A new ID

[adefonzo]

I have to start by pointing out the fact that I have created this "alter ego" on this site for a very specific reason. As I am a member of the Freehold Boro School Board, I sometimes have to be careful what I say as a school board member. I have another ID on this site which specifically calls attention to the fact that I am an "elected official", and I have in the past posted some thoughts under that ID that were not entirely appropriate under that "elected official" heading. I apologize to any and all who misunderstood my intentions, or who may have (at the very least) gotten agita over reading some of those posts.

Therefore, to be safe, and at the suggestion of several people who's opinions I value, I wanted to create another ID where I will express my opinions on issues related to our town which have nothing to do with the schools.

I want this to be perfectly clear, I value my position on the Board of Ed a great deal and do not want to do anything to disrespect the board or any of it's members. For that reason, anything that I post on this site under this new ID automatically comes with the disclaimer that I am expressing my opinions separate from the board of ed and any of it's members.

I am a member of the Board of Ed, but I am also a private citizen and resident of Freehold Boro, and I have opinions on a great many topics...now I will be able to share those opinions more openly on this site.

If there is ever a time when someone has a question, problem, or concern with regard to something I have said, please feel free to contact me, whether it's through this site, my regular email address, which is listed on my profile, or if you happen to see me somewhere out in the world, stop me and let me know what you're thinking.

Thank you.

Andrew DeFonzo

[bergsteiger]

Coming up with an Alias and then telling everyone who you really are makes no sense to me? Would you like to clear that up a bit? How does this Alias keep you off the hook?

[Jupiter]

bergsteiger said:

Coming up with an Alias and then telling everyone who you really are makes no sense to me? Would you like to clear that up a bit? How does this Alias keep you off the hook?

Shhhhhhhhh you'll blow his cover!

That was not Andrew, that was Boris Hernandez, LLA super spy. Boris is experiencing delirium as it has been a while since Boris ate a good meal. You see his favorite underground restaurant has been moved cross town, and he yet to get the Barcalowe Street Address.

[adefonzo]

bergsteiger said:

Coming up with an Alias and then telling everyone who you really are makes no sense to me? Would you like to clear that up a bit? How does this Alias keep you off the hook?

As I said above, "As I am a member of the Freehold Boro School Board, I sometimes have to be careful what I say as a school board member".

Unfortunately, in today's society, there are those who are unable to realize that there are people in the world who are able to separate one issue from another. For example, if I were to come onto this site and go on a tirade about illegal immigrants in town, there will undoubtedly be those who will then try to challenge me as a board of ed member who is discriminating against the children of illegal immigrants. If I were to post that tirade under a heading that shows me as an "elected official", it would be that much easier for them to make that argument.

The reality is that as a board of ed member, there are ethical standards that I have to adhere to, which primarily deal with discussing issues that are not yet public knowledge, and not attempting to represent or speak for the entire board. There are those, again, who are not able to realize that I am still a private citizen who is entitled to my own personal opinions and ideas which have no bearing on my role as a board of ed member.

This method of creating an "alter ego" is simply an attempt on my part to clarify those statements I make as a member of the BOE, and those statements I make as regular old Andrew DeFonzo.

I will tell you now that my opinions on the many different topics that will come up on this board do not directly effect my role as a BOE member. When I am at a BOE meeting, or when I am going over the issues that we are dealing with, my first concern is what I feel is best for all of the students in our town, and second what is best for the taxpayers of the town that support those schools.

Again, this is just a way to hopefully make people aware that there are two Andrew DeFonzo's (and not just because I am a Gemini) - the school board member, and the private citizen.

To (finally) answer your question, an alias does not keep me off the hook, I was never intending to get myself "off the hook". What I say is what I feel, I always try to be fair, but more importantly I pride myself in being honest with people. We're not going to always agree...I can guarantee you that...but I want to be accessible to anyone who really wants to have a real discussion about a topic, not just someone who wants to rant and rave and call people names.

Hope that cleared it up.

[Concerned Resident]

Andrew, I've been watching for years, and you will see, that whenever there is a hot button issue, Mayor Wilson always hides.

[bergsteiger]

You are only one person. What you say is what you say. If you say something as Andrew the board member or Andrew the citizen, it’s still you. I understand not saying things in certain company as for fear of persecution but that is not what you are doing. You are admitting that you say one thing and think another, bad move in my opinion.

[Marc LeVine]

This method of creating an "alter ego" is simply an attempt on my part to clarify those statements I make as a member of the BOE, and those statements I make as regular old Andrew DeFonzo.

