October 23, 2013

To the Editor:

On Aug. 16, 2013, Mayor Tom Hannen cast the deciding vote to rescind an ordinance that would allow for a charter study on the Cranford Township form of government. As stated in the minutes, “Mayor Hannen thanked those who offered their opinion on this matter and stated that he agrees with Commissioner Campbell’s statement that the Township form of government provided Cranford with its identity.”

So it was very interesting to read a letter by candidate Kelly Howard, asking us to essentially elect a mayor in Cranford. Howard wants our vote and yet he doesn’t seem to understand how our form of government works. Hannen has two more years in office and there is certainly no reason that he can’t be an effective member of the Township Committee. We are not electing a mayor on Nov. 5. We are electing township commissioners and we need to consider who the best choice is for those seats. Every member of the committee has an equal vote and an equal voice.

I want a township commissioner who has their own voice and someone that will challenge processes to make Cranford a better town for its residents. I don’t want individuals who are going to default to any one person. Although the mayor runs the meetings, he has no more authority than any other member. That’s the way our form of government works and that’s how we need to approach this election. This should not be about any one person’s agenda and those running should be able to stand on their own merits and be elected based on what they have to say and how they will represent us.

We need commissioners whose only priority is serving Cranford residents, not a particular individual’s team. We need people who are invested in Cranford, individuals who are on Cranford’s team. We need Mary O’Connor and Bob D’Ambola. The only team they want to be on is yours.


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