With great interest I read the many Forum letters about the upcoming election that have been submitted to the Valley News. They are an indication of civic engagement, strongly held convictions and the exercise of participatory democracy. Our right to vote is fundamental and of the utmost importance.
Given the enormous changes that COVID-19 has brought to our lives, we are also experiencing an unprecedented surge in voting by absentee ballot and, in other parts of the country, early voting. With good reason, many voters want to avoid crowds, lines and congestion that often characterize Election Day. Along with this increased demand for voting alternatives have come claims of possible fraud. These assertions have raised the stakes even higher.
As someone who has worked for the city of Lebanon at the polls, I have witnessed firsthand the neutrality and competence with which elections have taken place. Claims of widespread voter irregularities in New Hampshire in the last election were spurious and unfounded. I have every confidence that election results from our city will be accurate and as timely as a thorough job demands.
Amid the outcry that the election may be “rigged,” there is a parallel, growing concern that announcements may be made prematurely, disregarding absentee votes. As citizens we should demand that no election be “called” until all the votes are counted. This could mean that we don’t know the results of local, statewide or national contests for some days. We must wait for the results and honor them. It is essential that our elected officials are accountable to the citizens and commit to this course of action.
If you also value free and open elections, please make your opinions known. Vote and demand that all votes be counted.
LIANNE MOCCIA
Lebanon
The members of the Mount Ascutney School District Board have engaged in a most inflammatory response to a Facebook post by former Windsor School Principal Tiffany Riley (“Board fires Windsor principal,” Oct. 17). Their actions in terminating her employment have been a sorry demonstration of virtue-signaling and political posturing. Their statements have been tone-deaf and sadly full of partisan censorship and unctuous political correctness.
The board members have caused marked disruption within the school, led to extensive and unnecessary media coverage, and brought forth complaints from many members of the community who now question whether the Windsor School is a safe place for true education if ruled by the current hapless board members.
With their actions, the board members have failed to advance equality. They have led people to believe that the school is not a place of inclusion, but an exclusionary place where those who express even mildly dissenting views risk losing employment and personal security.
In their inability to openly and fairly discuss their concerns, the board members exhibited clear misjudgment, a consistent effort to evade blame, a refusal to admit flaws and a failure to see both sides of the issue. Any “other issues” that they may have had with the principal were belied by the fact of the two-year contract extension given to Riley earlier this year.
The board members have also burdened Windsor with significant legal costs. They have exposed the town to the real risk of a large monetary settlement that it can ill afford to pay.
They have made a mountain out of a molehill. The board members now stand on that mountain, wanting to be seen as glorious defenders of all human rights, when in reality, they just buried the rights of an actual, individual human.
This feckless, reflexive and hysterical behavior on the part of those board members should result in their public censure, prompt replacement, possible fines and the remedial instruction in civil discourse that I, too, could benefit from.
ROBERT S. SLOCUM
Windsor
I was appalled to read about the disgraceful treatment of Tiffany Riley (“Board fires Windsor principal,” Oct. 17), who was punished unfairly for speaking her mind in an intelligent, thoughtful manner about Black Lives Matter. Her comments were perfectly reasonable, sensible and actually quite mild. The Mount Ascutney School District Board’s decision to fire her was nothing less than despicable.
How unsettling and shocking to think that these board members — these “educators,” acting in unison like members of a dictatorial tribunal — are responsible for what and how our children learn. It is mob behavior on a somewhat higher plane. This kind of knee-jerk overreaction to any statement or action that contradicts the accepted extremist narrative is terrifying and all too common in this country today. Those who don’t bow and scrape and embrace the Black Lives Matter movement, including its openly Marxist agenda, without question or qualification are vilified and branded as “racists.”
The damage this treatment inflicts on the community and the nation is unfathomable. It flies in the face of common sense and decency. Even worse, it destroys the First Amendment protections afforded to us all.
