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To the Editor, Asbury Park Sun:

I am writing to you to join me and my family in supporting Joe Grillo, Carritta Cook, and Wendi Glassman for the Asbury Park School Board.

I don’t need to tell you how important this election is for our country and our community. I am a Deacon at Second Baptist Church, and proud Democratic leader here on the West side.  I’ve lived here for sixty nine years of my life. My love for this community is unquestioned.

I am in support of the “Moving Ahead Together” ticket based on personally having worked with Mr. Grillo on many projects. He has supported my church’s Community Events for the past five years both by way of financial donation and voter registration. His work as head of the Asbury Park Democrats has made the A.P. Dems one of the leading Democratic organizations in the state. He is one of the co-founders of the Asbury Park Dinner Table which distributed over 70,000 meals this summer to local families. This was done in cooperation with three west side black churches and the Boys and Girls Club.

To his opponents who seek to slander his name and tarnish his reputation; where were you in this hour of need? You carry the slogan “Children First”. But how many children did you feed? How many restaurant employees, black, Hispanic and white did keep employed in the 21^st centuries darkest hour? Under Grillo’s leadership over $200,000.00 was raised for the effort. Did any of you even contribute $5?

Their campaign is slandering Asbury Park School Board member Joe Grillo and defaming his running mates while also attacking my sister Ms. Dianna Harris, a woman of impeccable character who is running for Neptune school board.

He deserves to be re-elected along with his running mates, Carritta Cook and Wendi Glassman. Ms. Glassman is the fourth generation of her family to live in Asbury Park. Her great-grandparents and grandparents owned Westside Drugs and Liquor on Atkins and Springwood Aves. She has a background in finance and education which would serve the school board well. Ms. Cook is a medical professional whose son attends Bradley Elementary. She will be a steady and calm voice for parents in the district.

These are the leaders our babies need right now.

We are sick and tired of the lies and the politics of personal destruction — whether it comes from the White House or from folks right here in Asbury Park who claim to be “from the community.”

We deserve better.

Vote Carritta Cook, Joe Grillo, and Wendi Glassman for Asbury Park School Board — columns 1, 2, and 4 on your ballot under Asbury Park School Election.

Daniel Harris

Asbury Park 

[This letter represents the opinion of its writer and is not representative of any opinion of the Asbury Park Sun staff. All readers are welcome to submit Letters to the Editor to news@asburyparksun.com for our consideration. For guidelines on letter-writing and submission, click here.]

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