THE DATA OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS THIS CHANGE IS NOT RIGHT FOR HOLMDEL
Why did the Holmdel Mayor ask for a charter study?
After 150 years of governmental excellence, Mayor Buontempo gave the keys to a Charter Study Commission, with an agenda to change Holmdel's Township Form of Government. They propose radical change in Holmdel with a full government reset, dismantling majority of our operating structure.
The changing scope of how Holmdel will elect officials...
In a short 3 months, we will then be tasked with electing a brand new council of 5 members, which includes the Mayor. How many candidates will run, 10....20? What happens next? What don't we know? Still so many more questions than answers. Chaos and Confusion!
They want us to elect a Mayor for 4 years, No Term Limits and remove transparency with Nonpartisan elections, meaning you will not know who is Republican, Democrat or Independent on the ballot when you vote. Included in the proposed new structure is Initiative & Referendum, meaning any time someone or political interests want to make a change, 650 signatures on a petition and its on a ballot to vote.
Only 36 (6%) of New Jersey's 565 municipalities have a structure that combos directly elect mayor in nonpartisan elections.
Non-partisan elections universally suppress voter turnout and lead to entrenched incumbents. That's why, like Holmdel, the overwhelming majority (85%) of New Jersey municipalities conduct partisan elections.
Only 5 (1%) out of all 565 New Jersey municipalities use this government structure recommended by the commissioners. Council-Manager, Directly Elect Mayor and Non Partisan Elections.
Asbury Park, Montclair, Belleville, Byram, Cape May
Their recommendation is to change Holmdel to Council-Manager form of local government, used in only 31 (13%) of the 242 Townships in New Jersey.
Analyzing and comparing the 31 Council Manager Townships to Holmdel
HERE ARE THE FACTS FOR COUNCIL MANAGER TOWNSHIPS:
- Average population is 61% higher than Holmdel
- Average population density is 233% higher than Holmdel
- Average 2020 municipal budget is 38% larger than Holmdel
- Property value, per capita are 40% lower than Holmdel
- The number of college graduates is 26% lower than Holmdel
- The percentage of registered Democrats (2018) is 79% higher than Holmdel
- The percentage of registered Republicans (2018) is 35% lower than Holmdel
- Voter turnout is 8% lower (2020) than Holmdel
- Violent crime is 79% higher than Holmdel
- Non-violent crime is 40% higher than Holmdel
New Jersey Townships that have converted to the Council-Manager form of government are not like Holmdel. They have larger populations, higher population density, higher levels of municipal spending, lower voter turnout, more crime, and are overwhelmingly dominated by voters of a single party, Democrats
Beyond Townships, if you consider all 565 municipalities, only 7.6% (43) have Council Manager form of local government.
Size matters for Council-Manager governments
Once again, these 43 municipalities look nothing like Holmdel
They have larger populations (+37%), higher population density (+245%), more Democrats (+69%), less Republicans (-31%), lower voter turnout (-9%), higher municipal budgets (+40%), lower proper values (-8%), fewer college graduates (-26%), and more crime (+119% more violent and +80% more non-violent)
Closer to home, our Monmouth County is made up of 53 municipalities. Only 5 (9%) have converted to Council-Manager and all have long tenured current Mayors, averaging 10+ years tenure.
Asbury Park, Keansburg, Aberdeen, Ocean Twp., & Howell
The combination of directly elect the mayor in non partisan elections is only used 36 (6%) of New Jersey's 565 municipalities! And if you consider towns like Holmdel, just ONE of New Jersey's 50 most affluent towns (Asbury Park Press ranks Holmdel #26 in their list of the top 50 wealthiest towns) directly elects their mayor in a non-partisan election
Take Action for the July 26th Holmdel Vote
The Holmdel Study
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models for homldel?
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models for homldel?
See which municipalities the commissioners used as models. Long Mayor & Council tenures become difficult to remove
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