| Author | Message | ||
     Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1692 Registered: 9-2001  |
Anyone wanting a conversation about the future of Maplewood is welcome to talk to Joel and myself this Saturday morning between 9AM and 12 noon in Maplewood Center. Our platform is summarized as follows. We don't have all the answers, but we do have a process to improve Maplewood. And we want to hear from you. If and when Kathy and Ken decide to campaign, we expect to be out spent, out lawnsigned, outbumper stickered, out junkmailed, and out advertised. But we will not be outthought, out campaigned, or out debated. Please read the following and stop by to see Joel and I in the morning, or during the next several weeks, at our frequent appearances around Maplewood. And if you have an organization, please invite the 4 of us to debate! REPUBLICANS ED MAY and JOEL ZIEGLER BALANCED GOVERNMENT Both Republicans and Democrats represented on the Township Committee (Can you imagine one party rule in Washington, DC ?) FOCUS ON MAPLEWOOD We will run the town like a business, aiming to maximize taxpayer satisfaction, focusing on the needs and desires of our fellow Maplewoodians, and will not be distracted by irrelevant items or foreign policy. LOWER TAXES We will reduce the economic burden on taxpayers by: adding ratables, reducing regulations, encouraging small businesses, controlling expenses, cutting waste, eliminating unsupported funding, supporting the elimination of wasteful county spending and reduction of the school budget, and not funding peripheral, ineffective programs. BETTER SERVICES Our priority will be on police, fire, emergency, and essential services. Next are township facilities, parks, recreational areas, and schools. We will work together with existing programs and new initiatives to improve the areas of primary use. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT We will introduce the one system that has proven effective In municipalities, schools, and other entities across the USA. TQM is an integrative management concept for improving the quality of processes through the participation of all levels and functions. TQM results in better services, less waste, lower costs, higher productivity, and higher customer satisfaction. Paid for by Maplewoodians to Elect May-Ziegler, Connie Cosgrove, Treasurer Ed May | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1693 Registered: 9-2001 |
Not the best morning for campaigning what with the rain et al. Could not really camp in one place. Nice meeting whom did around town and afterwards at Saint James Gate. Ed May | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2003 |
Looks like a “me-too” platform, as the saying goes. For comparison, here is the Pettis-Leventhal platform, which has been around for many months. It is copied it directly from their website. PETTIS & LEVENTHAL PLAN Taxes • Give the taxpayers a break! Cap any increase at cost of living. • Save money! Regionalize services with other towns through Conference of Local Mayors. • Increase commercial ratables through comprehensive strategy developed with professional economic planner. • Run Maplewood like a business: Require strategic budgeting by Township Departments. • Raise Maplewood’s voice in Trenton to increase state funding. Education • Forge partnership with South Orange and Board of Education to address common school/town issues. • Provide budget target to Board of Education. • Require open school budget process, with early involvement by Board of School Estimate. • Promote constructive behavior by our children through cooperative programs with local business and town. Public Safety • Recognize commitment and achievements of police officers and improve their working conditions. • Enforce zoning code to ensure safety and enhance market values. Quality of Life • Repair and upgrade recreational facilities. • Showcase and encourage volunteers who enhance our quality of life. • Promote participation by people of all backgrounds in the civic life of our community. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1865 Registered: 9-2001 |
Now why didn't I think of that?  Well now we can see where they are the same, lets see if we can find out where they differ... I’ll start, so lets take them in order, one at a time. First, Kathie and Ken on the issue of taxes. • "GIVE THE TAXPAYERS A BREAK" Cap any increase at cost of living. vs. Ed and Joel • "LOWER TAXES" We will reduce the economic burden on taxpayers by: adding ratables, reducing regulations, encouraging small businesses, controlling expenses, cutting waste, eliminating unsupported funding, supporting the elimination of wasteful county spending and reduction of the school budget, and not funding peripheral, ineffective programs. Alright, what would you rather have, “Cap Tax Increases” at the cost of living, or go after programs that will “Lower Taxes?” Well for my money, I’m going with the candidates that will work to lower my taxes. That's the kind of mind set that I can support. I’ll give this one to the Republicans. OK, it’s your turn Bottomline! | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 15 Registered: 8-2003 |
