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Editorials
It was the last week to enter political testimonials in the Lancaster Bee “Letter to the Editor” section. Once again the Lancaster Democratic political machine found minions to enter or sign written testimonials supporting their endorsed councilmember, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
However, I found the dispersions cast upon Richard Sherwood, who is primarying endorsed incumbent candidate John Abraham, both amusing and ludicrous.
It is not this Party unaffiliated (blank) writer’s intent to defend or support Sherwood in his quest, but rather to address the statements made by Bee individuals supporting Abraham while maligning Sherwood at the same time.
Over the past 10 years, as a regular attendee at Town Board meetings and pre-meeting work sessions, no one has bumped heads with Sherwood more than this writer. Others who have done likewise have come to share the belief that Sherwood was but the guardian of the vault, doing the town’s bidding and protecting town officials back ends.
The one Bee writer finds Sherwood’s attacks on health care insurance buyouts hypocritical considering Sherwood receives lifetime health benefits. The writer forgets to mention that Sherwood’s 30+ years of town service put him in a tier that allowed for such benefits – benefits that the town has tried to deny him, while at the same time board members and other town elected official accept $6,000 in insurance buyouts.
Several Bee writers speak of Abraham’s commitment, his demeanor and his concern. Others see Abraham as a “Conservative” appointed by the Democratic Party to do their bidding, and so far many residents believe he has filled that position well and that the status quo in town continues.
We can continue to dislike Sherwood for his past practices and demeanor, but many of us can’t accept the manner in which he was discharged and with no reason given.
Whether Sherwood’s decision to seek election is predicated on bitterness or not, his campaign platform first and foremost is what needs consideration.
Whereas Abraham declares that despite some residents coming before the town board to criticize the board of wasteful spending, he has found going door-to-door that many residents are happy with the town provided services and that it’s a great community to live in, Sherwood sees wasteful spending.
Sherwood refers to the purchase of the Walden Avenue Colecraft building; the borrowing of $1.85 million to purchase the building, the yearly interest being paid on the loan, the lost town revenues with the building off the tax rolls and the maintenance upkeep to house only the detective squad and to store equipment and materials.
He refers to the failure to sell the vacant Depew library or to use it as a community resource center with computers available for resident use and the thousands of dollars recently lost in the purchase of the Supervisor’s new Tahoe.
He refers to the abusive practice by town elected officials to get health care buyouts if they or their spouse have another source of insurance. Sherwood would introduce a resolution to disallow the practice. “If they have health insurance from an outside source, then they should meet the trust the public placed in them and decline the town provided insurance,” says Sherwood.
Sherwood says he is running because the board lacks leadership, especially when it comes to controlling spending.
The Democratic Party voters will have an opportunity to choose a candidate that walks the status quo town line or one that believes spending is out of control and that board leadership is wanting and who wants to take the town in another direction.
Meanwhile, we “blanks” will be waiting to hear from Republican Party candidate Marianne Scime on what her campaign policy will be after the primary is over with. Then we will have our say!
At least we have choice this year. What direction the people want the town to follow will be interesting.
What should be kept in the mind of voters is that regardless of who wins, they have to do it all over againg next year. That alone should spur them on to do some good if they are elected!
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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