Like many local issues, the debate over the Jacobs Creek Bridge in Hopewell appropriately elicits passionate debate from all sides. However, one particular group has resorted to baseless, vicious personal attacks against my wife, Mayor Vanessa Sandom, and against me -- falsely accusing us of a conflict of interest, or outright corruption.
The October 26th Hopewell Township Committee meeting was hijacked by these individuals, who resorted to stealing the podium in order to repeatedly cross-examine the Mayor, and to promote their own political agenda, despite clear instructions from the Township Attorney that such use of the “public comment” was not allowed. Their accusation is that I have had a professional relationship with Johnson & Johnson and, therefore, that Mayor Sandom’s position on Jacobs Creek Bridge favors Janssen Pharmaceutica, which is part of J&J. As is typical of such mud-slingers, these individuals claim they are innocently “seeking transparency.” However, the following quote from Ashley Kerr on their website belies this seemingly noble contention: “I don’t understand why Mayor Sandom is so adamant… Could it be because her husband… owns a biotech company of which Johnson and Johnson is now manufacturing their new DNA drug? Hmm…” This kind of Swift Boat ad hominem attack is hardly an example of “seeking transparency”!
Here are the facts. I have never had any business relationship or interest in J&J whatsoever. Since February, 2008 I have been a Director of Perlegen Sciences, Inc., not an owner (although Ms. Kerr eventually corrected that element of her accusation). Since my joining the Perlegen board, the company has had absolutely no business dealings with J&J. Although Perlegen did do some work with J&J three years prior to my joining the company (as well as with the majority of major pharmaceutical companies, plus 11 of the 12 Institutes of the National Institutes of Health), that line of business for Perlegen ceased prior to my joining the board. I also work as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry; however, I have never done any business with, nor solicited any business from J&J.
Beth Kerr, in making her public accusation at the Oct. 26 Township Committee meeting, stated that “I know that Ms Sandom has mentioned that her husband hasn’t been involved, but we have this wonderful thing called Google… and a company named Perlegen did pop up… and your husband Carl J. Seiden is on that Board… and in 2005 Perlegen did collaborate with J&J on a project.” How pathetic is it that opponents on a local issue like the Jacobs Creek Bridge would mine Google with the specific intent to search for dirt on a politician’s family, and then manufacture lies built on that “research” solely to personally attack those they believe oppose them. Such statements are defamatory, and damaging to my professional reputation. Perhaps more importantly, they are reflective of the worst in American politics – that is the effort to do anything to personally attack and discredit those perceived to be a political adversary – let the facts be dammed.
Those who serve as elected officials and volunteers in our local government dedicate countless hours to what is often a thankless task. Bless them all, regardless of their party affiliation or position on specific issues. There is no place in the process for those who are so blinded by their certainty, and so devoid of a moral compass, that they resort to baseless personal attacks rather than focusing on healthy constructive debate on the issues at hand. Those who enjoy the political support of these individuals are tarnished by the association. I sincerely hope that the people in this community are more thoughtful and insightful than assumed by those waging this smear campaign.
Carl Seiden
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