buzzwords” and not elect more politicians. We have an opportunity to change. Let’s not add more of the same.
Choose “Personal Choice” on November 8 — type in Greg Harris. Even better, add Diane Ciccone as a “Personal Choice” also. Show that this political nonsense has to stop.
Greg Harris
Independent, write-in candidate
