At the Township Council meeting of June 20, Council voted to commit another $7,500 to the defense of Mayor Hsueh against the meaningless litigation initiated by Councilman Charles Morgan. They had no choice, they are required to do this under the provisions of the Township Code.
When added to the approximately $15,000 previously committed, almost $23,000 has been poured down this rat hole of litigation with no end in sight. This is money that could have funded athletic and entertainment equipment for the Township’s children, bought additional bullet-proof vests for our police, and other benefits. To understand how we got to where we are and where Mr. Morgan is coming from, we have to understand Robert Kennedy’s memorable advice “Don’t get mad, get even.”
Yes, this is all about getting even. Sadly, Mr. Morgan has never come to terms with his devastating defeat in the 2009 mayoral election and, as an attorney, he is well aware of the suffocating and costly ordeal litigation can become.
Mr. Morgan’s response to his defeat was to file criminal charges against the Mayor alleging that Administration personnel had conspired to influence the election. His attitude was that somewhere there was a reservoir of information that when revealed, would prove that the election was unfair. There never was such information. It existed only in Mr. Morgan’s perception.
Mr. Morgan also filed a civil suit based on the reply to his request for information submitted to the Mayor which Mr. Morgan found unacceptable. How does one reply to a request for information that does not exist? Both the criminal charges and the civil suit were ruled without merit and were dismissed. Mr. Morgan then filed to appeal the ruling on his civil suit, which is where we are now. The most perplexing issue with the current situation are what remedy is Mr. Morgan seeking and what remedy can the court offer to charges that have no substance?
At the June 13 Council meeting Mr. Morgan announced he would not run for another term on Council and that he would retire to Florida. What will be the legacy for Mr. Morgan’s 12-year tenure as a Council member? Will he be remembered for the hours he devoted to Council business, for the problems he helped solve, for his Council presidency? Or will he be remembered for the malicious subterfuge he concocted to get even.
Mr. Morgan has a choice. He can drop all charges against the Mayor and salvage his legacy or he can continue tilting at windmills and confirm the electorate’s choice in 2009.
Alvin Lerner
West Windsor
