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June
22, 2001 MainStreetsUSA, www.mainstreetsusa.com
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| Letters to
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Posted June 23, 2001
If it's not
broke, don't fix it!
Dear Editor,
While running errands
through town, I noticed campaign signs attached to the utility poles along Main
Street. To most of us, this might not seem like big deal or even a bit unusual.
After all, there's always good stuff hanging there; posted yard sales, special
weight-loss elixirs and various solicitations. However, I am somewhat perplexed
to see a candidate for Township Committee openly soliciting votes and shaping
public opinion there. After all, everybody knows, that it's illegal to post
signs on utility poles, right? Well, maybe not. However, I did read last May's
GPU bill, where there was a notice stating that "State Law prohibits the
posting of signs on any utility poles." Which undoubtedly explains why I saw
GPU pulling the signs down.
From that, I wondered, how could our
candidates do this? Then I realized that there was only one candidate that did
this and that was Mitch Geier. I only know Mitch causally; I've seen him at
township committee meetings, bumped into him around town and had a few brief
encounters. Unfortunately, if it weren't for those infamous signs, I wouldn't
have known that Mitch was running for one of the two Township Committee seats.
With that, I decided to visit his web site, as indicated on his signs.
After reading his web site, I am further dismayed and even outright
confused. Aside from the fact that the site is extremely repetitive, there
really isn't much substance there. And some of what is there is a stretch at
best. For instance, on his "who am I page", Mitch claims to "have been actively
involved in efforts to revive our dying downtown area and was instrumental in
bringing in Main Street NJ to assist with this effort". I am a member of the
Plumsted Economic Development Authority, where we have been working very hard
with Rick Bellis to apply to Main Street NJ. Geier has not "been actively
involved" and has not been "instrumental" in these endeavors. Furthermore, if
Mitch had been actively involved (as he asserts), then he certainly would not
have hung his signs from GPU's poles. GPU's co-operation is strategic to our
revitalization efforts, and our goal is to foster the big utility's willingness
to co-operate with us. Hanging those signs was counter-productive to these
ends.
On the other hand Geier makes a convincing argument to vote for
the incumbents (Francis and Roberts), on his web site Geier states: "The
Township Committee has done a fine job… I found a community that would
provide us with an excellent quality of life… I am not running against
anyone… I signed the petition of the other two candidates (Francis and
Roberts)… The current administration has done a fine job."
So, if
it's not broke, don't fix it. Mitch Geier has convinced me to vote for Francis
and Roberts on Tuedsay, June 26th.
Sincerely, Vince Lotito
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Posted June 25, 2001
mainstreet.com
-- Hosting Site of the "Official Plumsted Township [Web] Site ?"
I felt
I had to respond to Vince's letter that appeared on this Web Site - that also
hosts our "Official Plumsted Township [Web] Site." I find it disturbing that
this was posted on Sunday, immediately before the election. If these are truly
issues for anyone, they should have been addressed during the months of the
campaign season, rather than as a last minute attack by people who are so
closely tied to the current administration and the incumbents.
Vince
(who wrote the "letter to the editor") is the co-owner/administrator of our
"Official Plumsted Township Site." I find it inappropriate that he would send a
"Letter to the Editor" (when he is in effect the editor) in what is actually an
editorial inappropriately linked to on our Township Web Site's. He is also
hosting a site with generous links to our Township Site, the incumbents'
advertisement via a "VOTE" link, and to the incumbents' partisan information.
As Vince's Web Site hosts our Official Township Web Site, he is a vendor who
has a vested interest in keeping our current administration and the incumbents
happy.
I feel compelled to note that the use of an Official Township
Web Site to provide (links to) endorsements, advertisements, and a "letter to
the editor" (that is actually an editorial written by a biased party) is quite
simply unethical at best, and possibly illegal. The Asbury Park Press has
already brought attention to this issue in a recent article, and our Township
Administration has refused to remove the partisan election focused content. Our
School Administrator, on the other hand, when notified on the same links on
their Web site, acknowledged the links as inappropriate and pledged to have
them removed immediately.
I have promised to run a positive campaign
and the only way I could respond to Vince's letter would be to point out the
facts. This would amount to bashing incumbents and I have no intention of
participating in a negative campaign. I am a grassroots focused candidate. I
invite anyone who is interested in discussing these issues with me, to call me
directly at 609-758-1111. If you prefer, feel free to e-mail me at
mg@mitchgeier.com.
I encourage everyone to get out and vote this
Tuesday. Of course, I ask that you vote for me. Regardless, please come out and
vote. Your vote does make a difference!
Very truly yours,
Mitch
Geier
Candidate
Plumsted Township Committee
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Posted Monday, June 25,
2001
Geier vs. Reality
Mitch Geier is getting a lot of
mileage out of his claims about Plumsted web site links. He's even gotten press
with the Asbury Park Press, and in Mainstreets USA, "mainstreet.com -- Hosting
Site of the 'Official Plumsted Township [Web] Site ?'"
"I feel
compelled to note that the use of an Official Township Web Site to provide
(links to) endorsements, advertisements... is quite simply unethical at best,
and possibly illegal." states Geier
Generally, Geier's facts where
never challenged. Geier's chronic inaccuracy and his lack of accountability,
wouldn't be a problem if Geier where some cranky entertainer. But Geier might
be taken "seriously" by serious voters. As members of the township, we have an
obligation to challenge a candidates brand of political hysteria. Someone who
is trying to amass a powerful political following through the regular use of
half-truth and distortion is begging for tough voter scrutiny. With that said,
lets address his kind of sloppiness, ignorance and/or possibly
fabrication.
Geier
"...that the use of an Official
Township Web Site to provide (links to) endorsements, advertisements... is
quite simply unethical at best, and possibly illegal." "He is also hosting a
site with generous links to our Township Site, the incumbents' advertisement
via a "VOTE" link, and to the incumbents partisan information.
Reality
MainStreetsUSA web site follows the format of
the official Ocean County government web site in having political info on all
parties/candidates involved and providing links to all. Mitch didn't approach
MainStreetsUSA about website links until late Sunday evening. When he did,
Geier was offered the same opportunities to link to his web sites and the
opportunity to post his commentary. When it arrived it was posted immediately.
Geier
"As Vince's Web Site hosts our Official Township
Web Site, he is a vendor who has a vested interest in keeping our current
administration and the incumbents happy."
Reality
MainStreetUSA and/or any associates are not paid any fees for
Township sites, main sites, advertisements, and links to his and incumbents
partisan information. We are not a vendor... and the only vested interest that
we have is to the community.
Geier
"the only way I could
respond to Vince's letter would be to point out the facts. This would amount to
bashing incumbents.."
Reality
Simply put, Geier cannot
dispute any of the facts.
Vince Lotito |
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