Dear editor:
Are we being represented or threatened by those who want our vote?
I recently attended a county political party meeting and a candidate was given an opportunity to speak to those in attendance.
This candidate won the primary, but almost 60% voted for one of the other candidates.
This candidate is upset about a “write-in” campaign for the candidate that came in second. The candidate expressed frustration, hurt feelings, and felt insulted and wanted the county party to make a formal public endorsement and a monetary contribution to his campaign.
What I found very disturbing, was that it sounded to me like this candidate made a subtle threat on more than one occasion to the county political party, the county voters and those in attendance.
The candidate pretty much said that if an endorsement of support and/or monetary commitment was not received, and he still won in the General Election, he would not be very interested in working on behalf of this county political party which would by default also include the voters in the county.
As a constituent, I would have been much more impressed if the candidate had said something like “If I don’t receive the endorsement and/or monetary support, and still prevail and win the General Election, I want to tell the county party and the county voters that you will see me work harder to represent you in my next term. I have obviously let you down if you won’t endorse or support me. But I will work for all the voters to earn their support, even those that didn’t vote for me.”
Well Amen to that!! But nothing remotely close to this was said.
Instead, what I heard was if you don’t support me, I’ll write you off like a bad check. What a slap in the face to those voters in the county that did support you, because you’re basically turning your back on them.
I hope voters will keep this in mind when casting any vote on November 8th, “are we being represented or threatened by those who want our vote?”
Nancy Morgan
Crook County
