Hazlet Day 2004
The Middle Road
By Rich Kohler
Some political leaders in Hazlet have conducted themselves in accordance with the belief that some rules were made to be broken.
Hazlet Township has several ordinances that specify the rules under which all political campaigns must operate. For example, one ordinance governs the use, placement, size, and removal of those inevitable and unsightly campaign signs throughout our community.
Since I moved back to Hazlet in 2001, I have spotted many violations of the intention of these laws, but the offending actions were usually subtle and/or promptly remedied.
Hazlet Day is a casual occasion, at which residents and neighbors gather to enjoy and celebrate our fine community.
The Hazlet Recreation Commission did an outstanding job organizing this year’s traditional Hazlet Day festival. The addition of a parade was a big hit with residents. Bands, clowns, local organizations, clubs, and students all joined to march down Middle Road from Route 36 to Veterans Park, where the rest of the festivities took place.
Hazlet Day is also an important, yet relaxed, opportunity for the average citizen to meet and talk with our current and prospective elected officials
Because the annual celebration draws an impressive crowd and takes place one month before Election Day, it is an enticing chance for our local politicians to campaign.
Several years ago, in an effort to prevent this community event from becoming an unabashed venue for political campaigns, the recreation commission asked that each political party limit overt politicking to respectively assigned “booths”.
Leaders from both parties have traditionally abided by the commission’s long-standing request.
Even though the parade was clearly an extension of the Hazlet Day festivities, there was plenty of politicking along the parade route.
Managing a campaign is all about taking advantage of every opportunity to get the attention of as many voters as possible, so I did not take much notice of the inoffensive efforts by both parties to make their candidates visible during Hazlet Day.
I initially felt no urge to cry foul, but then I heard several people offhandedly cite the opposing political party’s actions as justification for their own less-than-honorable electioneering practices.
Blaming others for one’s own questionable conduct is not a productive approach to improving the quality of life in our community. Deliberate dismissal of accountability is no way to approach any situation, let alone a political career.
The political integrity vacuum might be starting to suck in some of Hazlet’s most promising politicians.
Dirty campaigns result in dirty elections. When party leaders do not maintain a clean campaign strategy, they compromise the character of their own candidates.
I would rather focus my column on ideas for smart community growth, but some of the politicians to whom I spoke this weekend were surprisingly more interested in cleverly growing their own power.
I have a better cliché for guiding political conduct: Two wrongs don’t make a right.
By Rich Kohler
Some political leaders in Hazlet have conducted themselves in accordance with the belief that some rules were made to be broken.
Hazlet Township has several ordinances that specify the rules under which all political campaigns must operate. For example, one ordinance governs the use, placement, size, and removal of those inevitable and unsightly campaign signs throughout our community.
Since I moved back to Hazlet in 2001, I have spotted many violations of the intention of these laws, but the offending actions were usually subtle and/or promptly remedied.
Hazlet Day is a casual occasion, at which residents and neighbors gather to enjoy and celebrate our fine community.
The Hazlet Recreation Commission did an outstanding job organizing this year’s traditional Hazlet Day festival. The addition of a parade was a big hit with residents. Bands, clowns, local organizations, clubs, and students all joined to march down Middle Road from Route 36 to Veterans Park, where the rest of the festivities took place.
Hazlet Day is also an important, yet relaxed, opportunity for the average citizen to meet and talk with our current and prospective elected officials
Because the annual celebration draws an impressive crowd and takes place one month before Election Day, it is an enticing chance for our local politicians to campaign.
Several years ago, in an effort to prevent this community event from becoming an unabashed venue for political campaigns, the recreation commission asked that each political party limit overt politicking to respectively assigned “booths”.
Leaders from both parties have traditionally abided by the commission’s long-standing request.
Even though the parade was clearly an extension of the Hazlet Day festivities, there was plenty of politicking along the parade route.
Managing a campaign is all about taking advantage of every opportunity to get the attention of as many voters as possible, so I did not take much notice of the inoffensive efforts by both parties to make their candidates visible during Hazlet Day.
I initially felt no urge to cry foul, but then I heard several people offhandedly cite the opposing political party’s actions as justification for their own less-than-honorable electioneering practices.
Blaming others for one’s own questionable conduct is not a productive approach to improving the quality of life in our community. Deliberate dismissal of accountability is no way to approach any situation, let alone a political career.
The political integrity vacuum might be starting to suck in some of Hazlet’s most promising politicians.
Dirty campaigns result in dirty elections. When party leaders do not maintain a clean campaign strategy, they compromise the character of their own candidates.
I would rather focus my column on ideas for smart community growth, but some of the politicians to whom I spoke this weekend were surprisingly more interested in cleverly growing their own power.
I have a better cliché for guiding political conduct: Two wrongs don’t make a right.
posted by Rich Kohler at 6:45 PM
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