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Editor, the Asbury Park Sun,

This is certainly one of the most important elections in our city’s 140 year history. Last year our citizens spoke and demanded a break from the past and to adopt a new form of government that would seek to shed the dysfunction that has long-held Asbury Park back. Last week’s mayoral and council debates were well-attended and passionate. It’s great to see so many participating in the political process. That being said, I’m dismayed by the actions that the A-Team slate has shown throughout the campaign.

Firstly, their abuse of the spirit of messenger ballots should be carefully scrutinized. When candidates pay people to act as messengers, picking ballots up in Freehold, bringing them to people’s houses, and then returning them, it increases the potential for the subversion of the electoral process and the likelihood of influencing people’s votes is great. The A-Team, for the second election in a row, knows that their merits alone won’t get them elected, so their only way to power is to cheat their way into office.

Secondly, they’re breaking the law. Election law mandates candidates file a detailed report about their campaign finances within 29 days of the election. Asbury Together made the deadline and filed on Oct. 6. The A-Team for council finally submitted their paperwork on Oct. 22, 16 days late. Their board of education candidates still have not filed their paperwork. To me, it seems like the A-Team does not want a detailed record of their campaign expenditures, and more importantly a list of their donors, on the public record.

Thirdly, and most disturbingly, were statements that the A-Team made at the debate. In one breath the A-Team claims that they want to “heal the divide” between the east and west sides and in the other they make statements about wanting to “take the town back” and discouraging “outsiders.” Disgustingly they also claim that Asbury Together candidates Jesse Kendle and Yvonne Clayton are traitors to the African American community by running on the Asbury Together ticket. There is so much wrong with that offensive sentiment, and it glosses over the fact that Kendle and Clayton are two very passionate people who have deep roots in the community and a thorough understanding of the issues that plague the entire city. I’ve heard a lot of fire and brimstone from the A-Team, but not a lot of action items. The foundation of their campaign seems to rely upon stirring up hatred for people who don’t look like them and offering vague platitudes. I wasn’t impressed.

To me, it seems that A-Team believes ethics, laws, and unity are concepts that don’t apply to them. They represent everything that has been so bad about Asbury politics.

Voting for Asbury Together sends a message that you want to keep moving forward, to increase the quality of life for the entire town, and to continue the momentum of recovery that Asbury Park currently enjoys.

— Ben Ruset, 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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