As we enter another local election cycle, there is opportunity yet again for residents to determine the course of local politics. Nothing offers individuals a more direct voice in the governance of their day-to-day lives than local elections. Tax rates, water and sewer rates, zoning, growth management philosophies, etc. are all impacted by those individuals we elect to local office. To that end, local politicians and their appointees to the various town boards and committees have more impact over our daily lives than do any others.
Though there has been progress and tangible achievements during the last 9 months in terms of my “7 Point Plan”, there is little doubt that this past year has been accompanied with its share of strife and disappointment. Few would deny that on the whole, the current Board of Selectmen is in a state of dysfunction. Collectively (as in working on the whole for the good of all residents) nothing substantive has been undertaken or accomplished by those of us who are responsible for providing the political, moral, and ethical leadership within the community. This is disturbing and quite unfortunate. Jointly, the Board of Selectmen has failed to demonstrate a true Power of Example as it relates to the ethical transmission of our affairs.
Collectively, we have failed to set - or for that matter even maintain - a standard of appropriate conduct by which others in the community could benchmark their own actions. Instead, we have for the most part ignored the self-serving and manipulative actions of our Chair, while condoning - through our collective silence - the deceit and misrepresentation of fact that has marred the Town Administrator's search.
The Board’s collective desire to “move on” and address other less-controversial issues has, in my view, cost us the respect and support of many within the community. We have failed to demonstrate the importance and value of integrity, honor, and personal accountability – the very values we profess as vital to our children’s welfare. We have failed to provide the direct leadership by which others in the community could aspire and have instead demonstrated self-serving arrogance and contempt for the truth.
Some would argue, and indeed, the acting Town Administrator (an employee of the Board of Selectmen, currently serving as the Chair’s point person) has stated that the current state of discourse on the Board falls on the shoulders of this selectman. Clearly, there may be merit in that argument. Had I simply turned a blind eye to the concerns surrounding the Town Administrator’s Search process, the frequent and somewhat dubious ethical practices of Chairman Blanchard in support her husband’s coronation as Town Administrator, one could reasonably argue that the unsettling discourse experienced these past months would not have manifested.
As well, had I remained silent while individuals were attempting to usurp the Town Charter – our very constitution – one could surmise that relationships on the Board of Selectmen would have remained undamaged. Certainly, one can reasonably make the case that I bear some responsibility for the Board’s current state of dysfunctionalism in that I have refused to remain idle, turn a deaf ear, or a blind eye to governance based upon self-serving inducements. To that end, I accept full responsibility for remaining true to my campaign pledge of principled, objective, open, and accountable governance.
Interestingly, I yesterday received an electronic correspondence generated to a mailing list encouraging residents to "run or recruit" individuals for elective and appointive office. The underlying theme of the email highlighted support for “pro-growth” candidates. It spoke not of the need for integrity, character, objectivity, or principled representation, but rather focused on pro-growth candidates who might bring a breath of fresh air to town politics. Hmmm, was this not the same argument that ushered the “pro-growth” candidates to the Board nearly two years ago? Could not a strong argument be made that little has been accomplished by same in terms of adding to the quality of life here in Sturbridge?
Thus far, one individual has stepped forward to seek our support for the position of selectman. He is by all accounts an honorable individual and one who has demonstrated character in the face of adversity. His graciousness last year witnessed by his response to a 14-vote defeat says much about him. I consider him a friend and a genuinely good individual. To that end, few if any have had occasion thus far to doubt his integrity.
My purpose here should not be misconstrued to indicate support or lack thereof for a particular candidate. Rather, it is merely to suggest that a prudent course of action would remain mindful that campaigns based upon pro-growth or limited growth, development of Route 15 or not, the expansion or reduction of Open Space purchases, etc. etc., are of little significance if there is cause to doubt the integrity of anyone aspiring for our support. True prosperity will come as a direct result of honest and transparent engagement of the issues facing our community.
Perhaps, as voters, we might focus our efforts on those qualities that will truly lead us to a path of economic prosperity and cultural vitality. Qualities such as honesty, impartiality, selflessness, and commitment to principled governance will provide the greatest foundation for ensuring our economic viability. When residents trust their elected officials and have confidence in their objectivity, they are generally more engaged and more supportive of the steps taken by those representatives on behalf of the community. Surely, the reverse is true when trust and confidence are lacking.
Would it not do us all a great deal more good to distinguish our candidates based upon the content of their character as opposed to the simplicity of whether or not they support growth on Route 15? Would we not do our community and our children more justice to seek and support candidates who would serve as solid roles models of integrity, objectivity, and principled governance? Should we not aspire for leadership that fully recognizes its responsibility and accountability to all residents within the community, as opposed to any particular group? Do not our children deserve the best leadership we can provide them?
Interestingly, in the weeks preceding Scott Brown's election, I was inundated with emails from individuals here in Sturbridge touting the need to return integrity to government. There was great fanfare about the importance of restoring transparency, objectivity, and balance to the governing process. Many voiced their concerns about the ethical improprieties that have become commonplace in all too many aspects of government. Scott Brown seems to many as the answer to these concerns. But one has to question why we should not be as equally vigilant in our concerns as it relates to the most basic level of government (i.e. locally)? Do we not hold the same set of values in terms of our locally elected officials? Would it not be to our benefit to demand the same integrity, transparency, objectivity, and balance here where it truly has the greatest impact upon our daily lives? I trust that whoever we elect will remain ever mindful of their obligation for principled governance, as nothing confronts us more directly than local politics.
There is little doubt that time will tell.
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