It’s Official! I start Tuesday 11/13/2007 @ 7pm

I attended a really special tribute to our veterans this morning and was honored to sit with the guys who won WW II and other wars (no I was not with them back then – my service did not start until 1959). A lot of good people came out to show their appreciation for the gifts that their courage and patriotism gave us. Those of you who did not make it this year please plan to join us next year.

While at the special ceremonies I was asked by quite a few citizens if my election to Borough Council held up. Well, I will be sworn in this Tuesday (11/13/07 at 7PM). It would be very nice to see you there.

While I will accept the seat it really belongs to you – the people who put me there and especially our great campaign team. I owe a special thanks to our campaign chairman, Karen Carroll and my energetic running mates – Javier, Tony and Debbie.
Although I'm appreciative of many who helped and contributed to the campaign, I do want to mention always faithful and loyal Democrat, Jean Mangino and her son-in law Brad Higginbottom who served as our treasurer. Of course I can't forget my super-charged son Ben, Jr. who worked tirelessly delivering literature and posting and retrieving lawn signs. He also pushed me to keep campaigning, was our media contact and offered campaign ideas.

I hope that you will take advantage of my position on the council to input your thoughts and desires for how our government should be conducted. I do want to hear from you and I will attempt to keep you informed with what your government is doing. If you are pleased with my performance, that's great. If my choices disappoint you, please tell me (in private) and lets discuss the issue.

The Latest From Late Night Comedians:

Jay Leno-"Hey, don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour this weekend. You get an extra hour of sleep. It's kind of like watching a Fred Thompson speech."

Until Next Time,

Ben

Let’s come out for our Military Veterans

Sunday, November 11, is the day to show our appreciation for those who stepped up to defend our country – often putting their lives in danger for the protection of all of us. We can never give them back what they lost, but we can honor the memory of those brave men and women who are no longer with us and demonstrate our gratitude to the vets among us by joining with them at the Veterans Day Ceremonies.

In Bound Brook please attend the special Veterans Day ceremonies starting with an 8:30 a.m. Veterans Day Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Mountain Avenue and High Street. William Siebel, commander of the American Legion Giles-Biondi Post No. 63 of Bound Brook with Father Charles O’Connor will conduct the ceremony. There also will be a procession of flags. Participating veterans are encouraged to wear uniforms if they have them. For more information, call Bill Siebel at (732) 356-8762. A breakfast for all veterans, their families, and residents will follow in the Holy Family Academy gymnasium on Second Street. Cost for the breakfast is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children age 12 or younger.

At 11:00 a.m. a Ceremony will be conducted at the monument island at the intersection of Union Avenue and Vosseller Ave.

Let’s all be there for them!

Until next time,

Ben

Thank You!

Newly Elected Councilmen - Ben Auletta and Anthony "Tony" Pranzatelli

I think that it is now the appropriate time to thank the voters who supported my candidacy and elected me to the Bound Brook Borough Council. I especially thank our campaign manager, Karen Carroll and the entire campaign staff, and my running mates who energized our campaign.

Yesterday my victory was essentially confirmed and I await my official certification. I am eager and ready to assume my responsibilities in service to all the citizens of Bound Brook. Both parties and Mrs. Pounaras enthusiastically waged the campaign and I congratulate the victors, Tony Pranzatelli, Jeff Thompson, and Carey Pilato and I look forward to a proactive and dedicated 2008 council.

The following excerpts from this mornings’ Star-Ledger and the Courier News explain what happened to place the results in doubt:
Extra ballots augment victories
Bound Brook could have oath delayed
Friday, November 09, 2007
BY CATHY BUGMAN
Star-Ledger Staff
The winners in tight races for council seats in Bernardsville and Bound Brook expanded their margins of victory yesterday after Somerset County election officials opened provisional ballots.
Provisional ballots … gave wider edges of victory to Bernardsville Republican Councilmen-elect Kevin Sooy and Edward McDowell as well as Democratic Bound Brook Councilman-elect Ben Auletta.

County election commissioners and office staff unzipped bright orange bags containing provisional ballots before an audience of candidates, party leaders and others interested in the outcome.

