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LETTER: Rating candidates for Clinton Selectman
Fri May 04, 2007, 05:00 PM EDT
Clinton -To the editor:
Various “key issues” were described in a forum and the candidates were asked what they would do. Some of the so called “key issues” were not ready for a decision but possibly they were thrown in as trick questions. Take the purchasing of Rauscher Farm issue for example: the options are not on the table, the numbers are not worked out, however the candidates were asked to make a $2,500,000 decision with taxpayer’s money.
Savvy candidates like Dickhaut, stated “there are many, many questions” and Haley “I would like to see a formula showing open space is the best use.” The other candidates were already decided. Stahl supported buying the farm. “We can take out a 20 year bond and end up using money we would have spent on increased community services.”
Mendoza didn’t need information, he commented “open space is important.”
Candidates were also asked to respond to issues that were ready to decide. Take the issue about the Brandli property to be used as an unsupervised range. Former selectman Dickhaut’s response was immediate, decisive and accurate: “I am adamantly opposed to it;” “The rifle range was purchased in 1930s, it was not in a neighborhood, it was not in the backyard of a cemetery, there were no schools or ball fields nearby.”
Haley would support the rifle range if the lease satisfied noise complaints, he also stated “It cannot be ignored that the rifle range is located in a developed area.” Stahl dismissed the issue as unimportant compared to the “so many other issues and problems.” Mendoza was not concerned about the residents in the area either and stated “His experience in the military taught him that safety must always be stressed when dealing with firearms.”
The rifle range issue can be turned into a win-win situation easily. The gunman can do a Google search with keywords “rifle range Massachusetts” they will find 33 places. Hopkinton, Milford, Hudson, Boylston, Worcester, Harvard, Orange just to name a few. So it is a win situation for the gunman because they can go and shoot in a nearby supervised range.
It is a win situation for the residents because they will have peace in their homes. It is a win situation for residents of Clinton while they visit and meditate at the cemetery. It is a win situation for the school children because they will not associate freedom with being able to do whatever you want with complete disregard to the rights of others.
After the forum, I rate Ms. Dickhaut “2 out of 2” as a capable selectman to handle our issues, and Mr. Haley “1.5 out of 2” and the other candidates as zero (no disrespect). You can rate different, because we are slightly biased, however any politician who uses tax money paid by every resident and does not serve to enhance the quality of residents lives equally, cannot be a fair politician.
Please vote for the Dickhaut/Haley team.
Ahmet and Winsome Erkan
Clinton
