From Bill Hobday
From: Bill Hobday
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 9:15 PM
Subject: Election of Candidates for the Lakewood Township Committee
Residents,
There has been a flurry of email and telephone calls regarding the endorsement by the Va’ad for Steven Langert and Raymond Coles. I do want to be upfront and fair about everything, and therefore I will pass along the notes that went around on the subject for you to review.
Keep in mind, that candidates for The Lakewood Township Committee want and need your vote in order to be successful. These are the candidates closest to your governing body that will have the greatest and closest impact on you and your quality of life and the value of your home. This is the reason that I singled out Hal Halvorsen and Moshe Raitzik as the two candidates for Township Committee that I support for those two positions.
I see that the Va’ad endorsed the incumbents, Steven Langert and Ray Coles and candidates for all of the other positions. This occurred after I had released my endorsements. I had no previous knowledge of their endorsements, but I am not surprised that the Va’ad made a full range of endorsements, as is their right as well as my right to do so. However, this is not the point. The other political positions do not affect our day-to-day quality of life issues nearly as much as the Township Committee does. Local government is where change needs to start, and in my opinion, Hal and Moshe are the people that can and will supply the change. Read on…
From Marta Harrison.
The Va'ad endorsed Singer, Keane, Rible and Vicari as well. I believe you would be providing a more accurate overview if you included that information. If you believe that a candidate gets the endorsement by promising something in return, your readers should know that about Singer, Keane, Rible and Vicari as well. Otherwise it seems like it's only a problem to accept the Va'ad endorsement when you and the Va'ad disagree.
Marta Harrison
-----
From Bill Hobday
Marta, can you get me a copy of the endorsement today? Bill Hobday
-----
From Bill Hobday
Hershel, can you verify or debunk this note from Marta? Bill Hobday
-----
From Marta Harrison
Bill, here it is. http://thelakewoodview.com/local-news/the-vadd-election-notice Marta Harrison
-----
From Hershel Herskovits
Bill, what she writes is definitely true, and she has a great point there. Singer has been begging the Vaad for votes and promising to do anything for them. He does the same thing with the seniors to a lesser degree. The problem is he has never followed through with anything that helps the entire town. The promises he made the Vaad have the potential to further destroy the quality of life that brought us to live here.
Steve Morlino and the democratic assemblymen are chomping at the bit to prove that they can bring good things to Lakewood.
As Democrats in a republican governed state they will have great bargaining power in Trenton, and be able to serve our community as a whole, since they are not beholden to any one special interest. Bob Singer behaves like an unfaithful husband to the senior community. He cheats with the Vaad, you guys get upset, he promises he will be good, and you guys forgive him.
I can assure you that whatever good Bob brings to the senior communities, Steve Morlino with Kleinhandler would do the same, without the hefty price tag of allowing our town to be overbuilt, and neglected, at the same time. If you could help at least show Singer our dissatisfaction with him, it could help prevent him, and his backers, the Vaad, from further ruining this town for their own self interest. Thanks, Hershel
-----
From Moshe Raitzik
Bill, I thank you for your endorsement. As I, like Hal, do not have the VAAD's backing, I am therefore the only candidate who loses out if the senior communities do bullet voting for Hal. Please pass this message along for everyone to consider before heading to the polls. Moshe Raitzik
-----
From Moshe Raitzik
Hi again, Bill. I just want to make it completely clear that I hope to win this election together with my running mate, Ray Coles, in specific. There is a reason that I am running with Ray, and that is because I find him to be a man with integrity and morals. When election days arrive, I do not vote for candidates based on external factors, but rather for who they are on the inside, and what they stand for. My opinion of Ray did not change due to him getting the VAAD endorsement! I was with him when the meeting with the VAAD took place, and it was all above board. Ray made no 'deals' to get endorsed, and neither did I in my attempt to get the nod. I can work with anyone who is running, should another candidate win with me, but I want to be on the Township Committee with Ray, as I feel that together we can do the most good for Lakewood. Bill, please pass this along together with my previous message. Thank you very much. Moshe Raitzik
-----
From Bill Hobday
And there you have it. The new information has not altered my opinion or my endorsements. I publish my documents to nearly 2,000 residents, but it was difficult for me to find the endorsement by the Va’ad, or perhaps I did not know where to find it. I would speculate that very few of you saw it, but then again it was not published for your benefit.
I note that these statements were all political in nature, and slanted toward a single party. In Lakewood, party affiliation is important, but nearly as important as the individuals that we elect to represent us. I have made it a point to not make negative statements about any candidate. I simply endorse the candidates of my choice. I hesitated about publishing some of the commentary, but decided to lay it all out for you to read and assess the messages for yourself.
Bill Hobday
From: Bill Hobday
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 9:15 PM
Subject: Election of Candidates for the Lakewood Township Committee
General Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2011.