JP WATSON
Fairlee
It’s distressing to read that the Mount Ascutney School Board fired a principal for posting her thoughts on Facebook (“Board fires Windsor principal,” Oct. 17). What happened to freedom of expression and the First Amendment? So you can burn a flag, but not post your thoughts on Facebook?
Too many people believe that Black Lives Matter is some kind of civil rights movement. It may have been for a few weeks, but no longer. The Black Lives Matter movement is in the control of leaders like Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza, who have called themselves “trained Marxists.” Their followers have vandalized, looted and burned cities, and it continues because the Democratic mayors controlling these cities stand aside, as well as reportedly order their police departments to “stand down.”
Millions of dollars in damage has been done to private property, businesses owned by people of all races and ethnicities have been destroyed, and those who owned them have lost their hopes, dreams and livelihoods, all at the hands of the Marxist-led Black Lives Matter criminal anarchists.
Now tell me why the Windsor School principal deserved to be fired for critiquing them?
JOHN NELSON
Wilder
I would like to respond to a recent Forum letter from state Sen. Martha Hennessey defending Rep. Lee Oxenham’s attendance at the Statehouse during the recent session (“Criticism of Rep.’s attendance was unjustified,” Oct. 14).
The public record shows that Oxenham had more than 54% missed votes (106 out of 195), even before Veto Day. Factor in her absence on Veto Day (20 votes), and she missed 126 out of 215 votes (more than 58%).
Sen. Hennessey’s letter claims that most of the work in the Statehouse is done in committee meetings and public hearings. Rep. Oxenham’s missing all those votes, however, is like an athlete who shows up to all the practices but only shows up to 42% of the games. It’s during the games that points are scored, just like it’s on voting days when the bills are passed.
Missing all those votes does a great disservice to Oxenham’s constituents, who elected her to represent them. I just want to make sure that the voters in Sullivan District 1 are aware of these facts.
MICHAEL ARON
South Acworth, N.H.
The writer is chair of the Sullivan County Republican Committee.
I know we are all reading many letters of support these days and hearing all sorts of reasons to vote for this or that candidate. I will keep this brief: Kate MacLean is running for state representative in the Orange-1 district and I strongly endorse her.
She is honest, hardworking, an advocate for multi-partisan politics and is a bundle of smart energy. As a Chelsea Selectboard member she has spearheaded the Chelsea Mutual Aid group during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has smoothly delivered assistance to many residents.
She is just the type of person we need to send to Montpelier with our concerns and desires and even demands. She listens and will act in our collective best interest. Please join me in voting for Kate MacLean.
TRACY PENFIELD
Chelsea
I have recently seen ads by New Hampshire state Sen. Ruth Ward claiming she has achieved results for Senate District 8 and felt compelled to respond. Sen. Ward says she has “kept her word,” but the reality is that her two terms have resulted in harmful decisions. Her votes hurt our communities.
In June, during the height of the pandemic, she voted against emergency COVID-19 unemployment funding (HB 1166) and voted against a bipartisan bill to support our nursing homes (HB 1246). Earlier this year, she voted against decreasing prescription drug prices (SB 686). She says she supports public education but votes to cut funding for public schools. She has been our senator for four years and we still don’t have broadband in many towns in our district. Our communities lack access to affordable health care.
Time and time again, Ward has voted against our best interests. Our district deserves better. It’s time for a change in leadership.
Jenn Alford-Teaster will support our public schools because she knows from her personal experience the difference a good public education can make. As a public health scientist who studies health care access, she is the right person to lead in these times and ensure that we have access to affordable health care. She has the empathy, life experience, and knowledge we need.
I’ll be voting for Jenn Alford-Teaster for state Senate from District 8, and I hope you do too.
VIVIAN DOLKART
Grantham
It’s more important than ever to support people who understand it’s not just what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. The same applies at the local level, which is why I’m voting for Carl Demrow.
