The aftermath of Upper Freehold's June 5 primary election would be comedic if it wasn't such a blatant insult to our intelligence.

The primary actor in this election farce is Mayor Stephen Fleischacker, who is perhaps the most intellectually dishonest politician I have ever seen in action.

In three dizzying days Republican Mayor Fleischacker went from not running for re-election; to independent write-in candidate; to filing a petition to run as an independent simultaneously with Democrat Jen Coffey; to running without Coffey; to endorsing but "not running with" Republican nominee Stan Moslowski; to denouncing the other Republican nominee Lori Horsnall-Mount.

This spin-master extraordinaire, who will say anything and use anyone to get elected, was just warming up.

Mr. Fleischacker then announced he is running as a "preservationist". He appears oblivious to the contradiction that he is also the chief proponent of a "Smart Growth" township master plan based on bringing high density town centers to open space which just might turn out to be owned by some large landowners who support him.

Mr. Fleischacker is not bothered by the fact that Washington Township Mayor Dave Fried has said "Smart Growth" has devastated his community or that Millstone wants nothing to do with the stupidity of "Smart Growth".

He is not troubled that Barry Wright is but the latest highly respected member of the Planning Board to quit while denouncing Fleischacker's "Smart Growth" plan to destroy what remains of the rural character of Upper Freehold.

Fleischacker, the faux-preservationist, reached the absurd pinnacle of his spin-campaign when he attacked fellow Republican Committeemen Bob Faber and Steve Alexander as pro-development. Faber was one of the first farmers to place his 180 acres into the state farmland preservation program at significant personal financial sacrifice. He ran for office and has governed on a consistently preservationist basis. Alexander has sponsored ordinances to control rampant development and has been sued and villified by many of Mr. Fleischacker's supporters for his efforts.

Mayor Fleischacker is no preservationist. In my opinion, he is a pro-development con artist who thinks he can bamboozle the voters. Those of us who are tired of his unprincipled personal agenda have a responsibility to speak out and make sure he suffers a resounding defeat this November.

Chris Berzinski

Upper Freehold