Article from the Mayor

Brian -- thanks for posting this. It is useful for our readers to get a look at the perspective of the Mayor and how he sees his legacy and accomplishments.

Posting this type of story also serves several other purposes. First, it demonstrates the type of messaging that all politician like. This is a straight controlled piece released to accent the positive of the town and reelect positively on those running it -- including the Mayor. There is nothing wrong with this type of messaging. It's informative, responsible, smart, and politically necessary too.

If the Mayor had posted that here -- for example -- it would then have opened a discussion about both the success and the failures of the last 25 years. (That's the point of this type of forum -- take the packaged message and here what the people think.)

That's why were are here -- we don't fear democracy. We fear ignorance, and we fear hate and demonetization for political purposes, but we don't fear lively and smart discussion. We don't think anything less of Freehold because people might disagree. In fact, we think disagreement is good -- particularly in a town that was present at the birth of our Republic.

What some people want -- and it is there right to want this -- is for no one to take issue with, object to, or take on the messaging off elected officials. (This Mayor or others) That is dangerous in my opinion.

I think it is true that when we focus on what an elected official has done wrong -- we tend to forget what he or she has done right. When we get involved in party politics, we all tend to pick teams and allow how we view people and issues to be crafted by what we think our party thinks our positions should be. Fighting that is toughest of all. I plead guilty to be a victim of that -- and in the last 5-10 years I have worked hard to make people in both parties dislike me! That's when you can at least feel you are thinking somewhat independently.

The purpose of intelligent political dissent is not to convert the other side. The purpose is to inform the less informed, and to challenge the open-minded to think about issues differently. In doing that, dissent is the greatest service one can give a community of thought.

In the spirit of looking at the bright side of the Mayor's tenure, I will now take some time to reflect on the Mayor, and what I like about him and his tenure as Mayor. My objections are public record. And, while I have said many nice things about him --- and even offered to help him when called -- some on this site and some formerly on this site never think I say enough nice things, or think I never say any nice things -- so here is a chance to again prove them wrong. (of course, I will forget where to direct them to this post when the time comes in a year or two)

Mayor Wilson.

First and foremost, Mayor Wilson -- who in no disrespect -- I will refer to as Mike in this post, LOVES Freehold. I don't think anyone will find a person in Freehold who loves this town more, or who has invested him or herself more in the town. That alone requires and earns my respect and appreciation.

Mike is and always has been willing to speak directly to Freehold residents and intervene to make sure they are getting the services they should, and to hear there complaints. Yes, in some measure, that's politics. However, Mike is genuine in his efforts and for 25 years has made himself available to the residents for every form of occasion.

Mike also stayed in that town and fought for it when some of us chose to leave. He has pointed this out fairly before -- and he is right. The view of Freehold's problems, the difficulties in facing them, and the reality of being there every day is not a burden that critics like me face. I have pointed this out before -- but it bears repeating again. Mike -- thank you for staying and fighting for Freehold.

Downtown redevelopment from the mid-eighties did take place on Mike's watch. At the time, it was called the Freehold Renaissance (I think). Did I agree with components of it or priorities set out in it -- no. But, in order to make things happen, sometimes you actually have to make things happen. You can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Upgrading the Borough's face was good. Mike stepped into some big shoes as a Mayor responding to tragedy, and he took bold action He deserves credit for that. I give him praise for it.

Mike deserves praise for taking fire. Let's face it, if you are a Mayor of any town for 25 years, you have made the voters happy. You have also made many voters unhappy, and you tend to accumulate critics. Critics tend to be much more active and persistent than fans. Mike has endured criticism from the left and the right. he has been pounded by radicals, sued in court, pilloried by publications -- and none of that includes this site. Taking the fire of critics -- particularly those not tasked with your responsibilities, is no fun endeavor. Doing it as a part-time employee who is not getting rich in the job makes it even more admirable.

I have been a very resounding critic of Mike -- and let's face it -- I have hit him hard on issues. I even hit him hard on motivations -- which while fair -- I regret. Mayor Wilson is still there though -- fighting for freehold and pushing past noisemakers like myself to serve. Could he do a better job of listening to the noise -- you bet. Is he wrong on a bunch of things -- sure. But in order to be wrong, you have to stand up and make decisions and be in the game. Twenty-five years later -- he is still doing that.

I like Mayor Wilson -- personally. He is still on my Christmas card list -- and the public bickering many see here and in the papers is not the full measure of our relationship.

I once told him -- he was a good Mayor. His record shows he has done both good and great things as a Mayor -- so I think I get to be right on that.

I won't pivot here and say where he has gone wrong -- we have dozens of threads for that.

So -- let this stand as a record of the things I have said publicly that I like about Mike and his service. Some will ignore it, which is fine. But for me -- on this thread -- I give him his props today.

As the Mayor knows -- tomorrow is another day.

This article was very nice to find. When reading an article in context of this one, it is a time to set aside disagreements that can occur.

I think we have all said on this site that the people who serve our town are good people who do care. The Mayor fits that bill. He is a good man who has served us well. This article is a very nice reflection of his time in office. He does deserve credit for a lot of good and occasional praise is well earned by him.