A Third Party Starting Up in Jackson

In today's Asbury Park Press it was announced that a group of disenfranchised voters plan to start the "Jackson Tea Party" as a protest to the politics as usual in Jackson Township.

This seems like a good idea. A group of people from both parties that have been left behind or left out because they are not a part of the old-boy network that runs the show in Jackson.

Both political parties in town play the same game. It is who you know and not what you know that gets you positions. And because their group is so closed to outsiders no new ideas ever get heard or see the light of day.

The Mayor, Mr. Seda, claims that the impetus to this party is a group of "disgruntled Republicans who feel they didn't get what they wanted." While they may be "disgruntled Republicans" shouldn't they be OK with this Republican government? Not if Mr. Seda is committed to only seeking advice and counsel from a small group of insiders and not allowing the public to have any input into their government.

You can read the Asbury Park Press article here.

According to the Jackson Tea Party's web site, they are committed to lower taxes and increased commercial development. These do not seem to be bad aims. Also, they claim that elected officials should support this agenda as the best way to bring Jackson forward and that commercial development will help to reduce the tax burden of the residential taxpayer and that "if [politicians] do not [support this agenda], they must be held accountable at the polls."

The party is also concerned with the Jackson Township Board of Education and the significant burden that their budget has added to the taxpayers of the township.

The party plans to run candidates in the 2007 Board of Education races and the 2008 Township Council races.

Here is a link to the Jackson Tea Party