Edison, NJ – A familiar tactic has resurfaced in Edison’s political landscape, raising questions about the ethics and strategies employed by the local Democratic party. Former Mayor Tom Lankey who is now the Edison Democratic Organization Chairman, has been accused of orchestrating a political hit piece targeting Councilman Richard Brescher, leveraging concerns about public safety in a manner strikingly reminiscent of his controversial 2013 mayoral campaign tactics.
Critics argue that this repeated strategy is not only unimaginative but also fundamentally dishonest and designed to incite fear rather than foster an informed electorate. They accuse Lankey and the Democratic insiders of deliberately misrepresenting Brescher’s record for political gain. Brescher himself has strongly refuted the claims, labeling them as “outright lies” and accusing the former mayor of resorting to smear tactics.
“Mayor Lankey’s tactics represent the absolute worst of politics. Given his historical perspective, he should understand the consequences of resorting to such low level dirty political games. I’m deeply disappointed” said Councilman Rich Brescher. “My opposition to Mayor Joshi’s transfer of a million dollars from the police budget to insurance, voiced in November 2023, was rooted in prioritizing public safety.”
“Crime has increased 70% since Mayor Joshi took office according to the New jersey State Police Uniform Crime Reporting Unit and we see videos daily on social media of homes being broken into, demonstrating the cost of putting politics over policy. Most residents, I believe, share my concerns.”
The recent flyer against Brescher which were paid for by the Edison Democratic Organization, P.O. Box 1075 Edison, NJ 08818, boldly proclaims, “RICHARD BRESCHER voted against your best interests – including defunding the police.” It further elaborates with bullet points asserting that Brescher:
- Voted to defund the police, prevent the hiring of 11 new officers, and block $1,430,000 for police equipment and vehicles.
- Voted to defund the fire department and stop 14 new firefighters from being hired.
- Voted against providing seniors with free transportation, home repairs, and meals.
- Voted against ALL improvements to our water and sewer infrastructure.
The flyer concludes with the stark declaration, “RICHARD BRESCHER thinks he can lie his way to the mayor’s office.”
This aggressive approach bears a striking resemblance to a flyer distributed by Lankey during his 2013 mayoral campaign against then-incumbent Antonia Ricigliano. That earlier flyer, also heavily focused on public safety, made similar claims about Ricigliano’s record, including allegations of fewer police officers, corrupt hiring practices, and wasted taxpayer money. The language and themes across both campaigns suggest a consistent, albeit contentious, playbook employed by Lankey and now seemingly the Edison Democratic organization under his leadership.
The 2013 flyer claimed that “RICIGLIANO IS ENDANGERING YOUR SAFETY!” It alleged a litany of supposed failures by the then current administration, including a reduction in police officers, condoning corruption, excessive overtime spending, and mishandling police lawsuits. The flyer concluded with a dramatic question: “ONLY 8 COPS PER SHIFT NOW PATROL EDISON’S 32-SQUARE MILES. HOW FAST WOULD THEY GET TO YOUR HOUSE.”
“I can confirm the dangerously low minimum overnight staffing of eight officers continues today. This is the same insufficient number from 2013, during Lankey’s mayoral campaign” said one ranking officer speaking on the condition of anonymity due to department regulations. “Internally, we all recognize this as a significant safety issue for both officers and the community. Yet, inexplicably, the administration has failed to address it for over a decade – a baffling and irresponsible inaction.”
The intertwining of the current attack on Brescher with the echoes of Lankey’s 2013 campaign raises serious concerns about the integrity of political discourse in Edison. Using public safety – and now seemingly misrepresenting a council member’s entire record – as a weapon is a sensitive issue that can easily mislead residents who are understandably concerned about their community’s well-being.
While Lankey’s supporters and the Edison Democratic organization may argue that they are highlighting legitimate concerns about the town’s direction, the aggressive and allegedly distorted nature of these flyers suggests a prioritization of political maneuvering over honest debate. The repeated reliance on similar fear-based tactics from years past further undermines the credibility of these claims.
As Edison’s political landscape becomes increasingly charged, voters are faced with the task of discerning truth from political rhetoric. The resurfacing of Lankey’s familiar tactics now seemingly deployed by the Democratic party he chairs in support of Mayor Joshi calls into question the ethical boundaries of campaigning and the potential for misleading the electorate in the pursuit of political power.
Former Mayor and Edison Democratic Orgnization Tom Lankey did not respond to a request for comment.
