I was a victim in a smear campaign

I think anyone who knows me knows that I have always been a pretty middle-of-the-road person when it comes to life. I pride myself on trying to listen to both sides, not jumping on bandwagons, and always getting my facts straight before I make a decision. When meeting someone new, no matter what other people say about them, I would only try to let that person’s character and my experience with them be the only scale on which to measure that person.

I worked in a print shop after graduating from Hoffman high that helped me pay my way through community college and through one semester of Rutgers U. I was an adult part-time student who took full course loads just so that I could get my degree sooner so that I could get out in to the real world and start working a career.

A friend’s passing back in the mid-90’s was one of the lowest points in my life. I couldn’t focus in college and dropped out for a year. During this time I began substitute teaching and started playing in bands. My focus became clear: I wanted to continue in music to honor an old friend and also wanted to pursue a career as an educator. It sent me on the road to where I am today. With the ambition that my parents bestowed upon me I was able to focus in on my new found goals and achieve them.

After Barb and I bought a house in 2002 and got married in 2003, I soon realized that one job was not going to cut it. Like many hard-working Americans, I tried a bunch of jobs from lifeguarding, deejaying, bartending, and warehouse work, until I finally found something that I could make descent money at- real estate. In my first year of real estate I didn’t make much (maybe I had a closing or two), but much like the lessons I had already learned in life, I realized that you only get back what you put in to it. Fortunately, I put a lot of time in to it and was able to make it a fruitful venture.

In 2007 I began volunteering in South Amboy so that I could give back to my community. I served on the planning board. I thought that this might be a board where I could lend my knowledge of real estate and also learn a thing or two on how the process gets done. I learned a lot under board presidents George Forrer and Mike Wilday.

My desire to keep a roof over my head and to give back to my town has had its drawbacks as well. It has cost me countless hours of watching my children grow up and I have sacrificed a lot for my family. I am sure if you are reading this, you know what I mean. We all feel as though we put in so much and we sacrifice ourselves and our lives so that we can make our families lives better. That is the whole point to me- sacrifice now and we will have a better tomorrow.

Unfortunately, I am writing this to tell you about how I have been robbed of this over the last year. When the infamous “8 page letter” came out, it changed me. That letter defamed my parents in such a way that it caused me to change again. I know my mother is in a public position and people get to voice their opinion about how she is doing- that’s par for the course. But when someone calls your mother and father names and brands them with lies, THIS is unacceptable and would not be tolerated by any child of any parent.

This letter was obviously put out by someone who needed to defame the mayor, the current administration and many others. It has caused turmoil in my life, but it has also caused me to fight back.

Last year I organized the “Hamburger Helper Bar Crawl”. I don’t think many people really understood the point, but they followed me on my journey. I don’t think it was political as much as it was taking a stand. The whole reason for the crawl was to answer the letter and the comments made about my family with a little show of support and a little bit of humor. I made it my mission to send a strong message that it is not acceptable to defame a person.

After the bar crawl it became apparent that I had stirred the pot. People that my wife and I considered to be good friends were no longer there. People who I thought were acquaintances were standing next to me arm and arm. It became an eye-opening experience. But I guess one person made it her mission to want to defame me.

I have never shared this but I will today. Kate McLaughlin has changed me. She is the one that I give full credit for bringing me to where I am today. She involved me in politics. And why, you may wonder, would I give credit to Kate? Because she is the perfect example of the reason why we can’t let people with little experience and understanding have a place in government.

After the bar crawl, Kate began posting about me on the South Amboy forum. She began to use innuendo and planted seeds that I was using my position on the planning board to benefit my clients and line my own pockets.

She would bring up townhome projects in town and state that she had done her research and had found that the “board” had voted to waive sewer connection fees for a new townhome project (fyi: whenever new construction is built there is usually a fee for that new project to connect to the city sewers). Then she went on to say that if a person involved in this project were on the “board” that voted for this waiving of sewer connection fees, then this would be unethical and illegal. Then of course my name began to pop up in the forum . Kate began creating an entire thread of lies about the whole situation.

To make matters worse, she began to post up my personal information on the forum. She posted my salary, she posted information about who I am and what I do. She started to dissect my life and hang it out to dry in the forum. And why did she do this? Because I am the son of the business administrator and it will hurt the Democrats in the election.

She tried to use me for political gain. Her and her family are supporters of Mary O’Connor and it seems that they will stop at nothing until they let everyone know that they believe the current administration is corrupt. So this is why I got in to politics- ridiculous right? I have come so far in my life without ever having to get my hands muddied with politics. So I had to defend myself now, my reputation, my family.

I did what any of you would have done- I fought against the lies. I got the correct information together and prepared for the next council meeting. I sat there, surrounded by the support of my family, and waited for the right time to speak.

Kate addressed the board first and criticized the mayor and council about the supposed “waiving of connection fees” for Mechanicsville Developers. She stated something like …it’s not fair that that money from this project be waived and not be utilized by the people of South Amboy. The mayor tried to respond to her and explain that he was not aware of this, but she did not listen.

I then had to get up in front of the board, state who I was and explain why I was at the meeting. I held up a copy of the paid sewer connection fee bill from Mechanicsville Developers and explained to the board and to those who were in attendance that Kate was obviously mistaken.

Kate, in my opinion, likes to comment and state claims in such a way to confuse people. She does her research up to a point it seems and then points everything to a predetermined conclusion that fits her needs. It almost seems like she has a conclusion already drawn and then she looks for information to support it. For example, she never clarified that the ZONING board voted on Mechanicsville Developers. Second, she never explained that they waived only the INTEREST of the sewer connection fees, not the entire sewer connection fee.

Finally, she never made it clear that I served on the PLANNING board, not the zoning board. After that meeting, Kate didn’t show up ANYWHERE, on either the forum or the planning board, for about 6 or 7 months.

I am hoping that as you read this you have compassion for me and put yourself in my shoes.

I want you to know that Kate is the type of person that will take the lives of innocent, hardworking people (like myself) and throw them in the gutter just to forward her personal agenda. I am now and forever involved in politics thanks to her. If someone like Kate were to do this to you, would you be involved in politics? I am guessing that you would. I know my friends, and I strongly believe that if you worked hard all of your life for what you have earned, you would protect your family and yourself with every last fiber of your being.

Finally, I know the election is on everyone’s mind. It is a tough time and it is definitely a tough economy. Things are tight and when we are all just struggling to get through, it becomes very easy to listen to those who want to criticize those who are in control. I am a taxpaying resident of South Amboy and I feel as though we all need to make the right decision on November 2nd. Before you pull that lever and make your choice, be sure your pulling it for the right candidates and for the right reasons.

Yes, there have been many half-truths, lies, and rumors over the last year. The goal of these smear campaigns have been to make your feel a certain way about certain candidates. Take a step back and look at each candidate carefully before you make your decision. Don’t base your decision on rumors and lies started by people like Kate McLaughlin. By basing your decision on information from people like this or the NJ.com forum, then you have been misled.

Furthermore, this would mean you think that I also am a criminal who has been lining my pockets as a planning board member. I think everyone who knows me can speak on behalf of my character with regards to this issue and can see clearly that I was a victim in a smear campaign targeted against my mother and the city. Just think, if they can create lies and defame me, imagine the lies they have created about the people running for office.

Thanks for listening.

Ryan Tooker

This letter was written by Ryan Tooker, a dedicated and sincere young person in our community who clearly describes the unsavory tactics and evil motivations behind those small people who can only advance themselves by dragging down others. We urge you to share this link with other interested residents of South Amboy!