From Bill Hobday
I believe that all of the candidates are good; however, it is our duty as citizens to seek out the best candidates to represent us in government. After careful consideration, my recommendation and endorsement for candidates is as follows:
Robert Singer [1A] STATE SENATE The best for Lakewood.
Sean Kean [2A] GENERAL ASSEMBLY A well respected Senator that chose to not challenge Bob for the senate seat. Sean is seeking a seat on the General Assembly.
Howard Kleinhendler [2B] GENERAL ASSEMBLY A Lakewood resident that knows the issues and will represent us well.
Joe Vicari [4A] BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS The best for the job and he does a good job. Joe has no real opposition.
Harold “Hal” Halvorsen [6A] TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE Brings management skills, integrity, and practical ideas to the Township. Hal will make a positive difference
Moshe Raitzik [6B] TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE New comer. Young and willing to work hard and smart. Moshe is not a go-along to get-along candidate.
PUBLIC QUESTION [YES] A new source of revenue.
----- Bill Hobday
-----
As you can see, Lakewood residents are all not entirely focusing on electing the two best candidates for the Township Committee. Since I published my last newsletter, the Lakewood VAAD has endorsed Steven Langert and Raymond Coles. When the VAAD endorses candidates, in my opinion, they want something in return. Candidates that accept the endorsement know that a large percentage of Lakewood residents will vote for them, based on the endorsement. However, this endorsement from the VAAD no longer commands overwhelming approval or compliance. If Seniors and other likeminded people voted together, as a block, we would gain the edge of an advantage. Please help Hal and Moshe help us. The election will make a difference in how Lakewood Township is governed.
Hal Halvorsen is a highly respected manager and concept person. There is no senior on the Township Committee. We really need Hal Halvorsen to fill that void. Hal is committed to all Lakewood residents, and has made no agreement to any special interests.
Moshe Raitzik is a highly respected teacher at a Lakewood Yeshiva. Moshe works hard and smart, and would make an enormous positive impact on the Governing Body, because he is honest and fair to all. Moshe is committed to all Lakewood residents, and has made no agreement to any special interests.
For these reasons, I ask you to please come out to vote on Tuesday, and please keep in mind that a vote for Hal and Moshe will replace one Republican and one Democrat. This is the beginning of a more stable and fair governing body. I have included opinions from some others, so that you have the advantage of seeing the diverse opinions. Bill Hobday
-----
From Hal Halvorsen
Hi,
I believe you are all familiar with the Vaad. The Vaad came out strongly yesterday in several publications and on-line newspapers endorsing Ray Coles and Steven Langert for Township Committee. We thought the Vaad would support Coles, but we were hoping for a low key endorsement. Although I meet with the Vaad at 10:00 PM last Saturday night. I could tell by their reaction they wanted no part of me. Being a Senior, from a Senior community could be a problem for them. A Senior is not looking to build a career, doesn't have any kids in a private school, so where is their leverage? My chances now of winning have drastically changed. It was mentioned at the last Men's Club meeting bullet voting. Bullet voting is voting for one person only, although there are two positions to be voted on. Not sure how much this will affect the outcome, but it can't hurt. For those of you who are interested, it would be helpful if you could spread the word, via e-mails. Not sure if anything can be done in other senior Communities. It is interesting to note, while I was in some of the other Communities and had the opportunity to meet some of people one on one and explain there has never been a Senior on the Township Committee always produced a positive yes" I will vote for you" Maybe we could make this a World Affairs meeting, what happens in Lakewood is not like any other place. Thanks for your help and interest. Hal
-----
From Pat Serpico
As seniors, we have a unique opportunity to get one of our own, a senior with interests similar to all other seniors, on the Township Committee. I urge you to vote this coming Tuesday for ONLY HAL HALVORSEN for Township Committee. A vote for any of the others who are on the ballot (Langert / Coles) will minimize Hal's opportunity to be elected.
It would be very helpful to get an all out vote from the other senior communities in Lakewood by contacting friends and relatives in those communities to come out and vote and have them in turn send a broadcast to their community members. It is important that we set party affiliation aside and vote for a highly qualified resident of a "senior community" in this election. Pat
-----
From Hershel Herskowitz
We finally have a real opportunity to rid ourselves of the political network that has been taking advantage, and overlooking the best interests of our wonderful city. Please vote for the entire Democratic ticket. Party affiliation is meaningless if the party is led by self serving corrupt individuals such as Singer and Langert. Please tell 10 of your friends to tell 10 of their friends to vote for the Democrats and vote these bums out once and for all. Let's start a Ponzi scheme for something good. There is a famous joke about Lakewood. Why is Lakewood like a bathroom? You don't go to Lakewood because you want to go, you because you have to. Let's work together to make Lakewood a place we can be proud of. But first we need to do a little clean up. Please forward to ten friends not in common with the sender. Sincerely, Hershe
