WEST WILDWOOD — "Thank goodness my job as mayor of West Wildwood does not require me to keep past politicians here happy. I think I would fail there,” Mayor Herbert C. Frederick stated in a release made available exclusively to the Herald, following the recent Borough Commissioners meeting on Fri., Feb. 3.

“But knowing that my opposition has unsuccessfully tried to recall me twice and continue to sue me and the borough, losing those efforts, too, is the thing that gives me the energy to keep doing what I believe is in the best interest of the public. There is a reason that my opposition is not in office and I am," Frederick continued.

Frederick said he is encouraged by the misbehavior of two former West Wildwood elected officials.

"The days of tax and spend are over," Frederick stated. "My goal as mayor is to do what is best for the taxpayers, not necessarily what makes former politicians happy,” he continued.

"Their misbehavior in public is encouraging to me. They are angry and can't control their emotions. I am not going to buy their problem,” Frederick said. "My administration has basically dismantled the two former administrations' 20 years of give-away policies in one fell swoop. The two former mayors gave away superficial employee holidays that my administration has now dismantled through new contracts and policies. Our borough employees now receive the same amount of holidays that other towns in our state get and those that the State of New Jersey get," Frederick stated.

Changes as to how many holidays are celebrated by public employees in West Wildwood, reduced vacation time for employees and pay freezes instituted by this administration has allowed the Borough to keep all of its employees working and provides better service to the public. "West Wildwood is one of very few communities that can say they have successfully stabilized property taxes and is keeping all of their employees working. I am proud of that accomplishment and I see criticism of those accomplishments as a stretch for these two critics," Frederick announced.

"The days of the past when taxes go up every year and services decrease are over. The days of borough cars being given to family members and friends of politicians at taxpayers expense is over," Frederick continued. "Overtime and abuse of spending tax dollars are over. Policies that break the backs of taxpayers are over."

Frederick said that he also strongly believes that recent complaints filed in federal court by the borough that have implicated some former politicians in the borough may also have encouraged those ex-politicians “to misbehave in public.”

"The litigation initiated by my administration is our effort to recover more than $1 million in mismanaged land deals that has hurt taxpayers here. Enough is enough and if former politicians are upset that my administration is a whistle blower, then that is just too bad,” Frederick said.

"The taxpayers in West Wildwood have spent enough. It is time to correct the problems of the past, get spending under control and work hard to recover public funds lost due to possible questionable management practices of the past. I am encouraged by the outbursts of these two former borough commissioners. This tells me that my administration is on the right track. And we will continue on that track in the interest of the public,” Frederick concluded.