Why I'm voting for Rinker

I am a 29-year Vernon resident and have served on two of the municipality’s most important governing bodies — the Board of Education and Town Council. Because for the past three years I have worked for the people of New Jersey as an Assistant Director in the Department of Labor & Workforce Development, I purposely limited my active involvement in local politics. However, I have stayed abreast of local issues. I have become more and more disturbed over what appears to be a significant lack of effective and efficient management, plus a gross mismanagement of tax dollars, by our township’s governing body. That concern led me to take a close look at/do a detailed review of the candidates for Town Council to determine if any offered the possibility of something other than more of the same poor, political driven mismanagement we have today. I researched their voting records, civic/business backgrounds and experiences, positions they have taken on key issues, as reflected on their Web sites and in their literature and public statements, and I had discussions with a variety of my fellow citizens of all political persuasions. I found one candidate who fit the bill: Independent candidate Sally Rinker. After talking with Sally, three things really impressed me: 1. Her ability to bring together a diverse group and build a consensus. This is a key reason Sally is strongly supported by a large group of Vernon’s registered Democrat, Republican and undeclared voters. 2. Her business judgment and experience. For the past 25 years, Sally has successfully operated a custom passive solar home building business in Vernon. I am also pleased and impressed that she has made it a practice to hire local contractors and buy business supplies locally. 3. Sally strikes me as a positive, progressive, business-minded person who will listen to others’ points of view, but will not be intimidated. We in Vernon Township can no longer allow a seat on our town council to be used as an ego payoff for political party loyalty. I won’t, and that’s why I am supporting Sally Rinker. Howard L. Burrell Vernon