This group, Teaneck: End the Madness, was supposed to be about Transparency, Integrity and Financial Responsibility in Teaneck.

Instead, it became a campaign tool and for that I apologize.  I was mislead by what I thought were good intentions.

The free questioning of those running for public office and of those elected is a cornerstone of democracy. Modern social media ought to enhance that righteous pursuit.  When the group Teaneck: End the Madness was created, Stephen Gruber tapped me as an administrator because of my history of volunteerism and commitment to the ideals of democratic governance and I accepted because I then believed he shared my notions of transparency and accountability. Many Teaneck residents joined the group after I spoke to the Board of Ed last year and stressed how critical to a well functioning democratic order openness and communication are.

Unfortunately, Mr. Gruber’s  actions while running for council have forced me to reconsider any support I might have initially considered giving him. He seems poorly suited to the responsibility of being a council person. I posed a question for him, as I would to any candidate, where I challenged a particular idea of his about tax policy that he had put forward in a letter to the editor. To my total shock, my posting was summarily removed by Mr. Gruber. He simply did not like my challenging question and so deleted it.  He also specifically told me to stop asking such questions.

Even worse, Mr. Gruber also questioned my motives, going so far as to ask me if I’m on the payroll of another candidate, which I definitely am not.  This behavior of his is abhorrent and certainly I  am not the only person about whom I have noted Mr. Gruber making public insinuations.

Last week Mr. Gruber  again used his administrator privileges to delete some of my criticism.  But this time, he also silenced my voice completely by deleting me as an administrator from the group he had asked me to co-found!

From the standpoint of governance and democratic ideals, this puts his behavior beyond the pale as to what I consider acceptable for an elected leader.

Dissent is healthy. Mr. Gruber acts like a totalitarian. I cannot see him working well with others that challenge his views. I am forced to state I do not support Mr. Gruber’s candidacy and I urge you not to vote for him on May 10th.

We deserve better.

Keith Kaplan