After reading the recent responses by Jeff Varnerin and Manny Couto on TAPinto, it is clear that politics takes precedent over people during election time. Both candidates also took the opportunity to disparage our Township Administrator, an employee and resident of the township – not an elected representative. Using the power of holding an elected office, with multiple outlets to communicate with the public to attack a resident, employee or volunteer is deplorable.
Mayor Devanney was elected because this town, under the full republican reign, was failing miserably and we, the residents, understood change was necessary. Mayor Devanney along with the Township Administrator have been persevering while managing the shortcomings and failures they walked into. Together the Mayor, Township Administrator and all the township employees and volunteers have done a phenomenal job overcoming hurdle after hurdle while also accomplishing great wins for this town, and through a global pandemic.
The responses Manny Couto and Jeff Varnerin published on TAPinto was a smear campaign against Mayor Devanney and Liza Viana. The candidates could could have boasted about their accomplishments (Manny has been on Council for almost 6 years) or the accomplishments of the near 15-year Republican majority of council. Unfortunately, they took the low road and I think, as it should, those shots will ultimately cost them votes.
The problems with the municipal complex and the township, as a whole, are a result of the negligence, poor planning and closed-door deals with incapable contractors prior to 2019 that Mayor Angie and our Township Administrator have been working tirelessly to mitigate.
Jeff and Manny might be in need of soul searching, or a mirror – accountability lies within every elected representative. The blame game doesn’t work here and I would highly recommend they both stop taking unnecessary hits at township employees – it’s not a good look for them, the campaign or the party.