Several wonderful events have taken place over the past six months or so: President Barack Obama's time in office came to an end; Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election; Donald Trump won the election and became the president; and last, but not least, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch was recently confirmed as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

These indeed have been a series of wins for the nation and we, the people. If there were to be icing on the cake, it would be a huge loss by Democrats in the 2018 congressional elections.

Locally, the Republican Party has been lackluster over many years and I was told at one time that I was too conservative for the party. So, I left the GOP and became an independent. But all that is about to change.

I have it on good authority that going into 2018, the local GOP will be a party to be reckoned with, and pretty soon everyone will know who and what the party stands for. It is about time.

Many good things have been happening since Obama left office and Trump took over. We, the people, must continue to push this current positive trend by not allowing complacency to set in.

We must hold the current GOP-led federal government accountable, and hold its feet to the fire. As for the Democratic Party, it is self-destructing all over the place, and I do hope that trend continues.

Jimmie Hollis, Millville

Rullo rocks for N.J. governor

The June 6 primary elections are approaching fast, and political party leaders are scrambling to get their chosen gubernatorial candidate on the endorsed "line."

It seems to me that Democrat Party leadership has already made up its mind for one candidate, but the Republicans are still in a state of confusion over a nominee. In Gloucester County, for example, the leadership is backing Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

In October, Guadagno announced that she did not plan to vote for Donald Trump, a move that many saw as an endorsement for Hillary Clinton. She also sent signals that she is distancing herself from Republican Gov. Chris Christie, the highest-ranking GOP figure in the state.

I question Guadagno's allegiance to the Republican Party. Another GOP contender has caught my attention for many reasons. Joseph "Rudy" Rullo, an Ocean County businessman, is a candidate who resembles President Trump. He is not a politician. He has plans to help every New Jersey resident and its business community, while draining the cesspool in Trenton.

In a state that leads in so many negative rankings, a leader like Rullo -- who is not connected to the political cult -- is the best choice for governor on the ballot.

New Jersey is a leader in political corruption and it exports people, jobs and taxpayers' dollars. Unless Rullo is on the ballot in November, the Republicans will not have a voice in the general election for governor.

Giancarlo D'Orazio, Washington Township

Editor's note: Guadagno and Rullo are two of five Republicans seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination. The June 6 winner will face the Democrats' nominee in the fall.

Sweeney's is only viable school aid plan

When it comes to the very serious school funding problem in New Jersey, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney has presented the only viable plan to resolve state aid inequity. His plan is to make sure every school district gets exactly the amount for which it qualifies, according to a 2008 school funding formula.

His plan removes "Adjustment Aid" and the "Growth Cap." These provisions were added to the 2008 formula for political reasons. Adjustment Aid allows districts with declining enrollment to keep receiving all the aid that they qualified for in 2008, thus becoming overfunded in terms of state support. Meanwhile, districts that have seen dramatic enrollment increases have become severely underfunded because of Growth Cap limits. This is fundamentally wrong and unfair.

Gov. Chris Christie said in a Feb. 28 budget message that he wants to sign school funding reform within 100 days. Sweeney's plan is the one that should be sent to him.

Tom Sullivan, West Deptford Township

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