ajc, I believe that voters are realistic about taxes and government expenses. While the words are different (“cap increases” versus “lower taxes”) the approaches are virtually identical. Both sides say they will run Maplewood like a business. Pettis & Leventhal are more specific about how they would put pressure on the school budget. Ziegler & May have more detail about municipal programs. The statements from each side about support of public services are almost identical. I’d call this one a draw. Maybe I’d concede a half-point to Ziegler & May for spin, but who believes they can really do any better than holding the line? Now my turn. Ziegler & May have TQM. Pettis & Leventhal have… common sense with no techno-babble. Definitely a point for Pettis & Leventhal, hands down. | ||
| Joel S. Ziegler Citizen Username: Joelziegler Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2003  |
bottomline I really appreciate your input into this thread. Your arguments are logical and based on the facts as you see them. Are you a trial lawyer like myself? Permit me to summarize our case (May-Ziegler): #1 We want Balanced Government. The game of Musical Chairs being played by the Democrats is interesting, but if Kathy and Ken are elected there will still be 5 Democ rats on the Township Committee. When the music stops the town is much better off if one or two seats are non-Democratic. Imagine if Congress was a one party system? #2 We will focus on Maplewood and can do so because we are not beholden to anyone on the TC or in county or state or federal politics. Look at how Democrats outside of Maplewood ganged up against Jerry and Vic in the primary. The same Democrats are now aiming at Ed and myself. Follow the money. Ed and I are not beholden to anyone. We can focus on Maplewood, and not the issues favorite to outsiders. #3 Mr. Christianson hit the nail on the head about taxes! We will make taxes go down. T hey will keep tax increases to some "politically correct" level. #4 Better Services. Do you realize that it takes months for the democratically controoled township offices to issue minutes to town meetings? Do you realize that when a Dept Head is on vacation a business misses its target date for opening on Springfield Avenue? Ed and I are independent businemen that know hoe to do things done. #5 I don't know what book Kathy and Ken are reading from, but Total Quality MAnagement is accepted methodology, that Ed applies to businesses everyday in his role as a Quality Consultant. Go to the Town Book Store and buy a book on TQM! Joel S. Ziegler, Esq. | ||
| hello Citizen Username: Hello Post Number: 165 Registered: 7-2003 |
joel- yes, imagine if congress was a one party system. we'd have the largest budget deficits in history as pork barrel corporate welfare spending would be out of control, and the party would vote to eliminate taxes on its constituents and thus pass the deficits onto their adversaries children. oh, wait- we do have a one-party congress, of "real republicans" like yourselves. thanks, but i'll pass on electing tom de lay disciples to the TC. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2003 |
HELP!!! DAVE!!! Joel accused me of being a LAWYER! Doesn’t that constitute a personal attack? Shouldn’t he be suspended until, say, Nov. 5th? | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1698 Registered: 9-2001 |
One example of successful Total Quality Management close to home is Overlook Hospital, and especially the Emergency Room, where TQM principles have been applied, resulting in improved customer satisfaction, and earning Quality Awards from the State of New Jersey and elsewhere.. Ed May | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10214 Registered: 10-2001  |
Dearest Ed/Joel, Can you please give me a sense as to when you will be answering my questions? Thankey. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <- Please check out Fringe's Excellent Website: http://hometown.aol.com/njfabian | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1704 Registered: 9-2001 |
Sbenois: Had you been in Maplewood Center this morning or at SJG around lunch time, I would have been happy to answer several of the questions face-to-face. Joel and I have answered infinitely more questions on Maplewood Online than have Kathy or Ken. We will continue to answer questions online at our own pace. Do you have a sense when Kathy and Ken will accept the invitation of Ed and Joel and participate on this thread? Do you have a sense when Dave will open up the Official Candidate thread? Ed May | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1705 Registered: 9-2001 |
