This is what it's all been about. Tuesday we each get to exercise our right to vote, to have a say in exactly who will comprise the government we must live under, and how it will effect us. I'm not going to waste anyone's time with a last minute campaign pitch here. I'd rather talk about other issues.
Aside from our local election, we also have to choose who will work for us in our County and Federal governments. Closest to home, we have choices to make for the positions of County Clerk and County Sheriff. I am supporting Emilio Del Valle for the Clerk's position and Mario Gonzalez for County Sheriff. I urge you to do the same. Both of these men are excellent choices with terrific records of experience for the positions they are seeking.
We are also voting to decide who will represent us in the United States House of Representatives. We are very lucky to have someone as good as Theresa DeLeon willing to take on this role for us. If you don't know about Theresa, visit her website at http://www.theresadeleon.com and read for yourself. I am simply amazed at everything this woman has accomplished. I can say without any doubt that she will work hard for us in Congress.
Also on our ballots will be three important public questions. Read these questions carefully.
Question # 1 asks if we should put aside part of our current sales tax to preserve open space in our State. If we want o keep calling ourselves the Garden State, we need to preserve our parks and farmland. If we want our children to have safe drinking water, we need to preserve the delicate environments around our watersheds. This proposal gives us the ability to do that without creating any new taxes.
Question # 2 asks if we should allow the legislature to change the way people are permitted to bet on horse races. As you may know, our state brings in money are horse racing. We collect from the wagers placed on races. The State of New York also does this, and has increased their income by allowing betting on live and simulcast races from places other than the racetrack. This question would give our state the ability to legalize something similar to OTB in New York.
Question # 3 asks us to release state funds to the Counties that have debt or interest payment problems on their completed, abandoned, or failed incinerator projects. Several Counties, like ours, borrowed money for the construction of incinerators. When the United States Supreme Court ruled that they couldn't require our towns to use their facilities in a monopolistic fashion, many of these counties suffered a financial loss. Because they could not force a guaranteed audience by law, they were left to compete with other vendors of the same services. Since they couldn't beat the competition, they have asked the State to bail them out. This question would allow the state to use money already approved and collected to be given out as grants to these Counties.
None of these questions would approve any new taxes on us, and only question # 2 would generate any new income for New Jersey. To me, preserving open space and generating new income for the State are worthy goals to pursue, especially if they don't create any new taxes on me. Question # 3 might avoid an increase in the County portion of your property tax bill, or it might not. It might just encourage local governments to not worry about projects when the State will always bail them out later. Like I said, read the questions carefully and cast your vote. Amendments to our State Constitution deserve no less.
If anyone wishes to join me on Election Day or that night for my "End of Campaign" Party, stop by and visit at the Knights of Columbus. I'd love to see you.