Earl Meyer

PO Box 328

441 Fortescue Road

Tel: 856-447-0261

An Important Message

For the

VOTERS OF DOWNE TOWNSHIP

August 2006

 Dear Friends, Neighbors and Fellow Citizens:

             My name is Earl Meyer, a citizen of long standing in Down Township and a resident of Fortescue.  My children were educated in our schools and my wife, Jessie, actively supported the education system while they were students.

            Since my home is here, I have a stake in the welfare of the community.  I have enjoyed living here and have reaped the unique and precious benefits founds in our township.  In recent years I have been in a position to help preserve the good that we find here and have made a concentrated effort to improve the administration of the township for the betterment of all citizens.  I feel that I owe this much as a responsible citizen.

            In keeping with this philosophy, I ran for the township committee in 2003 and lost in a close race by only 30 votes.  That did not deter me from staying involved and actively pursuing our quest for a government that is more responsible and accountable to you, the citizens of Downe.  With rare exceptions this has been a quality notably absent to our elected officials.

            Any individual, duly sworn into office should be a servant of the people and always, to the best of his or her ability, act in their best interests.

            Once again I have placed my name on the ballot and am running for the township committee in this November’s election.  I hope you will allow me the opportunity and privilege to serve you.

            For the past few years, I along with a few conscientious and dedicated citizens have worked long hard to improve the administration of our township and to expose it inadequacies and irregularities.  We saw the 3-member committee as a weakness in Downe Township form of government.  It was always too easy for one person to exert undue influence over the decision-making process.  All that is needed is one weak person on the committee, easily influenced, a yes-man, or a stooge, if you will.  The result is a majority with a mayor who is not a leader, but a dictator.  That is why Joe Ready and I and about 15 other concerned citizens set out to neutralize this defect.

            The answer was a 5-member township committee.  In 2005 we were able to get this proposal before the voters.  You, the enlightened citizens of Downe Township, saw the reasoning behind this move and now we have a five instead of a three-member committee governing our community; at no additional cost to the taxpayers, I might add.

            It wasn’t an easy process.  There were a few who tried to persuade you by publicly calling the change “silly”.  These were individuals who personally stood to lose

positions of power and loss of income if this change of government became a reality.  Fortunately, you saw the real motive behind their veiled objections.  Wiser heads prevailed and the power of your vote expressed the “will of the people”.  Never before in the history of Downe Township has there been such a glorious exhibition of democracy in action.

            I want you to know just how strongly I feel about the people in this township making their conversations known.  You citizens, by the power of your vote have expressed in no uncertain terms how you want to be governed and by whom.  With five elected people now running the township instead of three controlled by one the pendulum has finally swung in favor of “government by the people and for the people”.  Greater credibility and a wider range of experience are brought to the table shaping a sounder fiscal policy.  You, the voter, made this a reality and you will reap the benefits. 

            To often in the past I have seen a great lack of common-sense management.  Our new 5-member committee form of government has gone a long way toward thwarting past administrative sins.  Two of the new committee members who you elected to office have swung the majority in favor of honest, responsible leadership.  This speaks well for the future of our township.

            A word of warning. A righteous, principled, stable government is fragile commodity.  Those who are governed must be ever vigilant against the loss of their precious freedoms.  Your informed vote is your greatest protection against tyranny.  Use it wisely.

            I am running in the November election this year.  I would like your trust and your vote.  I promise, IF elected, I will not take my responsibilities lightly.

Very truly yours,

Earl Meyer

U.S. Navy Retired