The Decision to Run and the Challenges Ahead
I knew that by throwing my hat in the ring and running for office things were going to get ugly. As I have stated many times, I don’t have anything to hide. I anticipated that if my opponents lacked real dirt, they’d fabricate it. I can take the hits; sticks and stones, after all. But what I didn’t expect was how this would touch my family, especially my daughter.
How It All Began
My journey into politics started innocently. At 11, my daughter asked, “Where do roads come from?” Curious, I brought her to a Township Council meeting to show her how local government works. I had zero interest in politics then, and still dislike it intensely. Yet, she became fascinated, dragging me to Planning Board sessions and Zoning Board hearings. She memorized board members’ names, pointing them out around town, amazed they were just regular folks like us, not celebrities. Though the Mayor wasn’t at those meetings, she knew who he was, his name, his job, his face. I taught her to respect the position. We may have a difference of opinion on things in town, but he is still the Mayor. I still have the picture of the first time she got to have her picture taken with him and remember the excitement that gave her.
The Unforeseen Impact on My Family
Fast forward to 2025, she is 16. This was the part I was not prepared for. I don’t show her any of the hate mail and don’t talk about it with her. We have much better things to talk about than spending energy on these negative things. However, picking her up from school and her letting me know yet another flyer was mailed out saying untrue things about me, just kills me. The first time she brought it up I asked how she knew. She says all her friends send her texts with her dad’s face on it. She has a teacher that talk about it and other kids in school will say things. Now her question has gone from “where do roads come from” to “Why would the Mayor mail things like this”? What she sees is the man she was once so happy to be able to take a picture with is now lying about her dad.
*Note that she is fully aware and on-board with my sharing of this story.
Explaining the Opposition’s Tactics
This gives me the chance to teach her another lesson. I’ve explained that the opposition is spreading disparaging messages—via texts, lawn signs, and postcards to our neighbors, friends, and family. These are aimed at damaging my reputation, threatening my livelihood, and undermining my support. Their goal, I believe, is to ensure the election of someone tied to the company our town rejected selling the sewer to in 2024. It’s an attempt to sway her friends’ parents against me, all to maintain power and control.
The Deeper “Why” and “How”
The “why” is tough for her to grasp. The vast reach of what I see as a political machine, manipulating to stay in control, is hard for anyone to fathom. The “how” baffles me too. I can’t comprehend how those behind this sleep at night. If you have insight, I’d welcome it. For now, I’m focused on turning these challenges into a stronger community voice—something we all deserve.
