I'm voting for Glover because Malool did a terrific job helping me resolve an issue I was having with the town and I don't like how she was thrown under the bus, despite how it's being spun now. Nevertheless, and with all due respect for the great work you did here, Holden, none of this jumps out at me as being particularly troubling. (I'm even inclined to agree with her regarding the water main break.) To put it differently, even if Marks is calling the shots, are the shots any better or worse than the alternative? Now would be a good time for Glover to step forward and define how he'll do things differently. DePaolo came to my house a few Saturdays ago and followed it up with a mailing, but unless I was out, Glover hasn't. Yet his party has a huge hurdle in town: for the 50 years from the end of WW1 to the 60's, the town was overwhelmingly Republican, by a 2-to-1 margin at times. After slowly gaining seats in the late ‘60’s, the Dems finally won a majority on the council (right after it changed from a Township Committee in '72) from 1974-1978, but we were a very different town back then so you can’t judge their performance now. (continued)

. In 1978 the GOP took over again and basically owned the council for 20 years, since the only Dems who won in the 80's were Spatola and Boright in '85, and Spatola turned Republican in '87 before becoming a judge at the end of the decade. From '88 to '98 the GOP again had a lock on the council until the '98 surprise sweep of Donatelli, Samuel and Bromley, but this only lasted 10 months, since Republican Rossi was elected to fill the spot opened by Donatelli's passing. In 2000 Coronato's win cemented the GOP's power, the mayorship was divested from the council, and Marks became mayor. Rossi, Malool, and Sorge's wins gave the GOP total control again in 2002 and that lasted till Glover and Strauss came in as a minority in 2006. The rest I'm sure everyone knows. The point being, there’s little here that clearly shows the difference between the vision of SP the competing parties have. And that’s not your job to articulate, it’s theirs. I know the Dems read this, so have at it.

Oh, and my ears seal shut when either party raises the issues of “high taxes” or “open government.” The Dems claimed their ’98 win was due to those, and then the GOP gave the exact same reasons for their takeback in 2000. Let’s hear a new song.

As a Republican what is truly sad is that, at a time when the party as a whole needs to be rebuilt if only to serve as a check on Democratic dominance on the state and county levels (and to propertly represent suburban interests too often ignored), this simply serves to remind those who might otherwise be inclined to vote Republican of the notion that there is no true difference between the two parties in terms of who they ultimately serve.

And there is a certain amount of irony in the fact that, as a Fanwood resident, I almost have to root for Mr. Glover's alliance with Mayor Mahr to win out over the SP Republicans and what I have seen them do over the fifteen years of my second go-around in this area.

Yes maybe she was thrown under the bus by her party but she did not help matters along the way. She changed from when elected to when she left.

Look Holden, Because I try to look at things with an open mind, I don't like being put in a position to have to defend people and the truth is your three part letter is chock full of inaccuracies and misinformation.
Most of these you mention items have been written about and answered by myself and other in the comment section of many of the Patch stories. Since you mention the ad nauseum even when corrected let's rehash, the comments you continue to skew from Mrs DePaola.
1) "I think citizens should pay for stickers," Councilwoman Mary DePaola said. Instead of paying for a sticker, it was proposed that solicitors be required to buy the list. "It's fine," DePaola responded, "as long as someone is being charged."
Of course you already know these comments are in reference to taxpayers footing the bill to set up a system stop solicitors from knocking on doors. Some people may not mind kids selling candy knocking on the front door and helping their cause. Who would want the town pay for whatever system invented just so people don't door knock? To paraphrase what she said so it's more clear for you "Wouldn't it make sense that someone other then the taxpers pay for it?" Mrs DePaola showed that she wouldn't spend money on something as it turns out solicitors now pay for.

3) As for the water main break - Holden you know full well Mrs DePaola was out of town on vacation at the time. The water main was old and nothing you or I say or do could change the fact that it gave way. What Mr Glover did was get some face time in an election year at a time people felt vunerable. I find that disgusting. Also, who in their right mind would sign a document from anyone without speaking to a lawyer or their insurance company first?
Holden you used to have retorts that gave people a chuckle and more then not some keen observations. Where's that guy? It's obvious from your letter you're either Kevin Glover or the Dem Committee's puppet

Every assertion made by Holden is backed up by a link that proves his point. I am no fan of Kevin Glover as I think both he and Mr. Vastine have egos that cannot be contained in a room the size of the council chambers. They are both big bags of wind. However, Ms. DePaola as Mayor will be a surrogate for the old Republican leadership. If she ever had an original idea, it would die of loneliness.

