GOP submits petition on property tax issue BY KRISTIN BOYD Staff Writer Middlesex County Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel last month called for a statewide constitutional convention to address property tax reform, a hot topic across New Jersey. But Andrew Tidd and Geoffrey Champion, this year's Republican candidates for the Board of Chosen Freeholders, said Crabiel's call exceeds his power. The pair instead is asking Crabiel to convene a convention among the 18 state legislators from Middlesex County, 13 of who are Democrats like Crabiel. "There is no way possible for Crabiel to convene all of the state's legislators," Tidd said. "It's not within his power to do so. But during the past 13 years, he could and should have pulled his own legislators in the county. Where was his action then?" Tidd and Champion presented a 73-page petition with more than 700 signatures supporting their suggestion during the freeholders meeting last Thursday. Most of the signatures, Tidd said, had been gathered during the Middlesex County Fair, held in East Brunswick earlier this month. The petition states that those who signed it are "fed up with the failures of our county and state leaders to address the worst tax and budget crisis in New Jersey history," and calls for the convening of the local legislators, and the cutting of county spending on "unnecessary projects that waste millions of taxpayers' dollars." "Frankly the taxpayers of this county have already grown jaded of his calls, and they still have not received relief," Tidd said. "His calls ring hollow. He is simply trying to grasp the coattails of something that is already in the works. The governor is already working on a convention." Crabiel, who could not be reached for comment, wants Gov. Jon Corzine, state Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts and state Senate President Richard Codey to work toward putting a limited sate constitutional convention on the upcoming Nov. 7 general election ballot. In accordance with the state constitution, the question must be added to the ballot 70 days before the election. Crabiel plans to formalize a resolution for the full freeholder board to approve. He will also approach the New Jersey Association of Counties and the State League of Municipalities. According to Tidd, Crabiel is setting his sights too high and his efforts are too late. The freeholder director, Tidd said, should have convened local legislators in recent years to tackle property tax relief and come up with solutions.