Who’s Asking The Tough Questions For You?

For well over a decade, the five members of Middletown’s one-party Township Committee have voted as a single bloc. Another proposal; another 5–0 vote. But where is the meaningful public discussion? Where is the debate over costs, alternatives, and consequences? Where is the transparency that allows residents to understand how decisions are made? A unanimous vote should follow a public examination of the issues, not replace it. Middletown deserves independent voices willing to ask tough questions before the decisions are made.

A 5–0 vote tells you how the Township Committee voted. It doesn’t tell you whether anyone challenged the cost, explored a better alternative, or demanded answers to residents’ concerns. Agreement can be a good thing, but it should come after meaningful public discussion. When decisions affect our tax bills, our neighborhoods, and our town’s future, residents deserve to hear the tough questions asked and answered before the votes are cast. The status quo should have to make its case.

With Mayor Tony Perry seeking county office, Middletown faces another question: what will his administration leave behind? If he moves on, residents will still live with the development decisions, financial commitments, and unresolved challenges made during his tenure. What commitments have already been made? What costs are still ahead? What choices remain open? Residents deserve a clear accounting now, and Committee members willing to examine it.

Jeremy Seideman and Shawn Wallach are running to bring that independent scrutiny to the Township Committee. We’ll ask what a proposal costs, who benefits, what alternatives exist, and most importantly, we will report to our residents on how it affects the people who live here. We’ll support good ideas and challenge decisions that haven’t been adequately explained. Your vote can put new voices at the table and ensure the tough questions get asked.