Broken promises and hopeful signs: I told a friend I'd only blog this if I finished my library book, which is due (after a long wait to get it & one renewal) tomorrow. I reneged. I had to get in the last GOP event I attended before I try to help out at another one. Jim Saring made sure to pass on an invitation to magisterial district judge candidate Oscar Vance's meet, eat & greet event at the Glenside VFW. It was a chatty, fun event, and I was glad to get a chance to meet the candidate and some members of his quite impressive family. As I mentioned to a family friend, it will be gratifying to see Montgomery County's chief of detectives get the support he deserves. I have no doubt that wise minds in the local GOP will rally behind this smart, hard-working guy, and I'm certain he will woo Democrats to support him, too. I was delighted to see Jon Fox there and more charming than ever. He remains the patron saint of grassroots politics and everyone's favorite adopted uncle. The GOP social/election season continues full swing with a candidates' breakfast and a Monte Carlo night on the horizon and the county Republican committee's fall dinner on tap for this evening. The dinner is being held at Westover Golf Club, famous for among other things its owners (baseball great Mike Piazza's family) and the regular Friday night dinner my family has attended for over 25 years. This year's speaker is the co-chairman of the RNC, Jo Ann Davidson. On my calendar for next week, the biggest "todo" has to be the reception for gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann Tuesday evening. Yes, all the candidates are expected at the fall dinner this evening. But this moderately-priced event will showcase two guys who deserve some attention: Swann and Vance. I've heard of some people I know asking the former wide receiver some interesting questions like: "Why are you a Republican?" My instinct is to like Swann a lot, and to be open to what both he and the rest of the field have to say. The goal in the gubernatorial race is twofold: Choose the best candidate for the GOP and then get that man elected. I'm behind a successful campaign that sees both of those goals met, and that means a fair fight followed by party unity. Speaking of campaigns in progress, I just have to post an update on my absolutely favorite candidate: He's been working hard in Monmouth County; his signs are out, about & sharp looking, and somebody shared some polling data with him that is not displeasing. Or so I heard.

I have known Atlantic Highlands Borough Council candidate Peter Doyle for some time, and I have at least as many positive things to say about him as I do the marvelous borough he calls home. He and I met at a Republican campaign function. The event was, incidentally, not a fund-raiser. It was held on Veterans Day, and, as a result, I have often thought that I have Pete’s strong military career to credit for bringing him into the circle of folks dearest to me. One of his siblings, also an active Republican, extended the invitation to him. Nearly five years after meeting him, I am still glad he decided to take her up on it. I am proud to have Pete’s friendship and devotion. I am, of course, also glad he has been brave or foolish enough to run for municipal office -- and I’m glad he represents the party I’ve come to see as the logical forum for bright young people who aspire to serve their communities. Anyone would be fortunate to know Pete. He charms people with his quiet, steady style, and it’s not just window dressing. He has stood by me through difficult personal events, not the least of which happened on September 11, 2001. Most families who were directly affected by the events of that awful day must be weary of -- and not inured to -- lesser stories of that adversity, so I’ll spare you the details. But Peter, who is by nature a fairly private person, was willing to open his home to a slightly estranged friend, no questions asked. He was emotionally supportive and accommodating at a time when many people, no doubt himself included, had faced some of the worst circumstances of their lives. He acted bravely on that September 11, and he has acted with consistent kindness ever since. I have always known him to make time in his schedule to live by his principals. He has always shown a tremendous devotion to family and friends, and he has never forgotten his roots or his responsibility to his fellow man. I have never seen him shirk a responsibility, and he is steadfast and loyal, almost to a fault. I have occasionally waxed eloquent about my own family’s record of public service: I boast about my sisters who are respectively a school nurse and counselor and a teacher. I am equally proud of our homemakers, family men and entrepreneurs. But I am perhaps proudest of my father, who had the guts and tenacity to serve as an elected official in the township where I was raised. He also was a Republican, although I know he always thought he worked more to help the area and not to gain power or practice partisan politics. I am proud of anyone who puts a hometown, borough or township ahead of themselves and wants to invest his or her personal resources to benefit the community. Pete has been fortunate enough to hear some of the great statesmen of our country speak, and he has been exposed to leaders in government at practically all levels. I know what he’s seen and heard in his military career, his private career on Wall Street and his fledgling involvement in the world of elective politics have made a strong impression on him, and I know that he wants to make his own corner of the world a better place. His family and his schooling instilled him with high ideals, and he has worked hard to live up to them. I have great faith that Atlantic Highlands will be a richer community, in all the best senses of that phrase, if it has someone like Pete watching out for it. And those who take the time to talk to him may find that they are enriched by knowing him.

OK. Enough with the spam comments. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to turn word verification on. I am, however, quite open to legitimate comments.

I'm sending this out as a bit of a mash note to our embattled head of government ... from a chick who graduated from a United Methodist-founded college by the skin of her teeth. Also, I'd recommend the Christian Science Monitor's well-reasoned and fairly even-handed reporting on Harriet Miers.

More social column-type stuff, without the boldface names or photos -- and as always with an attempt to always be pleasant and good: My dear, dear friend had his Meet the Candidates brunch today. It was good; he was good, the food was even good. The view, as usual in his area of the world, was terrific. What a beautiful day! I didn't run into anyone who didn't seem interested and there was an acceptably reasonable level of earnestness. (I realize I often have to tone myself down in that department from time to time.) In short, everyone there seemed nice and everybody I saw seemed to have a good time. What more could you ask for at Sunday brunch? We even got to go across the street, check out a cool car show & pet some beautiful pooches. Speaking of nice people who had a good time, I finally managed to get to Penna. State Sen. Rob Wonderling's annual outdoor funfest this year. It was worth the wait. I failed in my attempt to drag my superlatively wonderful mother to the event, which is a picnic plus plus plus called Wonderwing. Apparently there were about eighteen hundred people there this year. I helped some of them find their parking lot or parking space. I also helped myself to three buffalo wings (two mild, one spicy), some celery & bleu cheese, one cheeseburger, one hot dog and a couple of sodas and waters. Hey, it was a good looong event ... There was also spin art (remember that?) and somebody gave me two gourds which will constitute my entire Halloween decoration effort. I put in one single chance on one of many groupings of cool sports trading cards. I didn't win, but it was great to see some very happy looking people who won everything from baskets of Pennsylania wine to kids art baskets to an autographed football ... to gift certificates for a ride on an airplane and handfuls or gift certificates for massage therapy. My kingdom for a handful of raffle tickets or a blank check for auction items! A big crew of my Eastern Montgomery County cohorts were there, both having fun & volunteering. Wonderling's staff and supporters seem fairly universally smart, hard-working, fun and interesting. Again, waiting a couple of years to get my butt to this bash at Spring Mount (2005 was the 4th annual) seems silly to me in retrospect. But better way late than never, for sure. I'm headed back to work tomorrow after my flu/bronchitis/battle with exhaustion/really nasty ick/whatever my doctors want to call it. I'm grabbing a nice long nap before I face the rest of this fabulously beautiful day.