Andrew. Let me lead off by saying I am very impressed with the quality of service you offer of schools and our town. Ya got "DA DEFONZO BLOOD IN YOUR VEINS," for sure!!!

Keep doing good things for the town and keeping open communications with your constituents.

As elected public officials, we BOTH are no longer private citizens. We are BOTH public figures. While we, sometimes, say that we are NOT speaking as members of our governing body outside of their meeting chambers (which is good), what we DO say is still the communication of public officials and is scruntinized more than the words of private citizens.

I know what you are trying to say and do. I, too, have been up that road. You have a life outside of the BOE and wish to discuss issues that do not relate to FB education matters. When you do this, you do not want the consequences of your words to play on the Board that you serve with. This may be easier said than done.

The BOE and the Borough Council currently enjoy good relations and we all want to show mutual respect for both autonomous bodies that work separately and together for the good of Freehold Borough. It is best, for all of us, to keep this in mind and let it rule as an operating principle as we serve in our public capacities. In addition, be careful not to choose words that can be interpreted as biases or that seem to insult other individuals or groups. Even when misinterpreted or taken out of context, intentionally or otherwise, they are equally dangerous.

As I painfully learned a few months ago, as elected officials whatever we say, anywhere, is public information and reflects on our town and on those we serve with. Use caution not to damage relationships or perceptions.

Marc

[Zeus]

Well, this is certainly good to know.

[glow=red,2,300]"Again, this is just a way to hopefully make people aware that there are two Andrew DeFonzo's..."[/glow]

In my humble opinion, what your are telling us here is otherwise know as hypocrisy, insincerity, two-faced, well you get the idea. If one believes in something so fervently one should respectfully expose one’s beliefs in whatever forum one is in. This twaddle about having two personalities exposes you for really having, but one personality. What you are telling every parent of Freehold Borough is that you are not sincere in your approach and position on the BOE.

adefonzo said:

bergsteiger said:

Coming up with an Alias and then telling everyone who you really are makes no sense to me? Would you like to clear that up a bit? How does this Alias keep you off the hook?

As I said above, "As I am a member of the Freehold Boro School Board, I sometimes have to be careful what I say as a school board member".

Unfortunately, in today's society, there are those who are unable to realize that there are people in the world who are able to separate one issue from another. For example, if I were to come onto this site and go on a tirade about illegal immigrants in town, there will undoubtedly be those who will then try to challenge me as a board of ed member who is discriminating against the children of illegal immigrants. If I were to post that tirade under a heading that shows me as an "elected official", it would be that much easier for them to make that argument.

The reality is that as a board of ed member, there are ethical standards that I have to adhere to, which primarily deal with discussing issues that are not yet public knowledge, and not attempting to represent or speak for the entire board. There are those, again, who are not able to realize that I am still a private citizen who is entitled to my own personal opinions and ideas which have no bearing on my role as a board of ed member.

This method of creating an "alter ego" is simply an attempt on my part to clarify those statements I make as a member of the BOE, and those statements I make as regular old Andrew DeFonzo.

I will tell you now that my opinions on the many different topics that will come up on this board do not directly effect my role as a BOE member. When I am at a BOE meeting, or when I am going over the issues that we are dealing with, my first concern is what I feel is best for all of the students in our town, and second what is best for the taxpayers of the town that support those schools.

Again, this is just a way to hopefully make people aware that there are two Andrew DeFonzo's (and not just because I am a Gemini) - the school board member, and the private citizen.

To (finally) answer your question, an alias does not keep me off the hook, I was never intending to get myself "off the hook". What I say is what I feel, I always try to be fair, but more importantly I pride myself in being honest with people. We're not going to always agree...I can guarantee you that...but I want to be accessible to anyone who really wants to have a real discussion about a topic, not just someone who wants to rant and rave and call people names.

Hope that cleared it up.

[LS]

I have to stick up for Andrew. In an govt. position, e.g., the Board of Ed, a person may do things that they are compelled to do through the law. Any member of the BOE may be personally against educating illegal immigrants. But as a BOE member, one has the obligation to follow the law. But certainly, Mr. DeFonzo can have that opinion, can't he?

What about a police officer who may be for changing the country's drug laws, but he has a duty to arrest someone for possessioin of drugs.

Not even the President of the U.S. has the right to go against the law - he must enforce it in his power as the Chief Executive, although he may feel that the law is wrong.

