Dear Editor:
I read the letter of Dan Amico recently published in this column and must comment on same.
First, I do not believe Dan Amico should worry. I doubt, knowing his history, that there is anyone in Secaucus who would believe he was a supporter of Mayor Elwell in the past, being the nephew of once Mayor Paul Amico. So his claim now to be a supporter of Mayor Elwell at the present time must be taken with a grain of salt. However, more importantly, I do not believe many people in Secaucus really care.
Secondly, Dan Amico doesn’t make sense when he writes that the voter should vote for the candidate who shares the same ideals and values as the candidate, “no matter what our (voters) individual ideals and values may be.” It seems to me that generally the voter votes for the candidate who shares his or her ideals and values. Isn’t it more important for the people to determine which candidate is truly sincere about the ideals and values he professes to poses. I do not believe there is a voter in Secaucus who isn’t convinced that during an election campaign a candidate will say anything or do anything to get elected. Aren’t election campaign promises the easiest to break? Politicians rely on the short memories of voters to keep them in office. No Dan Amico, it is the sincerity and honesty of the candidate towards the ideals and values he or she professes to have. Not that they are just similar to those of the voter.
Third, let us talk about this year’s school election. Once again several candidates who filed petitions have already withdrawn from the election. If there is anyone who believes that “some” were encouraged to do so by the political powers that be, then they would also believe that there is a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
Dan Amico writes that he is not involved in this coming school election, that he has no preferences. We shall see.
Some 20 years ago in the 1982 school election, another Amico, Mayor Paul Amico, took the same position as his nephew Dan now takes; that he was not involved in the school election. However, the last days before that election Mayor Amico publicly took sides in the election in which he told the people of Secaucus he was not involved.
Anyone who is interested can verify this by going to the Secaucus Library, second floor and read the issues of the Secaucus Home News for 1982, beginning with March 11 through April 15. Time will tell if the Amico history will repeat itself.
Tom Troyer