Demrow has been a supportive presence in our community through the COVID-19 crisis, readily available to help anyone who asks. He’s there for every single constituent. I met him at his monthly “office hours” and have since followed his weekly legislative updates and his “Front Porch Forum” posts. His experience as a land conservationist, farmhand, carpenter, gun owner and hunter, and volunteer firefighter keeps him in tune with my town’s issues. His interest in healthy farms and working forests, affordable health care, education and statewide broadband access show him to be a champion for the rural economy and a sustainable future. I especially appreciate his work to ensure that Vermonters are supported in hard economic times, while keeping the budget balanced.
As a military veteran, I’m particularly pleased with his support for veterans’ issues. Check out his voting record for yourself.
Demrow knows his stuff when it comes to local concerns, and understands the big picture too. He tackles short-term problems but has an eye on long-term solutions. He’s open-minded, calm, fair, hard working, and smart. He knows how to listen and his response is always, “Let me know if I can help.” He’s a real asset to Orange County in the best American tradition of service to others.
Please join me in reelecting Carl Demrow in November.
REINA PENNINGTON
Williamstown, Vt.
Election day might be Nov. 3, but the election is already underway. I dropped off my family’s ballots at Claremont City Hall last week. I was excited to cast my vote for Ray Gagnon for Sullivan County commissioner (District 1), and I hope you will consider doing the same.
Gagnon has centered his campaign on Sullivan County’s most pressing issue, the economy. That’s not surprising, with our community poised on the cusp of an economic rebound. His past public service at multiple levels of government, including several terms on the Claremont City Council, equip him for preparing and managing the county’s budgets and resources. His communications and marketing experience will be excellent for promoting the county’s various assets.
But what really sold me on him is the easy way he talks to people. He takes pride in his “common-sense approach to government.” One can point to his past record of public service and achievements in office as proof of his suitability for the seat as commissioner. He has also received the endorsement of the outgoing commissioner, Jeff Barrette. But ask around and you’ll quickly find that he is respected for his ability to work across the aisle to get things done. We need more of that.
Everyone says we live in divided times. Well, if that’s so, then a key part of the solution to get past that division is to choose civic leaders who know how to bring people together. We need our local leadership to unify and rally others for the good of the community. Ray Gagnon is that candidate for District 1, and that’s why I hope he will receive your vote.
SAM KILLAY
Claremont
When I’m informed that limited government, free markets, easy taxes, speech and gun rights, or unimaginative readings of the Constitution are harbingers of impending tyranny, or that character is trumped by statistical data, or that those living in the present are justified in condemning those who lived in the past for having failed to live in the future, or that executive or judicial usurpation of legislative prerogatives is in any way consistent with the separation of powers or the rule of law, or that the pursuit of equal outcomes justifies the abandonment of equal opportunity and equality before the law, I am immediately made aware of two things: that the source harbors a profound and malevolent irrationality, and that he or she does not vote for Republicans.
To expand briefly on but one of the examples above, it’s self-evident that legal documents — of which the Constitution is our premier one — are created for the express purpose of thwarting innovative or expedient interpretations of their contents, but one of our two major political parties deems this incontrovertible fact to be an intolerable obstacle to the exercise of its will. And it’s the same one that’s once again threatening to pack the Supreme Court.
ANTHONY STIMSON
Lebanon
The Lebanon-Upper Valley Lions Club is sponsoring a “Scarecrows Coming to Lebanon and the Upper Valley” project. The project was designed to generate community spirit and pride and be a fun thing for families and businesses to do in this difficult time. To date, there has been little response.
The scarecrows need a home — in front of your home or business. There is still time. You enter the prize category, or just do one for fun. All money collected will go into our charity account.
There is more information on our Lebanon-Upper Valley Facebook page. Or you can contact Tom McGonis at 603-448-1729. The contest will last until the end of the month, with entries for prizes to be judged on Oct. 30. Good luck.
TOM McGONIS
Lebanon