Sbenois: Had you been in Maplewood Center this morning or at SJG around lunch time, I would have been happy to answer several of the questions face-to-face. Joel and I have answered infinitely more questions on Maplewood Online than have Kathy or Ken. We will continue to answer questions online at our own pace. Do you have a sense when Kathy and Ken will accept the invitation of Ed and Joel and participate on this thread? Do you have a sense when Dave will open up the Official Candidate thread? Ed May | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1706 Registered: 9-2001 |
Sbenois: You asked: 3) What specific legal actions would you take to identify and remove from our schools any student that is illegally receiving an education in our schools? How would you implement your actions under the authority of the Township Committee? The first thing is to ferret out the information that the BOE has on the illegal students: Hence my recent letter to the News-Record: To the Editor: At the August 20 "Budget 101: Board of Education / Board of School Estimate Public Workshop" I asked a question to the BOE Finance Committee which Chairman Steve Latz was unable to answer to my satisfaction given the format of the meeting and in the time available. My purpose in writing to the Editor is to rephrase and raise again this question publicly in the hope of soliciting a straight answer to a simple question. "Given the incessant increases in our property taxers, the ongoing concerns about the quality of education in our school district, and the prospect of another year of overcrowding at Columbia High School, what is the current estimate of the number of "illegal" students in our school system, how much is it costing Maplewood taxpayers to educate children who are not legally entitled to be educated here, and what is being done to mitigate the problem? " Joel and I have authored a second letter to the editor: "The quality and cost of our public schools are ongoing features in the News-Record, hot topics on Maplewood Online, and pepper the daily conversations of Maplewoodians. As the Republican Candidates for the Maplewood Township Committee, we believe that educational issues warrant scrutiny during the campaign. The most obvious reason is that nearly 60% of the property taxes which Township Committee persons approve are used to fund the school district. New Jersey law has created a unique situation whereby the three township members of the Board of School Estimate speak for all of Maplewood in determining the efficacy of the school district budget. We believe it impossible to have a meaningful discussion about the level of property taxes in this town without talking about the schools, emotional though it may be. Enrollment, as well as the cost of educating non-resident students is, a major concern of ours, and of the citizens to whom we speak. Despite many promises over the last ten years, the Democrat controlled Township Committee has done little to strengthen zoning/habitability ordinances. The watered-down rental unit registration/inspection ordinance has been neutered through departmental inaction. Since passage, only 10% of the total estimated rental units have been inspected. Whether by design, ineptness, or inefficiency, this must change. We urge our state Republican leaders to address the loophole that allows certain children - whose parents live in other districts - to attend our schools "legally". If we can't remove these non-paying students, then we should at least receive compensation." At the last BOE meeting I commended the BOE for removing three non-domiciled students (Resolutions 1719 and 1727) and reminded the BOE that NJAC 6A:28-2.6 requires that these students, their parents, or guardians be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and sued for tuition for the students' period of ineligible attendence". Ed May | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 98 Registered: 12-2002 |
I was in the village and saw Ed campaigning in the rain, where was Joel? This team is like Art's team last year. Art did all the PR work and his running mate was unheard of. See, I don't even know who his running mate was. Same thing here, I see Ed's name all over the place but have not heard nor seen Joel. When you do see a post from Joel, I'm sure it's Ed writing it. Thank goodness we don't have to vote for the whole team. There's nothing like being on the ocean! | ||
| hello Citizen Username: Hello Post Number: 166 Registered: 7-2003 |
what "loophole" are you referring to, ed? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1866 Registered: 9-2001 |
