Recently, I received a pamphlet from the three Democratic candidates for county elective office. The theme of their pamphlet is “Monmouth County needs leaders we can trust with our money and our future.” As a student of finance at the Wharton School of Business, I couldn’t agree more.

However, I don’t think these three Democrats are the leaders we need to secure our money or our future. This is because I also read their recent news release in which they criticized the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders for “continuing their financial mismanagement of county government.” They claim that the county’s debt level is too high and makes up for too much of the budget.

Shocking, right? It would be, if only it were true. I read another article in the very same newspaper stating the freeholders have been able to maintain their grand slam “triple A” bond rating while the state government — under Democratic Gov. James McGreevey and the legislative leadership — has had its bond rating lowered due to poor financial management.

These bond ratings are given by Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investor Service — the three largest national investment rating services in the country. Each rating service has commended the Monmouth County freeholders for their outstanding financial practices and has given Monmouth County the highest bond rating possible. This has only been achieved by 17 counties out of the nation’s 3,000. On this issue, Freeholder Amy Handlin — who oversees the Monmouth County Finance Department — deserves special recognition.

How can we trust these Democratic candidates who are so misleading and obviously have no knowledge of financial practices? Monmouth County is a wonderful place to live. The Republican freeholders have helped make it so, and I want to keep it that way. So, in November I’m voting for Sheriff Joe Oxley, Freeholder Amy Handlin and Matawan Mayor Rob Clifton. Intelligent minds will do likewise.

Michael Toto

Freehold Township