We are better than this

To the editor:

I’ve lived in Columbia County since 1982. Not until this year have I seen Republicans run such an unpleasant, divisive campaign. Chatham Town Board members have been vilified, accused of not working in the best interest of the Town, and even singled out and called things I won’t repeat here. The active campaign to discredit the Board’s work on zoning is especially disturbing, as it pits the Village against the Town and spreads misleading information about what the laws will and won’t do.

We are better than this. Introducing the lies and nastiness we see nationally to our small town is destructive and I hope it won’t be rewarded at the polls!

Personally, I’d rather reward people who have volunteered to work on committees and pitched in to make things better: Maria Lull spends on average 30 hours a week, finding ways to keep expenses down and the Town running smoothly. Her service to the Town on various boards started in 1997. Michael Richardson’s experience with town finance saved us many thousands of dollars and helped the town get back in the black. He serves on two Town committees and is on the Board, filling a vacancy. Gabriella Sperry is Chair of the Town Planning Board and serves on the Citizens’ Finance Committee. These folks have proven their worth.

None of the Republican candidates have ever volunteered for a committee, or shown an interest in participating in Town government until now — when they want to become the majority voice (with 40 percent of the vote coming from one household). Two of the 3 candidates didn’t come to the most important Board meeting this week. Topic? The Budget. Donal, who wants to be Supervisor, showed up for the last 15 minutes. The Town has a $3 million dollar budget and they can’t be bothered to come?

Finally, there’s this: the Republican candidates recently mailed a piece with a list of things they want to do. Every bullet point has either already been accomplished by the current Board, or is in the works. Elizabeth DiPalma

Chatham