Dear Editor:

We and many other concerned citizens are appalled and, frankly, disgusted by the venomous personal - and false - attacks on Carol Marsh, a dedicated and hardworking public servant, delivered almost daily to our mailboxes courtesy of "The Hoboken Democratic Organization." The glossy full color flyers are Hoboken's version of the "Swift Boat" ads created during the recent Presidential election.

Mayor Roberts, do you approve and endorse these ugly tactics? If you do, you should put your name on the line instead of hiding beneath the skirts of the Democratic Party bosses.

And what is so threatening about a councilwoman seeking to displace a Mayor who has increased the city budget by $20 million over the past four years and presided over an $8 million budget shortfall - the biggest budget deficit in Hoboken's history - while selling out our future to the real estate developers who have overrun the City, profited handsomely and left Hoboken holding the proverbial bag of future police, fire and sanitation costs?

The attack mailings filling our mailboxes reveal the answer: the Hudson County Democratic Party bosses and Dave Roberts are running scared they will be booted out of office and deprived of another four years of profligate spending without concern for the future of the city or the taxpayers who will ultimately bear the burden of their excesses in higher tax bills.

We are angry we helped elect Dave four years, relying on his promises that he would be a force for responsible government and reform in the City. Instead, he quickly fell into "business as usual," cronyism and duplicity and now is part of the very problem he said he would eliminate. Selling city property to close operating budget shortfalls is not prudent fiscal management. Will City Hall be the next property on the Mayor's auction block?

We desperately need a change and a Mayor who will not kowtow to the Hudson County Democratic Party machine. Carol Marsh is that person, and we urge all voters to avoid being duped by the baseless attack ads that the moneyed Hudson County interests are spewing out.

Jim Aibel and Beverly Savage