Why Use Campaign Money to Promote Your Re-Election When You Can Force the Taxpayers to Finance Your Campaign?

Ah, the powers of incumbency.

Grafton Township Supervisor John Rossi is running for re-election against fellow Republican Linda Moore.

Linda has made two mailings so far out of her own pocket and Rossi has made one paid by Grafton Township taxpayers. Here’s one. Here’s the other.

The Rossi mailing, complete with the names of all township officials running for re-election on the back of the folded address side, features a picture of Rossi and a “From the Desk of the Supervisor” about half page letter right when one opens up the piece.

Rossi even brags about moving the township office a mile east. The new building “will be covered under the current funding budget without the need for additional taxes or referendum.”

Now why Rossi would think that borrowing $3.5 million without asking voter approval at the polls is a good thing escapes me.

I too well remember Lakewood’s borrowing enough money to buy a golf course. I think that cost me and other Lakewood residents about $500 a year through too many years in the 1990’s. That non-referendum borrowing surely made me an opponent of cutting the voters out of the loop.

Anyone who believes it will not take more taxes than people otherwise would pay to repay $3.5 million of borrowed money (which is left out of the newsletter for obvious reasons) must have grown up during the era of “new math.”

Then there’s an ad for a “Free Super-Couponing Seminar” under the Rossi letter, which, miracle of miracles, is right before the February 24 Republican primary election. One day before the end of early voting, actually.

Quite coincidental, wouldn’t you agree?

The February 24th Republican primary election will decide who will be Grafton Township officials for the next four years because there are no Democrats or independents running on April 7th.

Not quite the same as the situation in Nunda Township, but close. (Nunda has two Democrats running for township trustee, but no one for the major offices.)


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *