Heightsonline continues its analysis of candidates’ petitions for the 2012 Primary election. Today, our “Tale of the Tape” for the Spring Lake Heights Democrats.
The SLH Dems have two candidates for Council. Hugh Meehan was defeated in 2011 by Republican James Shuler in a recount that gave Shuler a one-vote lead. In addition to signing the petition himself, Meehan’s petition is signed by Thomas Vorbach, John E. Tully, Richard Carragher, Marlene Howard, Dennis Pearsall, Eileen Eilenberger, Frank Walsh, H. Frances Enright, John Donahue, Juliana Nilsson, and Evelyn Condello. The petition signatures were collected by Thomas Vorbach and the paperwork is orderly and is notarized by John E. Tully. The request for ballot designation is as “Monmouth County Democrat.”
Also running for Council is former mayor, H. Frances Enright. Enright lost the 2011 mayoral race to Republican Butch Maccanico. In addition to signing her own petition, the other signatures are John E. Tully, Frank Russo-Alesi, and E. Jane Tully. The petition signatures were gathered by E. Jane Tully and the paperwork notarized by John E. Tully. The request for ballot designation is as “Monmouth County Democrat.”
For Democratic Committee, the candidates are:
In the First District, John E. Tully and E. Jane Tully. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tully signed the petition. Mrs. Tully signed as the collector of the signatures, and Mr. Tully notarized the form. On the Oath of Allegiance form, Mrs. Tully’s oath is notarized by Mr. Tully, while Mr. Tully’s form is notarized by former SLH resident and past-Council member, John P. Brennan Jr. The request for ballot designation does not indicate the Office to be Filled, but the designation is as “Monmouth County Democrats.”
In the Second District, the candidates are Thomas Vorbach and Eileen Eilenberger. Both candidates signed their own petition, as did H. Frances Enright. Ms. Enright signed as the one who collected the signatures while the form is notarized by Mr. Tully. Again, the request for ballot designation does not indicate the Office to be Filled, but the designation is as “Monmouth County Democrats.”
In the Third District, there is no male candidate. The lone female candidate is Elizabeth Stader and she signed her own petition. The affidavit of the person who circulated the petition is missing from the filing. The oath of allegiance is notarized by John E. Tully and the designation is as “Monmouth County Democrats.”
In the Fourth District, the candidates are Hugh Meehan and Ellen Meehan. The Meehans signed their own petition and the person who gathered signatures was Hugh Meehan, with John E. Tully as notary. The designation is as “Monmouth County Democrats.”
In the Fifth District, the candidates are the Borough’s S.M.R.S.A representative Robert Blasi and Marlene Howard. The candidates signed their own petition and the signatures were gathered by Marlene Howard. John E. Tully notarized. The designation is as “Monmouth County Democrats.”
ANALYSIS:
While the SLH Democrats appear to have a more cohesive campaign than the Republicans, a review of the names shows that the Dems are once again recycling the same old candidates, probably because they have alienated anyone who was willing to do any good for the community. Ms. Enright’s term as mayor was disastrous, with office staff calling her management style “dictatorial.” Ms. Enright never seemed to grasp that in the Borough form of government, the mayor has no power; instead, she attempted to circumvent the Council at ever turn, vetoing legislation that would prevent eminent domain abuse (to the applause of a large land-owner in town), vetoing a pay-to-play ordinance, and continually opening the Borough up to a string of lawsuits. Why this individual would even WANT to run for council is incomprehensible.
Meehan, who served as an elected member of Fire District until the dissolution of that body, is possibly capable, although one would think a potential candidate for local government would attend the twice-monthly council meetings in order to learn something of the issues that are currently under discussion. One cannot speak knowledgeably about something one has no knowledge of.
Of the Committee candidates, 1st District representatives John and Jane Tully are incumbents, although in the last Committee election (2010), Mr. Tully won only by 3 votes over challenger Tom Martin.
Long-time 2nd District representatives Helen and Frank Russo-Alesi chose not to run for re-election in 2012, and heightsonline is sorry to see them go, as they were, perhaps, the last remaining upstanding and honest Democrats involved in local politics. Replacing them are Councilman Thomas Vorbach, whose has the most abysmal attendance record of any Council member in living history. Eileen Eilenberger is at least willing to work, although if one is judged by the company one keeps, voters would need to question if Mrs. Eilenberger is going to do what is right by them, or do the party’s bidding.
Incumbent 3rd District representatives Roy and Kathleen Curnow, sources report, have never attended one Committee meeting since their election in 2010. So much absent were they that when time came to draw up this year’s petitions, no one on the SLH Democratic Committee could even remember their names, not even to call them the “Cunrows” as they had been referred to in the past. No male candidate is running in District 3, probably because residents are not blind as to how the SLH Dems treat their own. Elizabeth Stader is running as the female candidate and at least attends a random Council meeting from time to time.
Hugh and Ellen Meehan are running as the 4th District candidates, stepping in for current Committee members Raymond Critchley and Mary Beth Niecewski. Critchley, readers may remember, was the duly elected Council candidate in the 2011 Primary but then suddenly bowed out over the summer and was quietly replaced by Mr. Meehan.
Fifth District incumbents Robert Blasi and Marlene Howard will run for re-election. Mr. Blasi is currently serving a 5-year appointment as the Borough’s representative to the Southern Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority, a position which pays $5,000 a year plus full medical benefits. Mrs. Howard is the widow of Congressman James Howard and perhaps the only member of a rogues’ gallery of candidates who truly cares about the people of Spring Lake Heights.
NEXT UP: Comparing the two parties