Middletown Dreams: Tony Perry and the Great Reorganization
The Middletown Mayor delivered a speech that defines Middletown and offers it as a roadmap for New Jersey and America.
Middletown Township, Monmouth County - Most headlines you’ll read today are about stump speeches and caucuses in some far off land set between cornrows and, well, cornrows. We often forget that history is not made every four in some rural part of Iowa. It’s made every day and, right here, in our own backyard.
That’s why I started Main Street Musings, so that I could tell the stories of the current and future history makers right here in our home— and we are as abundant in legend and leadership as Iowa is in corn.
Middletown’s Reorganization Day this year is proof of this.
Avengers—Reorganize.
On a rainy Sunday, residents piled in to the newly-built municipal building. The local heroes of Monmouth County made their rounds. Commissioner Director Tom Arnone made his rounds with his signature affability. Sheriff Shaun Golden lead those in attendance in pledging allegiance to the “greatest symbol of freedom in the world.” Former Mayors Peter Carton, Tony Fiore, and now-Assemblymen Gerry Scharfenberger took their seats to witness the next in their lineage.
Mayor Tony Perry now stands behind the dais before a standing room-only crowd. He has again been named Mayor in the 360th year of Middletown, sworn in by former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. For the former staffer and now mentee of former Senator Joe Kyrillos, seated in the crowd with a proud smile, this is not merely a tradition—this is a vocation.
Perry’s Mayoral Address was a departure from the administrative minutia that plagues most reorganization days—but Perry’s address focused on why this municipal exercise and its pomp and circumstance is important, and why it matters to America.
Referring to Travel and Leisure magazine’s listing of Middletown as one of the top ten best places to live, Perry noted that the accolade is not just a credit to the Township Committee alone.
“It’s a testament to our countless volunteers, to those who work tirelessly advocating for our students, and to every individual who does the small things that quietly transform Middletown into that shining city on a hill.”

A shining city on a hill.
Yes, the timeless adage of John Winthrop and Ronald Reagan derived from Matthew’s gospel, that which “cannot be hidden”— both a burden and blessing that Middletown knows all too well. It is in this city - rather, township - where history is born, raised, and lives evermore.
“I’ve spoken much about our history,” said Perry, having announced Middletown’s partaking in the America 250 celebration with Monmouth County and the preservation of the Murray farmhouse, where Joseph Murray’s stand against the redcoats is still local legend.
“But,” he continued, “Middletown is no stranger to being front and center.”
Perry’s speech harkened back to the devastation of September 11th and Superstorm Sandy, reflecting on the power of Middletown’s perseverance in a way that one reflects on an exorcism: celebrating the power of love, sacrifice, and hope that casts off the evils of the world.
“I inherited this history when I became Mayor,” he said, “thanks to the leaders before me and their wisdom, and I made sure that my legacy would be to leave Middletown better than I found it. I knew that it would not be possible without leaning on the storied strength of our community.”
That strength was leaned on heavily during the pandemic, when it was Perry’s turn to lead Middletown amidst global confusion that tested the neighborly legacy of the township.
“Middletown, once again, answered the call and we led,” said Perry. “We lead the way despite the seemingly endless punches thrown at us. We have witnessed our strength, our resilience, our fortitude.” Then, after a slight pause as he gazed upon the crowed, a confident profundity overcame him—
“I think America can take a page or two out of Middletown’s history.”
Perhaps alluding to his leadership in contrast to his fellow Middletown resident, Governor Phil Murphy—but rather than take shots at the man determined to make New Jersey the California of the east coast, Perry painted a vision of the America of recent history, with Middletown holding the brush.
We watched what happened in our schools and how our children were pawns in political gamesmanship and we took action.
It’s easy to say that you’re for preserving history and our environment yet never yield to those who make overdevelopment their religion.
It’s easy to say you’ll head to Washington or Trenton to fight, but when politicians spend years, sometimes decades in office, and not deliver results for our communities, we the people need to tell those who are not willing to fight to hang up their gloves and put someone in who can take on the punches of the world and deliver them right back.
Here in Middletown, the spirit of America has been thriving for 360 years, and it continues to flourish.
What does it mean to be American?
That was the age-old question that Mayor Perry posed to the audience. Throwaway terms like freedom, liberty, justice - sure, they’re precepts of America as a concept, but what is the identity of an American.
Perry wasted no time in providing an answer. This was his Joseph Murray moment:
”The answer is not found in halls of power, nor will it come from any edict out of Trenton or Washington: the answer comes from Middletown, where our families are the building blocks of our community, where history is preserved and celebrated, and where the worst of the humanity never wins, because it is always met with the best of ourselves.”
As applause broke out, Perry took it all in. This was not just some great “Jimmy Stewart before the Senate” classic of American rhetoric. This was deeply held belief of everyone in Middletown- indeed, everyone in New Jersey.
Yes, those of us in the alleged “armpit of America” have pride in our home, because so much of what is great about America is found right here in places like Middletown.
Neil Peart was right.
I think a lot about the late-drummer from Rush. In my younger days, I thought about how incredibly awesome it would be to play that insane sixteenth-note, series of triplets, syncopated drum solo from Tom Sawyer.
Now, I think about his poetry. What moved him as the lyricist for the late 70s’ answer to titans like Cream and Led Zeppelin? Most drummers (myself included) just bang away and groove out. For Neil, and perhaps Tony Perry, their rhythm is more measured and intentional. The pulse of their groove lies in the people they met.
Neil Peart on a thousand-plus mile motorcycle traversing the world, Tony Perry traversing his beloved home - both men remain grounded by the people they meet and the stories they tell.
”As we embark on this journey to spearhead the great New Jersey comeback,” proclaimed Perry. “Let us remember that the strength of Middletown lies in each of us. Every small business owner, every student, and every volunteer contributes to the success of our community.”
Middletown’s strength lies in its people. With record droves of people being priced out of existence and moving out of New Jersey, those in Middletown choose to remain. Whether it be storms or pestilence, political uncertainty, national tragedy or enemies of free people cornering you outside your home and making you choose between fealty to tyranny or certain death — America’s people have overcome, and Middletown was proof of that.
Who knows what the next test of the American spirit may be, but Tony Perry gave the answer that rainy Sunday:
”This road ahead will be long and it will be filled with challenges, but remember, in Middletown, we don't just face challenges; we overcome them. We don't just dream; we achieve.”
Reorganization for Middletown was not merely just appointments and administrative minutia: it was an opportunity to pause, reflect on our country, and the role we all play. If we better understand why places like Middletown persevere and thrive, perhaps we can better understand — perhaps, reorganize — a broken New Jersey and a broken America.
Tony Perry believes that, so did Neil Peart in his own way, and I left Middletown feeling that way too.
It's understood
By every single person
Who'd be elsewhere if they could
So far so good
And life's not unpleasant
In their little neighborhood
They dream in Middletown.
-Middletown Dreams, Rush (1985)
LISTEN: Full audio of Mayor Perry’s 2024 Mayoral Address
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