This past New Years Day Hanover Township re-organized it’s municipal government and a new mayor and deputy mayor have been appointed by the five person Committee. It didn’t take long before the riff in that Committee to grew wider.

 

Each year we politicians throw about words like ‘harmony’, ‘cooperation’, ‘working together’, along with so many other promises of ‘political peace making.’ But, what is not being understood is that the process requires the participation all – us and them. Then it becomes ‘we.’  

 

The majority decisions of our Township Committee that elected a fellow member of the Committee to be mayor and not others, left the unchosen to push farther away from being the ‘team’ they promised to be. It was clearly demonstrated in an unnecessary public floor fight for these offices and some appointments before hundreds of our citizens. I remind us that appointments to boards are not exclusively based on experience – although it plays an important role. Effectiveness and the ability to move issues  forward in a positive manner is a significant part of the choice.

 

Now that it is over and the successors chosen, news papers are getting their usual biased press releases. Web sites are now getting a rash of ‘anonymous’ postings criticizing the new leadership.  And, the threats from those in the minority that ‘this will continue’ – continues to continue. Not good.

 

The Daily Record loves it as does the Hanover Eagle, it sells newspapers (maybe), but serves no purposeto advance good government in Hanover - only hopes to serve the personal agenda of a few and alienates the rest of our communities needs.  

 

So let’s go over this American democracy thing that we fight and die for, one more time. 

 

We seem to forget how well it works – yet it’s so simple. The voice of the people speaks through the election process and the will of those representing the people speaks through majority. What is the majority? The majority is that which has more people of the same opinion.  And, until the minority becomes the majority via the election process, the minority should make an extra effort to have their points known, as to change the minds of the majority and move the process forward – not obstruct it. Whew, did I say that right?

 

If this riff continues, mostly resolvable personality issues in my opinion, Hanover becomes the beneficiary of a government that stalls at the worst possible economic time and we, the people, suffer. It is imperative for those on our Township Committee who have personality differences, to set them aside, support the majority and focus upon the job at hand – moving Hanover forward.

 

I remind our Committee, as I have been reminded in the past, that you all have an equal vote and afterwards the majority prevails. That’s why you’re five people, not four or six.

 

Working to discredit others and undermining the process, rather than applying that energy for Hanover is non-productive and those responsible should not hold office.

 

Now some would take exception to my remarks here and say ‘Francioli, it is the minority that challenges the establishment to greater heights, that’s why we have a two party system’ and you would be right. As long as those greater heights are related to solving Hanover’s matters and improving government- not egos.

 

Ron