Letter: Clear Choice Lakewood

Letter: Clear Choice Lakewood

One of the questions posed the candidates at the forum, hosted by the Lakewood Chamber that has been so outspoken in support of gambling, was “Should gaming be banned in Lakewood?” Brandstetter was the only one who voted yes. Connie, his opponent for postion 2, voted no.

It is interesting that the question had been reframed from use of the word gambling to the supposedly more innocuous gaming, as if the affects of convenience casinos upon a community were hardly different than a casual game of Scrabble among friends.

Ironically perhaps, another of the questions and accompanying picture was Does Lakewood have a good image in our region? Mary Moss votes yes, Shiley waffles, Mike votes no, you cannot read Connie’s sign, Sam votes no, Jason waffles, and Richardson votes yes. Richardson’s position as Mayor requires him to vote yes to avoid self-incrimination of his leadership. That every other candidate, with the exception of Mary Moss, votes either no or unsure, raises an additional question, Why? Could it be that the only jurisdiction in the county that has casinos, with a significant rise in domestic violence and gang activity, is therefore suspect with regards its image? But with the exception of Brandstetter, this current slate of council candidates fails to connect the dots.

SaveLakewood supported Brandstetter against Coleman-Lacadie in the Primary and he outpolled her thanks to those who voted their conscience of community over the economy. He deserves your vote again.