Dem chairman takes exception with post-election remarks

As chairman of the Middletown Democratic Party and the person responsible for the conduct and strategy of the 2001 election campaign of Beverly Bova-Scarano and Alex DeSevo for Middletown Township Committee, I must take exception to post-election remarks attributed to the Republican winners in that race, Mayor Joan Smith and Committeeman Rick Brodsky, wherein in an area newspaper they charged the Democrats had waged "a negative campaign" that was "ruthless and dishonest."

I am obliged to point out every issue raised and every assertion made against the all-Republican administration in Middletown and its candidates were based in fact. At no time during the long campaign did either Smith or Brodsky successfully refute a single claim made by Democratic candidates Bova-Scarano and DeSevo. However, in order to settle this bone of contention, I hereby invite Smith and Brodsky to debate me personally at a time and place agreeable to both sides. Maybe then they will at last give a full accounting of their respective conflicts of interest to the people of Middletown Township, since they failed to do so during their most recent bid for re-election.

At a time when the rest of the nation seeks unity, it is unfortunate Middletown Republicans Smith and Brodsky have chosen to follow the poor example of their party’s vanquished candidate for New Jersey governor in being less than gracious after the votes are counted. In Bret Schundler’s case, he was miffed while being trounced by Gov.-elect Jim McGreevey. In Middletown, on the other hand, we have reached a new low with victorious Republicans spewing sour grapes as well.

Joseph Caliendo

Chairman, Middletown

Democratic Party