Iam writing in response to the article concerning the decision of incumbent Republican Milltown Borough Councilman Randy Farkas to run as an independent (Sentinel, June 11).

Mr. Farkas indicates in the article that he does not wish to be beholden to any individual or entity providing him with a campaign contribution. The reality is that his party has disowned him because of his dismal leadership and his relationship as a member of the Fourth of July Committee with high-end commercial users of Milltown electricity.

During his tenure as president of the council, Mr. Farkas presided over a 70 percent increase in electric rates paid by residential consumers. When asked why the borough did not choose to burden high-end commercial users with such an increase, Mr. Farkas said that they already pay enough. Perhaps he was confusing their electric rates with their contribution to the Fourth of July Committee. As chairman of that committee, Mr. Farkas has tried to bolster his image by collecting large donations from those same high-end users.

Additionally, Farkas has yet to explain what is being done with the roughly $1.7 million surplus generated by the electric rate increase. This enormous surplus came from the pockets of Milltown residents trying to make ends meet in this difficult economic time.
Liz Westbrook
Milltown