Holden,
1) comments out of context
2) open to interpretation
3) If Glover wasn't doing this for votes where was he during the "Irene" storm when people were without power and homes were damaged? Where was he during the snow storm last Halloween when many were again without power for days as well?
I can tell you he wasn't walking the power affected neighborhoods, it was too far from election day.

I'm Holden MaGroin and this is for tired. Hoo boy is there a lot of writing problems on the Patch.
When shown your own words claiming to be a life long republican...it's a typo.
Now DePaola's own words with links to show the context are categorized as out of context and open to interpretation by you.
She has claimed her faux paus was sarcasm, even when the reporter stood by his story.
Another apologist said she uses hyperbole.

My, my, we are going to need either Daniel Webster or one of those interpreters at every council meeting if she wins the election.

That's ok, I see you asking those who disagree with you if they are working for beckerman, but I won't ask you the same about Marks.

I'll just keep posting links to the articles and let the people decide.

Yes I'm a liar, you caught me I'm a needy "R" out here to bring you and the big Glover down, that's obviously my agenda (insert sarcastic eye roll here) I comment on a wide variety of issues. Usually I speak out about taxing and spending, Raising our taxes, increased spending, wasteful spending, that's my hot button. I think your such a good user searcher you could find out if that's true in a few seconds. Asise from snarky comments thats pretty much all I comment on. I mention Lou Beckermann because YOU never do. I wouldn't know LB if I bumped into him at CVS.
You know I'm starting to notice the cadence in your messages isn't even the same. I'm going to go on a limb and suggest one person doesn't access your account but mutilpe personalities. Tomorrow when you get your orders for the day from Glover ask him why he wasn't out during hurricane Irene and the Halloween snow storm. Maybe you can let us know where he was as there was a disaster happening and his face didn't get any press.
Yes Holden, you caught me I'm Marty in disguise. I'm an "R", I'm whatever you say I am because after all your the smartest guy in the room..... who's named after touching his neather area.

I'm Holden MaGroin and this is for my independent friend who may be about to have an aneurysm explode. Same cadence. One person, no orders from anyone. I see you are very concerned with taxes and your independence from your comment on the fundraiser at mirabellas home yesterday.
With all the wasteful spending by our democrat freeholders and you ask menendez what hair color he uses?
Gheesh.
Search in the Patch box "Holden" and "peckerman". I think you will find I've mentioned him once or twice. (now I get to roll my eyes).

Yea groin, I am your "I" friend and you are obviously a "D" with an agenda moved to write an anti "R" diatribe two weeks before the election. Do you think your old so called neutral posture still stands? I just call 'em as I see 'em. Oh and that Mendez comment that would be one of the afore mentioned "snarky comments" I refered to.

Sounds like those of us who live in Fanwood should consider ourselves VERY lucky.

Holden, I mean John, is that you?

I'm Holden MaGroin and this is for unbelievable.
I'm not sure who you mean by John.
I'll confess, I go by "Ed" but if a Patch reporter calls me to verify it, I'll deny it.

http://scotchplains.patch.com/users/edward-saridaki/comments

Just a point of Parliamentary Procedure. I think Tired was right, Glover was not around for Irene or the Halloween storm. But then again neither was Malool, Vastine, DePaola, or Marcus. And I understand that DePaola was on vacation and could not attend. But she said she would have been there if she was home. Tired, do you find that statement disgusting that she would have been there too if she were at home?

Also one other comment on Glover's health care. I don't think part timers and volunteers for the town should get healthcare. But this benefit has been in place for eons. This benefit was enjoyed by every council person probably since the beginning of time. Both Democrats and Republicans enjoyed this benefit. That being Marks, Malool, Samuel, Schmidt, Pappen, and all the rest. I am glad that the town eliminated the benefit. But I am glad it was grandfathered in. I think it is unfair to any employee to take away something mid stream. And now that Glover is the only person and the last to receive this benefit it is disengenious at best. And Hypocritical at most to raise this issue now. Where were all these complainers years ago when all 5 council members were getting healthcare.

I say let the candidates all debate on the village green Monday afternoon when Hurricane Sandy is expected to hit. Then we'll see who shows up!

From the files of The More Things Change...

"I'm very thrilled the intelligent residents of Scotch Plains were not fooled by the deceitful tactics of our opponents," Papen said. "We can now devote our thoughts to our jobs."
"This victory was a repudiation of the gutter politics displayed by the leadership of the opposition," Spera said.
(November 6, 1986)

Looks like Scotch Plains is on the verge of booting the Marksists out of town!!! Go Holden Go!!! Looking forward to a puppet free community.