×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Was this just a coincidence?

By Sherry Dutzy - State Representative – Ward 3, Candidate for Board of Fire Commission – 2-year term | Oct 9, 2021

Let the games begin. Maybe it was just a coincidence that one team of candidates for Alderman-at-Large didn’t appear at the League of Women Voters Forum on Wednesday night. They all had carefully-crafted statements read by a library staff member, but apparently, all three had prior commitments so they were unavailable to be present to take questions. Wow, now that’s a coincidence, especially since three of the four who did show up have other responsibilities of an elected office.

Let’s be clear here. Transparency and accountability are about showing up and answering questions. If candidates can’t make time to elaborate on their values and state their positions on issues of importance for Nashua in a non-partisan forum, that should raise a red flag.

One candidate’s carefully-crafted statement talked about respect for all voters. It was that person whom I witnessed at the microphone at a recent public hearing screaming for 3 minutes, denigrating Mayor Donchess and an 18-year-old college student, and making statements that had little demonstrative value to the matter at hand.

In their letters the candidates said they would “represent the people of Nashua”. That sounds nice. Well, will you represent both me and my neighbor when we take opposite positions on an issue and want you to vote for “our” position? How do each of you plan to accomplish that feat?

As an elected official, I put my values and positions out in public. If voters agree with my values and, therefore, my judgement, hopefully they will vote for me. If they don’t, they will vote for others whose values align with theirs. That’s OK. That’s democracy. The person who has the most voters

supporting them wins.

But when voters don’t even have the opportunity to drill down on those values and positions by asking questions and hearing the candidates’ answers, then it is time to reevaluate who gets your vote. Please don’t vote for a name or a party. It is my experience that unqualified, ideology-focused candidates depend on people who will go to the polls and vote based on party or for a name they recognize without having a clue as to one that person stands for. That may have worked in the 1980s, but not today. Do your homework and know which candidates best represent your vision for Nashua. Unfortunately, that becomes harder when one team decides not to show up.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *