HAMMONTON BLOG

I am humbled and honored to have been elected president of the Hammonton Democratic Club.

For more than 50 years, the Hammonton Democratic Club has produced some of the finest public servants this community has ever seen: Vince DeMarco, Ralph Fichetola, Barbara Berenato, Charlie Gazzara, Anthony DeMarco, Anthony Falcone and the list goes on.

It is only by standing on the shoulders of these giants that we are able to see a vision for the future of this town. I also look forward to working with a top-rate team of officers that includes municipal chair Whitey Barresi, vice presidents Maria Falcone and Pat Cassario, treasurer Terri Cafiso and secretary Jim MacLane.

Last year proved a historic year at all levels of government.

In Hammonton, the local Democrats ran a positive, policy-based campaign. While we came up a little short in the final tally, we garnered some of our largest vote totals in the past decade. We captured the vote of every informed person in Hammonton and established a foundation for future success.

We accomplished all of this while being outspent 10 to 1 by our opponents. Ultimately, the Hammonton Democrats have become a stronger party without pledging allegiance to big-time contributors.

So what can Hammonton expect from its Democratic Party this year?

First, we will promote a spirit of cooperation to move Hammonton forward. We will support the mayor and council when we agree and have a civil discussion when we disagree. We believe reasonable people can have different opinions while still keeping everyone's best interests at heart.

I also would like to remind the mayor and council that bi-partisanship (or tri-partisanship) moves in both directions. If the mayor and council are sincere, then I would expect them to appoint actual members of the Hammonton Democratic Club and the Regular Republican Club to standing committees.

The appointment of individuals who support your own party but happen to be registered in the other parties does not constitute open government. Real courage means working with those who disagree with you. Real leadership means valuing the community over political reward.

Second, the Hammonton Democrats will weigh in on the most urgent matters facing this town. Simply stated, a municipal financial crunch is not a question of if but rather a question of when, accelerated but not caused by the current national downturn.

Our current policy of borrowing money we do not have for projects we do not need will not bring prosperity. Nor will Town Council gain absolution for excessive spending by blaming the school board, Gov. Corzine, President Obama or former President Bush.

The solution lies in financial discipline. Although some town projects appeal to our vanity, they are not necessary. We must learn to separate our wants from our needs and be willing to sacrifice as our grandparents did.

Such choices will not be easy for our local elected officials but, as President Kennedy said, "To govern is to choose."

And most importantly, we -- as a town -- must prevent a crisis of values. We must choose family, community and charity over materialism, self-entitlement and overindulgence. We must value the strength of our character over the luxury of our lifestyle. We must choose the harder right over the easier wrong. All of this is possible if we change our expectations. We must expect of our leaders -- and, more importantly, of ourselves -- a servant's heart and a compassionate spirit.

So I am asking everyone to set aside the distractions of daily life and assume the responsibility of citizenship. Refuse the temptations of apathy and commit yourself to shaping Hammonton into the community it deserves to be.

Join the Hammonton Democrats and let us serve together!

The Hammonton Democrats meet at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Hammonton Public Library. We also will have our annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Breakfast at 10 a.m. March 15.

For more information about these events or the club, send e-mail to info@hammontondems.org or go online to www.hammontondems.org.

Joseph Ingemi

President,

Hammonton Democratic Club