Tough choice for Ocean GOP, easy choice for voters in November | Letter

The Feb. 18 editorial on Kate Gibbs winning approval of the Ocean County Republican Screening Committee asked a very important question: When should voters consider behavior “youthful indiscretion” and when should they view behavior as a pattern of poor judgment?  It is something voters  must consider when voting for our Congressional representative in November.

Editorial: Were Gibbs' mistakes youthful indiscretion or evidence of a character flaw?

At the age of 22,  our current congressman, Andy Kim, was one of 32 students in the nation to be awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for study at Oxford University.  This accomplishment led to an article about him in the University of Chicago News Bulletin.  Describing his talents and scholarship, Kim was praised by a professor of political science and thought not only for his “ intelligence and thoughtfulness” but his “ability to disagree while maintaining civility.”

Kim was acknowledged for an astonishing range of activities including playing cello, working in a garden in South Chicago for urban farmers, helping to organize a citywide forum on social issues, and for his extensive involvement with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. All this while maintaining a tough schedule of classes and excelling in all his coursework.  In the article, Kim stated that he wanted to study international relations at Oxford and hoped to eventually focus his work on refugee issues.

More:Kim addressing New Jersey's opioid crisis head on

This was Kim at age 22. At a similar age,  Gibbs was shoplifting, smoking pot and going to court numerous times for nonpayment of her rent.

The Ocean County Republican Committee does face a difficult decision at its convention next month. Should it support a candidate with a police record that should cause people to question her judgement, a district shopping carpetbagger who will go wherever a seat is open, or a small-town mayor whose motto is “Guns, God, and Guts”?  A difficult choice indeed.

The constituents of New Jersey's Third Congressional District have been well represented by a dedicated, brilliant, involved, committed and loyal public servant.  Our choice is clear.  Republicans can choose any of the three vying to run.  The best choice will always be to re-elect Congressman Andy Kim.

Barbara S. Blonsky

Mount Laurel