To the editor: Apparently the two Democrat candidates for West Milford Council were misinformed by their associates, judging by their recent guest column in the newspapers. I would like to share the facts about the water tax petition. They are correct that as part of the effort to get elected, Councilmen Warden and Nolan did do a water tax petition in 2003 and the local papers gave them great headlines. Nolan stated in the papers “I will work with the county and state legislatures to initiate a water surcharge,” while Warden stated “together with Mayor Taule from Ringwood and elected officials from other Highlands communities, Bob Nolan and I will put ball in motion.” These statements were just typical campaign chatter and the ball was never put into motion. Please correct me if I am wrong, but at a recent council meeting it was revealed that their water tax petitions were never delivered to Trenton. In fact, from what I understand, the petition never left West Milford the petition may still be sitting in the trunk of someone’s car or in some closet. West Milford never gained any acknowledgement from that petition or the effort that went into it. On the other hand, the people who put their faith in my efforts by signing the Water Tax Relief Petition were not let down. I, along with Dr. Sal Schimmenti and neighborhood volunteers, collected over 1600 signatures along with the two township resolutions supporting the water tax relief to Governor Corzine’s office in Trenton. Rest assured that the actual petition you signed is sitting at the Governor’s office. The Governor’s staff recognized the efforts of this petition. Shortly after delivering the petition I received a personal response from Trenton that stated the water tax in whole has been eliminated from this years state budget. However I stated that West Milford would be back next year with another request for property tax relief. West Milford deserves, and is entitled to, tax relief from the sale of its water. It was stated by Democrat candidates that the water tax failed because of little Republican support in Trenton. Again, I must correct you because even with all of the work and effort the Democrat majority in Trenton eliminated the water tax from the current state budget. This is the same majority in Trenton that has cost West Milford millions of dollars in lost watershed aid that we were receiving when the Republicans were in majority. I do believe that the people who signed the 2003 water tax relief petition in good faith are entitled to an explanation of what happened to the petition and why. I, Councilman Joe Smolinski, along with Council Candidate Dr. Sal Schimmenti will continue the fight to stabilize your taxes and to keep West Milford affordable. Allow us to protect West Milford’s future and yours. Please vote Joe Smolinski and Sal Schimmenti. Joe Smolinski West Milford