So….I didn’t expect to be updating this blog so soon! However, this is just so incredible that I needed to share. Thank the good Lord that we have a sense of humor, otherwise we’d be irate. As you all have seen on here and if you are a FB friend we always ask permission before putting signs on people’s lawns. Anything less would be disrespectful. We also do not put signs on the same properties as my opponents…it’s basically campaign etiquette when dealing with private property. And, let’s face it….Deptford has enough space to go around, right???? My opponents on the other hand see my signs and either through false pretenses (I’ll get to this in a minute) or disregard for the owner’s permission they have been placing theirs next to mine. Today 6 of my signs were stolen! We walked the neighborhood of Jericho tonight to hand out information as we have been trying to do around town daily and the people who had our signs said they were there at 7 and gone by noon. Now remember, we are not having fundraisers or contributions and these signs are expensive! I don’t know where their money is coming from (they failed to submit their C1, D1 or A1 form as we did according to the New Jersey Campaign Financing and Lobbying Disclosure-Election Law Enforcement Commission- see link below ) but even if it’s their own, there are 3 of them and 1 of me.. I know they read this blog so I respectfully ask that you, my opponents, cease this deceptive practice and stop the illegal activity! I also spoke to residents who said they didn’t give their permission to place the signs. One woman was called and asked if the caller could put Obama signs on her property. She agreed…just got out of the hospital and had no idea that they instead put their BOE signs. She asked a neighbor to remove them! (that was the deceitfulness I spoke of above) I have no intention of stooping to their level and removing their signs. And about their signs…..THIS is a riot…..they didn’t even bother to change their slogan on their signs from the last election, only their names. Get this, they are the “citizens for change”! That’s weird, no? How can they be the citizens for change when they are the incumbents….are they going through a metamorphosis??? OK, that was snarky….but for real??? I don’t get it! So, I ask….what are they suddenly going to change? They are all incumbents voted in 3 years ago….except Mr. Wilson, President, he was APPOINTED a little over a year ago. And if they have this big idea, why aren’t they implementing it NOW!!!!! If you have an explanation for this motto, please comment below! I’m at a loss and you can probably tell by now, that doesn’t happen often!!! I am your NEW voice for EDUCATION!!! Bottom line, I can’t afford all of the signs they have purchased, so if you don’t see as many they were either stolen or we ran out….it’s definitely not a lack of effort. Signs don’t earn a vote….honesty, integrity, face to face interaction, good intentions and a qualified, goal driven person does!
My husband has the debate on right now and ironically the following statement seemed fitting: Four years ago Obama said this:
“If you don’t have any fresh ideas, use stale tactics to scare voters. If you don’t have a good record to run on, paint your opponent as someone you should run from.”
This really resonates to me after these tactics today. Another man of brilliant words said: “No, I won’t back down, I’ll stand my ground….you can stand me up at the gates of hell but I won’t back down!~Tom Petty
Shout out to the kind and supportive residents of Bridlewood, Bexhill Farms and Jericho….YOU ROCK! Everyone else, I need a clone…I am trying to get to all of you :) And to Barry Newman…I again am humbled and honored after reading your Letter to the Editor in today’s Gloucester County Times!!!
http://www.nj.com/gloucester/voices/index.ssf/2012/10/letter_stacy_gray_the_one_to_p.html
PS….New Jersey School Board Association FAQ for candidates states:
43. Can candidates be endorsed by a political party?
There is no statute specifically prohibiting candidates from being endorsed by a political party. However, keep in mind that no political party designation may appear on the school election ballot. N.J.S.A. 19:60-1. It should be noted that the Commissioner of Education has traditionally frowned on political party endorsements of school board members as school elections should be non-partisan. I/M/O the Annual School Election in the Brick School District, 93 N.J.A.R. 2d 360.
And…for reporting of funds:
http://www.elec.state.nj.us/ELECReport/MultipleSearchView.aspx?Page=1&Office=B&Location=802
**** update Butch Berglund called me and promised it wasn’t him that drove by and the creepy description that I spoke of really bothered him. Because I am compassionate I told him I’d take the comment off. It was really irrelevant anyway!!! See Butch, I am a woman of my word :)
Stacy Gray For Board Of Education 