Like last year... like Fred.... like Ian... like Mark... this year like Joel... like Ken... like Katie, and now like Vic... like Jerry... and like David______ All don't post on-line like Art and Ed... Thank God they don't, I mean, can you imagine? And like always, candidates also don't always go arm-in-arm, walking around town shaking voters hands, handing out lollypops to the children, kissing babies, or petting dogs. Sometimes people get things handed to them…. others, like Ed and Joel will have to work their butts off! Without very much money, out numbered 4 to 1, and no one to debate, it’s going to be all up hill! But thanks for asking anyway Luv2cruise. BTW, while Ed was working the Village, Joel was working on the Avenue... | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1940 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mark was unable to campaign much last year and he still got more votes than ART! What does that tell us about the value of campaigning in Maplewood?  I also wondered why I saw Ed in the Village yesterday morning without Joel being present when Ed had advertised that BOTH of them would be there. Thanks for the clarification, Art. Ed: I agree with Sbenois regarding the speed with which you are answering questions posted to this thread. It does not reflect well on your candidacy to invite questions and then fail to answer them within a reasonable period of time. If you have trouble remembering my question (which you also didn't answer) you will find it towards the top of posts in the archive for this thread through Seotember 6, 2003. We need TC members who can research problems and respond to them quickly. Developing a reputation for procrastination or inability to deal with the meatier issues, however undeserved, will not help you come Election Day. Please answer all of our questions here in the medium in which they were posted and redeem yourself. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1868 Registered: 9-2001 |
"We need TC members who can research problems and respond to them quickly. Developing a reputation for procrastination or inability to deal with the meatier issues..." From time to time I see we can agree on something Joan. BTW, like any race, you need to save something for the stretch. Keep pacing yourself Ed until the other horses get on the track! | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 10215 Registered: 10-2001 |
Dearest Ed, I will give you exactly 2 days to answer every question online. You started this thread. You asked for questions. I didn't see any requirement in your offer that K&K had to answer the questions as well. Besides, I have watched the Democratic side long enough to know the answers that they would have to each question. K&K are both long time Maplewood fixtures with records of public service. So if you want MY vote, you'd better get cracking in the old think tank and put together some real positions, not inane sound bites. It seems to me that unlike Art last year, you're running a campaign that knows nothing about the issues, little about the way Maplewood functions, and hides it all with lots buzz words that the average person in town is going to be perplexed by. TQM as a concept for government is a turn off, not a turn on. It's not going to win you a single vote. Not one Eduardo. When taken together, your "campaign" exhibits sure signs of not only a loss, but severe ridicule from the boys at the Sbenois & Sbenois dream factory. And I do mean side splitting ridicule. Already, there are large snippets of text waiting to go. By the way, my list of 12 questions was actually 23 to start with. But I figured that asking you about the status and importance of Abbott Rim legislation was well beyond your grasp. That's another problem for you: we're long past the point where on the job training regarding Maplewood issues is acceptable. Time is precious and anyone taking office must hit the ground running. The bottom line with me, and every other voter out there who cares, is that you'd better figure out what the hell your campaign really is about before you start attacking people and their positions. P.S. If you take issue with the lack of response from your opponents please recognize that it is a function of the weakness of the Republican Party in town. The degree of public debate is always proportionate to the strength of ones opponents. While K&K should debate to enhance public discourse, politically speaking they probably shouldn't engage you guys until the first Wednesday in November. ---> Brought to you by Sbenois Engineering LLC <- Please check out Fringe's Excellent Website: http://hometown.aol.com/njfabian | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1871 Registered: 9-2001 |
"I will give you exactly 2 days to answer every question online." Dear Sbenois, this sounds important. Being a former candidate I thought I might try my hand at your questions. Hey, those are some tough questions you’re asking bro... I checked the library, not the branch of course, also went to the Gann Law Books, you know the ones by William M. Cox... nothing. Then I went to town hall, and asked everyone I could find. I even went to the basement to check some old records, still no help. I get that you need the answers right away, so I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of bringing your questions to the Palm Reader over on Springfield Avenue. We all know no one on the TC has the answers, and I figured what the hell, she’d probably can come up with as good an answer as any of the candidates. Well, I sat down, put my hands on the table, she took one look and told me if I gave her $20.00 she would give me the answers, all of them…. What do you think, is it worth it? |
