To the editor: I admittedly am the victim of a political identity crisis. Up until two years ago I was a registered Republican, although I could never decide whether I was the most liberal Republican I know, or the most conservative Democrat. In reality, I don’t want to belong to any political party, but the resulting lack of progress brought about by the change in West Milford’s government finally forced me to re-think it. Local government directly affects our lives more than county, state or federal government combined. Local government controls our immediate surroundings. It literally controls what you live next door to. I was thoroughly disheartened when West Milford digressed back into partisan politics as other towns leave it behind. I gave it a chance, but the partisan system is definitely not working. The Republican majority who wanted it in the first place can’t even make it work. They have had a solid majority since the change, and literally nothing has been done to lower taxes, the biggest concern to West Milford residents. Quite the contrary, taxes are still going up and will go even higher if some of the proposed high density developments are built- developments that are supported by the Republican appointed MUA. Looking back at the time of the push for the change of government, I noted the Republican Party proclaiming “Let The People Decide” while they boldly misled the public into thinking they had to change the form of government to allow us to independently elect our mayor. This was totally false. Also, it was so obvious that if voters were tired of the bickering of the Town Council, they needed only to vote those “offenders” out of office. However, some of those “offenders” were doing what they were elected to do, represent their ward and their constituents in their best interest. We don’t have wards any longer- therefore no neighborhood representation either. Well, that’s one way to stop the bickering. Next came the GOP claim that recreation fields were “open space”, and that Open Space funds should be used for recreation fields and maintenance. Once again we heard “Let The People Decide”. The People had already bravely and wisely decided overwhelmingly to pay an extra small tax to be set aside for the purchase of open space properties. Since residents, taxpayers, and political associates can all be classified under the name of “people”, I really began to wonder what the Republicans’ definition of “people” really was. Thank goodness the People, meaning the general public, meaning you and me, and with the opposition of the Republicans- decided once again. Voters re-affirmed their position overwhelmingly that this fund was indeed solely for the purchase of open space. I don’t hear “Let The People Decide” coming from the Republicans any longer. It is now apparent what their definition of “people” is. They are “the people”. Probably the most shameful act was a physical assault against a Democratic councilman resulting in the resignation of the Township Attorney at the time, another Republican appointee who either could not or would not stand up to the Attorney Ethics Disclosure ordinance. During the 2005 council campaign strategically just before election day, the town was flooded with red political signs claiming “Andy Gargano Said No” and was against recreation in West Milford with no time for a widely publicized response. The Republican strategy worked, and Andy lost the election. If it weren’t for Andy Gargano, the West Milford PAL building may have never been built. Republicans won the election and the council majority, taxes became higher. The 2006 council campaign brought about another last minute Republican election ploy of a three percent sales tax zone for West Milford came into play. Seriously, who is going to come to West Milford to save thirty cents on pepperoni pizza? Even at that, we don’t have the 3% sales tax zone anyway and nothing’s been done about it. That’s two election ploys in a row, still a Republican majority and taxes are still going up. Things got even worse when GOP officials were caught making anonymous deliberate slanderous attacks on the Internet against Councilman Warden and now Mayoral Candidate Bettina Bieri resulting in the resignation of one GOP Councilman and the arrest of another political associate. Talk about “attacking volunteers”! It was becoming all too clear who the “offenders” of a stagnant government really were. More time is being spent on election strategy and slandering opponents than running government. Of course the Republicans will counter that Warden spent too much time chasing down and prosecuting the anonymous slanderers, but wouldn’t anyone defend his or her reputation against public allegations that serious- especially involving an innocent friend? In a heartbeat I would. I might even give up, like Ross Perot did, but James Warden did not, in my mind displaying strength of character. Ultimately during the 2006 campaign Republicans unleashed yet another frivolous election ploy and accused Democrats James Geist and James Rauth of illegally soliciting votes with a benign coupon on a door hanger. Of course, once again, the negative publicity reached the public long before the court’s decision, which came way too late for Election Day. The Republicans won again; taxes became higher again. Is a pattern forming here? Enter the 2007 campaign season. We hear almost nothing from the Republican candidates publicly at all. In the papers, Frank Hannan speaks for them as well as on the Republican website. Since Labor Day, the Democratic candidates have shared their points of view personally in the papers. I had personally noted we have seen almost neither hide nor hair of our Republican candidates. The GOP’s spokesperson, Frank Hannan says in a recent Aim column the GOP candidates are going to forego the cameras and not attend council meetings so the council can do their business, and that they will “listen to the people”. Okay, that’s the last straw. That’s what finally inspired this letter. I don’t know what attending the council meetings and foregoing the cameras have to do with one another. One can certainly attend meetings and avoid the cameras. Next, I’d really like to know what that council business is he is referring to. Does he mean more inaction that they can blame on Nolan and Warden? Finally, if the candidates don’t attend council meetings, how are they going to listen to the people with real issues? How will they ever claim to seek bi-partisan support, or even have any knowledge of the current state of affairs in West Milford if they don’t even attend council meetings? I suppose their mentors will just tell them how to vote, just as they did with the winners of last year’s election. Of course Warden and Nolan attend as sitting members of the council, but Mayoral Candidate Bettina Bieri has regularly attended council meetings for many, many years. She was also a member of the Planning Board. And before anyone accuses her of not listening to the people outside of the council chambers, people again defined as you and me, she and Bob Nolan and James Warden have been, and are going door to door to do just that. The Republicans have had the council majority since the change of government. What has been accomplished? Taxes get higher and higher, but they blame it on the county, and Warden and Nolan. Greenwood Lake Tpk. is being made safer as we read this as construction on fixing “dead man’s curve” is nearing completion. Greenwood Lake itself is being made safer since the Sheriff took over patrols when the State Police left, and it is being made cleaner thanks to James Warden and our County Sheriff. County roads are in great shape now. The most notable use of county tax dollars in West Milford have been visible since the Democrats took office. Yet James Warden and Bob Nolan are repeatedly accused of holding the council back. That’s a pretty good trick when you’re the latter half of a four to two majority. Mr. Warden and Mr. Nolan, considering the apparent direction of the current council majority, would you please continue to hold them back? PLEASE! I’m too late to ask the Republicans what this year’s election ploy is, we already know that. It’s the rehashed Watershed Tax to Newark that already failed years ago. There will be no magic pill that will all of a sudden lower our taxes. I think that’s obvious now. It’s going to take making a serious effort at scrutinizing our government, and making the tough decisions to lower our taxes while we seek some real relief. This is what Warden and Nolan have been doing all along. I’m now waiting to see how the Republicans will attack the Democratic candidates personally this year. That’s next, based on recent history. It’s over guys, the rest of us are on to you. I urge all West Milford residents to keep your eyes open for this one. I strongly urge disheartened (ex-) Republicans like myself, as well as Independents and Democrats to vote for the Sheriff Speziale Team. It is time to start turning this ship around. Keeping Warden and Nolan in office won’t immediately do that, they would still be the minority- but it’s a strong start. Electing Bettina Bieri Mayor will take us one step closer. I’m already looking forward to the 2008 elections. Then we’ll really get something done when Bieri, Nolan and Warden finally get some help. Peter Bremy West Milford