Dear Editor:
Tom Troyer’s letters to this newspaper appear to be very self-promoting, I find them to be more amusing, than factual. Nevertheless, I read them to see what new spin he puts on things. More often than not, it is the same rhetoric. Last week was no exception.
His claim of keeping politics out of the school system sounds convincing, until you realize that Mr. Troyer himself has had his own high political aspirations since the 1970’s. To use his term, “Check the record,” you will see he has run for mayor, council, state assembly and school board. However he would have you believe that everyone else is the politician.
In last week’s letter, Mr. Troyer wrote about “political powers” filing school board candidates and withdrawing candidates. How quickly he forgets.
When I filed to run for Second Ward council six years ago, I received a call from another Second Ward candidate that year, Tom Troyer. He asked me to meet with him and his political advisor. Unaware of what Mr. Troyer wanted to discuss, I agreed and I asked Councilman Bueckner and former Mayor Paul Amico to attend, which they did. Mr. Troyer chose not to show up due to his personal disliking for Mr. Amico. As I sat at my kitchen table with Troyer’s advisor and Mr. Amico, the advisor asked me to drop out of the council contest and replace me with Mr. Troyer on our Take Back Secaucus ticket. In return they would support me for mayor. I immediately refused the offer.
As the record shows, Mr. Troyer continued his candidacy and received a total of 69 votes in the Second Ward that year. Election records show Mr. Troyer spent nearly $4,700 for those votes (even though he claimed he didn’t spend a dime), however he spent very little several months later when he ran for the school board. This action leads one to wonder if he really preferred to be a second ward councilman more than a “non-political” school board trustee. Running for the school board should not be used as a stepping stone to run for political office as it seems some current board members are planning to do.
My approach to education is the same as I take with every question that comes before me: What is the benefit the people of this community? Last year my administration opposed the school budget because we believed it could be shaved without any sacrifice to the educational value for our students. The voters overwhelmingly agreed and time proved us correct. I hope the school budget this year is fiscally responsible that I could strongly support, especially since state aid has increased by 40 percent. I encourage those funds to go directly to the children rather than waste it on administrative spending.
If Mr. Troyer wants to continue to be a perpetual critic with a track record of negativity, that is his right to do. However, I believe the people of Secaucus deserve more respect than hypocritical hype that we read week after week. I would be more interested in knowing what he has accomplished in all his years of “non-political” politics. We must always remember the school system is all about the kids. Board members are trusted by the voters to do what they were elected to do which is to always be there and do what is right for our children and the taxpayers.
Mike Gonnelli
Secaucus Mayor