Middletown Democrats

SHORT BACKS TWO-PARTY SYSTEM RETURN

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ): Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short said the return of the two-party system in Middletown is essential to reforming taxation in town.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Publication

September 26, 2006

POC: Patrick Short, Democrat for Township Committee
Tel:732-796-9574

SHORT BACKS TWO-PARTY SYSTEM RETURN

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ):

Democrat for Township Committee Patrick Short said the return of the two-party system in Middletown is essential to reforming taxation in town.

"The return of the two-party system in Middletown is not something purely ideological," Short said. "There are issues associated with one-party rule that go back to patronage; and patronage costs money in towns -- tax money."

According to Short, dual office holding, pension padding by elected and appointed officials, vendors being appointed to municipal boards and commissions and political favoritism to companies that favorpolitical parties all have economic consequences for taxpayers.

Two-party representation is a fundamental principle of the American political system. The Founding Fathers created the two-party system to prevent governmental corruption. "The founders of this country created this system so one party would not enjoy total power or total power for too long," Short said. "In Middletown, Republicans have been entirely in charge of this governing body for 25 years and what has resulted is a government that is spending money far more liberally than it can afford."

Short explained that the Middletown Township Committee bonds excessively, resulting in a bond debt that equals about $80 million. "No business and no private concern that is $80 million in debt can say that it is doing well and that it has operated effectively," Short said.

According to Short, municipal bonding is tantamount to credit card debt. "Anything any politician will tell you about how a budget is balanced with an $80 million debt on the books is not being entirely honest," he said. "I believe that the only way to dealing with the amount of bonding debt this township has is to start spending money in a prudent way and not a way that considers politics, politicians or political parties in any way, shape or form."

Short, a business executive in the private sector, said he intends on seeking the appointment of the best and most economical firms to office in Middletown and not the most politically connected. In addition, he does not intend on supporting Democratic or Republican builders or trades people. "I intend on seeking the appointment of the best possible and most professional builders and trades people where needed by the township," Short said.

In conclusion, Short said, "I simply intend on taking the politics out of local government here in Middletown."