In Bound Brook, Auletta yesterday took on an additional six votes to bring his new total to 816, while Republican incumbent Jacquelyn Nicholson gained another three votes, bringing her up to 807 votes.
While it's anticipated that Auletta will take the oath of office and replace Nicholson at Tuesday night's council meeting, it will depend on the borough's receiving a "certificate of election" from County Clerk Radi.
The certificate could be held up by county Election Board Administrator Jerry Midgette, who said his office is seeking a court order to open a voting machine from District 3 in Bound Brook and from District 18 in Bridgewater to check whether any provisional ballots possibly locked inside them would alter the results in a significant way.
Once that is done, Radi's office can certify the election results, allowing the swearing-in ceremony to commence in Bound Brook.

Auletta, a former councilman and member of the planning and school boards, said he has two ordinances already drafted -- one concerning the proliferation of signs and the other on public decorum at meetings -- and is looking forward to presenting them.
"I'm anxious to get to work," he said.
Cathy Bugman works in the Somerset County bureau. She may be reached at cbugman@starledger.com or (908) 429-9925.

Vote count continues for Bound Brook council seat
Results confirm GOP council sweep in Bernardsville.
By MARTIN C. BRICKETTO
STAFF WRITER Courier News
SOMERVILLE -- Two days after the election, the race for a two-year, unexpired term on the Bound Brook Borough Council between Democrat Ben Auletta Sr. and Republican Jacquelyn Nicholson still isn't officially settled.
Provisional ballots counted so far continue to show Auletta leading Nicholson 816 to 807, Somerset County Clerk Brett Radi said Thursday.
But Radi added that a bag for provisional ballots remains inside one voting machine, and the Somerset County Board of Elections is pursuing a court order to retrieve that bag and count any ballots.
Until that takes place, Radi said he will not certify the results.

An Auletta victory will mean a council in Bound Brook evenly split 3-3 between Democrats and Republicans…

Until Next Time,

Ben (I plan to update this after every meeting i attend)

Join the Citizen Army!

I just returned from the Bound Brook Mayoral Candidates’ debate at St Joseph’s School gymnasium. Video of the debate to be post on http://www.08805.com/

Father Charlie, the host moderator of the debate, made a powerful and profound statement. He said that all of the candidates have demonstrated their dedication to the community and that he would be proud to serve as a citizen under anyone of them.

I never heard it put that way! As I thought about what he said it struck me that that is exactly what we must all do in order to survive as a nation and keep our traditions of self-government, independence and our precious four freedoms as depicted by Norman Rockwell’s famous paintings – Freedom from Fear, freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, freedom to Worship.
Serving as a citizen means meeting the responsibilities of citizenship. There are six basic responsibilities of U.S. Citizenship – five mandatory and one voluntary. The voluntary one is voting.

The right to vote is a duty or responsibility as well as a privilege. It is important for all citizens to vote in every election to make sure that the democratic, representative system of government is maintained. Persons who do not vote lose their voice in the government. Before voting in an election, each citizen should be well informed about the issues and candidates.

I was in the company of almost 200 Bound Brookers who apparently take their citizenship seriously and are willing to “serve as citizens”. I salute them.

I also salute the candidates Phyllis Pounaras, Javier Vasquez, and Cary Pilato for being there and for their willingness to serve. I thought that they handled the questions posed to them well (although I did not believe some of the rhetoric). I was particularly impressed by Javier’s knowledge of the needs of Bound Brook and his ideas on how to meet them. I’m sorry to say that the performance and words of Cary Pilato were tarnished by his rude refusal to accept my congratulatory handshake. It underscored his propensity to say what sounds nice but not what he truly believes. He indicated during his discourse something to the effect that people had the right to disagree but that we were still all friends and neighbors. Apparently I am not considered a citizen who deserves the same respect that I pay him.

Both Javier and Phyllis graciously accepted my heartfelt congratulations.

The Latest From Late Night Comedians:

Conan O'Brien-10/31/07 -"Last night during the Democratic presidential debate, Senator Barack Obama accused Hillary Clinton of frequently changing positions. After hearing this, Bill Clinton said, 'I wish.'"

