Opinion: On ‘Candidates and their civic responsibility’

To the editor:

First let me say that anybody who runs for public office deserves our respect. This is especially true for those making their first serious attempt to run a campaign. We need people to step up and it is this willingness that permits our system of government to function. For these newcomers there will be some missteps, and we have just seen an example of this locally. A candidate fails to respond to an invitation to engage with the public, in this case from the League of Women Voters. The League publicly expresses its disappointment in local media. The candidate responds the following week, explaining that an invitation by mail was not delivered and an emailed version had escaped his notice until after the League acted. 

Be that as it may, the candidate then seeks what he refers to as “a retraction” with respect to the letter from the League to the media. A retraction refers to taking back something that was said, usually because it is untrue, offensive or both. This was not the case in the letter from the League which merely stated the facts. Facts are not subject to retraction, fortunately. Worse was to follow. The candidate then writes that he objects to the League’s letter (quote) “as it does not accurately reflect my willingness to participate.”  In his very next sentence however he announces that he will not be participating “given the recent developments and circumstances.” What do we make of this? The candidate was willing until his feelings were hurt?  Sensitivity, I would suggest, is hardly an asset for anyone entering the unforgiving political arena.  So, we now have a candidate for office who is largely unknown and who is apparently content to maintain that status. I have moderated candidates’ night for town elections on behalf of the League on a couple of occasions. These events provide voters with the opportunity to learn something about each candidate’s background, experience, qualifications and priorities. Choosing to forego this opportunity, particularly for a newcomer, is, in my view, a serious error of judgment. It has also resulted in the League canceling the event entirely. It had been scheduled for Oct.17 at Old Rochester Regional High School and was to feature a debate between the two candidates vying for state representative. How has this benefited anyone?

Don Cuddy, Mattapoisett