Election activities unsettling

Contributed
Published: June 5, 2008

To the editor,
The article on election tactics in Orange County, last week, concerning our last supervisor election was disturbing at best and scandalous at worst.
We had a number of very capable candidates running for office and the use of fraudulent tactics under the guise of “the end justifies the means” was not necessary. Each of these candidates had their own merits they could run on. Resorting to false internet sites on opposing candidates and non-reporting of finances are more than “minor technical missteps.” They were a shameless affront to our citizenry by bringing into our political system something less than honest campaigning by those reportedly desiring our county to remain “rural.” These behind-the-scenes illegal activities have no place in our rural community.
Bringing in state and national level deceitful tactics are always distasteful, but certainly not in the best interests of our local political structure. These illegal election activities were perpetrated by a few relatively newcomer citizens who wish the best for the county in their point of view, but degrade themselves, the civic groups they are associated with and the county by said tactics.
Winning under such circumstances puts a dark cloud over the “success” of the top vote getter in District 2. Many of said votes were cast in ignorance of an underhanded and illegal/fraudulent, personality-bashing/negative campaign which was taking place in both District 2 and District 3.
Then there were reports of paid out-of-state poll and phone bank agitators supporting specific candidates - or was that another technological “misstep,” or just a rumor?
To further stir the muddy waters, our commonwealth attorney has been threatened with legal harassment for doing her job by the admitted law-breakers.
As a citizen of Orange County for over 70 years, I would hope for more honest and cleaner politics for Orange County. There is no room in Orange County for sleaze in our politics.
Bill Speiden
Somerset