Until Next Time,

Ben

Where are the Republicans and Independents?

Photo: 2007 Bound Brook Democratic Candidates: Ben F. Auletta, Anthony "Tony" Pranzatelli, Debbie Cozza, Javier G. Vasquez


Where are the Republicans and Independents?

Today (Sunday – Oct 28) the Courier-News published information on all local candidates for election. click here for The Courier News Election article

C-N requested information from all candidates, weeks ago. It is painfully revealing to see that the Bound Brook Republican candidates and the one Independent candidate did not provide any information about themselves. This omission underscores their lack of real interest in meeting their responsibilities as citizens, besides revealing their disrespect to the citizens of Bound Brook who are entitled to hear from those who seek to represent their interests as elected officials (you will not find them on cable TV (See our speeches below), nor in the Star-Ledger either – but you will find the Democrats). It makes me wonder if they really care to be elected!

Every single Bound Brook Democratic candidate did communicate his or her outstanding qualifications for public service.

It is these very same qualifications and abilities that encouraged me to seek to recover my former seat on the council.
· Javier Vasquez – a conscientious current councilman who attends most community events because he really cares about Bound Brook. Has appropriate education and experience. Takes his responsibility seriously and does his job. Has leadership ability – works amicably with citizens and other officials and has developed valuable contacts throughout the state. He would be a Mayor that we can be proud of and one that would not bring embarrassment to Bound Brook.
· Debbie Cozza – a former councilwoman with a distinguished record of community service and governing experience.
· Tony Pranzatelli – an independent businessman with energy and creativity who will bring a fresh view to the council table.
· Ben Auletta – with years of experience and service in business and government operation with special expertise, education, and training in finance, planning, and cost reduction techniques.

I am excited about the possibilities for real progress in “putting Bound Brook first”. A new Democratic council has the potential to be one the best in the history of Bound Brook. From my conversations with citizens I am convinced that there are two very real concerns – high property tax and property market value.

The first is obvious – it simply costs too much to live in NJ. Even paying off the mortgage does not give you complete ownership of your property. You always have a landlord – the municipality that you live in – and they are always raising the rent. The reputation of living in a flood-prone community together with these high taxes exerts a downward pressure on property market value.

Our team’s main concerns are:
· Getting flood project completed
a. Make daily contacts by borough officials, together with citizen volunteers to keep updated on status of project
b. Keep badgering and pressuring anyone who is in a position to help secure funds from Federal, State, and county resources to complete the project now. Stop ignoring the needs of Somerset County’s oldest community -30 years is an unreasonably long time to wait. We have been patient long enough – especially when we see how much government money is being spent all around us. Maybe we need to develop a basis for action through the court system.
c. When project is complete – turn our attention to redevelopment to generate increased revenue and improve property market vales in community.

· Real Estate Tax
Thoroughly study current Borough Government organization, policies and procedures with an eye towards re-engineering them for more efficient operation and instilling true control systems in order to control costs and deliver enhanced services. Need to demand more economic support from higher levels of government and seek worthwhile grants and shared services opportunities.

· Dealing with our changing demographics

With your help – and of course your votes – we can succeed.

Links to speeches and Interviews: My Interview with the guys at http://www.08805.com/ here is the link: Ben Auletta, Sr. Interview (if this link does work go to http://www.08805.com/) all other speeches can be found at http://www.08805.com/
Here are speeches from youtube:
BB Seniors Candidate’s Night My SpeechThe other Speeches can be found at Link To Other Dems Speeches
BB Candidate’s Speeches from Piscataway TV Candidates Forum My SpeechThe other Speeches can be found at Link To Other Dems Speeches

Until Next time

Ben

The Latest From Late Night Comedians:
Conan O'Brien 10/18/2007-"Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich caused some trouble this week, because he was campaigning in Red Sox territory while wearing a Cleveland Indians hat. Apparently, somebody walked up to Kucinich's wife and said, 'Tell your son to take off that baseball hat.'"