Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
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
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
Saturday, November 10, 2007
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
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
Friday, November 9, 2007
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)
Friday, November 2, 2007
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
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
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