IMO, Mr. DeFonzo should sign on under Yet another new id - even something thinly disguised, call himself "The Fonz" so that he can give his opinion on matters insteading of having to say bite his tongue when someone like Zeus calls him a hypocrit and two-faced.

Otherwise, people just won't understand that he is an honorable gentlemen who upholds the law, yet may have other opinions. With an anonymous ID, he can avoid the name-calling, and having people now dismiss him as "two-faced." Mr. DeFonzo puts too much trust in people.

[Freehold Parent]

Good grief, Zeus. Andrew has obviously been much too forthcoming and honest. He can certainly share his personal opinions, but he has the wisdom to know the difference when it comes to his duties and obligations in another arena and what rules and regulations must legally be adhered to. Agree or not, Zeus, your name calling accomplishes nothing and shows your "other side."

Andrew, be careful, because what you say will be misconstrued. No good deed goes unpunished.

I'm grateful we have Andrew and a handful of others here who are in the minority when it comes to exhibiting brains, depth and common sense.

[adefonzo]

Well...thanks to those of you who understood what I was trying to say. I think "LS" summed it up best...there are laws that I have to abide by as a board of ed member which may be in direct conflict to what I personally feel. Also (I'll say it one more time) I don't want anyone to assume that whenever I speak that I am speaking for the BOE or any of it's members. Yes (Marc) I realize that I am tied to the BOE as long as I am a member, and there will always be those who will think that no matter how I try to qualify a statement, they'll think I am speaking as the voice of the BOE.

Here's the dilema though (and I know this is going to sound a bit ridiculous, but bear with me)...

I feel that in a Democracy, it is the right and even the responsibility of every person to speak up when they feel that something is wrong, or certainly to ask a question when they have one. I feel it is the responsibility of the leaders of our democracy (including BOE members) to answer these questions, no matter how many times they come up. I feel that any elected officials (myself included) have the responsibility to not only make the tough decisions, but to explain to the people why we made the decisions, and in some cases, take our lumps when people don't agree with what we decided on. We can't ignore the very public that we have chosen to represent.

There are always going to be people who will disagree with you, there are always going to be people who will do all they can to shut you up, there are always going to be people who will try to sully your name just because they don't agree with what you say, and there are always going to be those who will try to tie what I say as a "public official" back to whatever public "office" I am holding. However, I can not and will not stifle myself or tailor my words in fear of what those people are going to respond with.

While I care greatly about the perception of the BOE as a whole, I don't care about what the perception is of me as an individual. The board of ed, or any governing body for that matter, is made up of a group of people who have different opinions, different ideas, different solutions to problems, and they work issues out to come up with a solution. And when I, or any other public offical for that matter, have said or done something that is thought of as not what the majority of the general public believes in, it is their (the public's) responsibility to express their discontent by voting me out of that public position.

This is Democracy 101 folks. We vote into office those who we think will represent our views, and when there is someone who we feel is not representing our views and our best interests, we get rid of them and bring in someone new. Public office (to me) is not supposed to be a prviledged position, it's work, and a lot of times, it's hard work. For someone who is in a public position, being re-elected to that position is not a right...it is something you have to earn by your actions, and if you do not live up to the expectations of the voting public, you could and should lose that position.

So long as I know that I formed my opinion after gathering as much information as possible from all sides, and so long as I know that I spoke out when I believed that something or someone was wrong and did all I could to try and change whatever it may be, I can rest easy at night knowing at the very that least I have done (in my mind) the right thing.

In my opinion, there are too many people today who do not want to discuss issues, they simply want you to think the way they think, or they want you to shut up, and they're willing to go to great lengths to shut you up. I don't live my life like that, and I am not going to start now.

I am always up for a discussion on an issue...how else are we ever going to get to a solution that we can all live with?

Alright...I have gotten way off topic for this thread...so let me try to reign it back in.

I did not admit to saying one thing and thinking another as someone said above. I am not a hypocrite, insincere, or two-faced, though you're free to think that I am. What I am is someone who is trying to do something to help out the community I live in, rather than just complain about it. If anyone feels that I am "not sincere in your approach and position on the BOE.", as I said earlier, just contact me and let me know where you think I am falling short...I am always up for a good discussion, and I don't bite.

Andy DeFonzo

[Marc LeVine]

Here's the dilema though (and I know this is going to sound a bit ridiculous, but bear with me)...

Actually, not ridiculous...you make a good argument. You know why? Because, you accept any consquences that may come your way for your future words without being stifled by that threat. Hmmmm. Sounds familiar.

Marc