We Need Choice in Government

It was recently reported on Wall Patch that Wall Township Committeeman Todd Luttman is running uncontested in the November 2012 election.  The article very specifically stated that "no Democrats filed to run" this year.  While it is true that no Democratic candidate filed a petition to be placed on the primary ballot for the June 5, 2012 primary election, a Democratic candidate did qualify to be placed on the November ballot.  

Jesse Beutell, a resident of the West Belmar section of Wall ran an aggressive write-in campaign and obtained a sufficient number of write-in votes to be placed on the November ballot to run against Mr. Luttman.  Over the coming weeks and months Wall residents will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the important issues facing Wall Township with Mr. Beutell.  Below is a letter he submitted to this site that was placed in the obscure "Announcements" section.  We ask that you take the time to read Mr. Beutell's letter and be open to meeting with him to discuss his priorities as a Wall Committeeman.

    "Why am I running for Township Committee? First and foremost, I believe in the potential of Wall Township. I understand its past and believe in the possibilities of a brighter future. Second, it is an unfortunate situation when as a community we are presented with the prospect of holding an uncontested election for an important office. Members of the township committee are given the chance to directly affect the lives of every resident. How is it than that before being nominated for the position it was not going to be contested by either a member of the incumbent’s party, or for that matter anyone else?  Our community deserves a choice come November. Having been encouraged to run, I will do everything in my power to honor that request and the desire to see a functioning, healthy election process which motivated it.

     I am sure many of you may be wondering exactly who I am. I consider myself an individual who cares deeply about the condition and success of the people around him, a person who seeks to build up communities and relationships that connect us in meaningful ways.  I am not running to instigate petty squabbles or rekindle old feuds. I am running to encourage innovation within a governing body that could use some fresh ideas in the way it operates and interacts with its residents.  I am not running to attack without purpose or provocation and certainly not in a needlessly personal manner. Instead, I am running to talk and engage with the people of Wall Township about the kind of government and community they want to see, the one they deserve.

     It is simple to complain about how things currently are, but it is much harder to sit down and create practical solutions to them with individuals whom we may disagree.  Similarly, it is easy to grow complacent and comfortable regarding things a community does well, but that does not mean we can cease examining these areas critically. There is always room for improvement and growth.  The status quo may be familiar, but it can also mean stagnation. Wall must embrace technology that will put our community on the cutting edge of how our residents and the governing body interact.  There is little excuse for avoiding what has already become apparent to many others around the state and across the country, an open government which creates an ongoing dialogue with its residents about their collective futures’ is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

     If you are tired of business as usual in Wall then you have found your candidate.  I have no financial interests at stake here and I am certainly not looking to break into any social circles.  The only thing I am running for is to work for you. In the coming months my first priority is to reach out to you and your families in order to begin that important conversation about where our community is heading and the direction we want it to go.  At the end of the day the choice will be yours and I am happy to have the chance to give you one."

Jesse Beutell

Candidate for Wall Township Committee