Letter to the Editor

I Care about Chelsea

As a Chelsea resident, I am energized by the campaign for City Council.  But, at the same time, I am saddened by the surge of negative campaigning.  Beginning on primary day, I have witnessed some dirty tricks including racist remarks about candidates as well as vicious gossip.  On primary day, several people informed me that they were told that they could only vote for one at-large candidate.  Of course, we have up to three votes for at-large. Recently, it has gotten even worse with signs being ripped down and a candidate being insulted in the presence of their child.  I resent this no matter who the target is. I know who the perpetrators are and you know who you are. I am not asking for an apology. I am demanding that you cease and desist RIGHT NOW.

It is no secret that I am a committed supporter of Damali Vidot. This letter, however, reflects my own view alone. Damali has been honest and transparent from day one about her life — about her mistakes as well as her accomplishments. It saddened me months ago that she had to revisit and trot out her teenaged foolishness, just to run for City Council.  I said it months ago and I’ll say it again today: who among us has the nerve to judge her on some nonsense that she was involved in as a 17 year old, 20 years ago???  Not I, for sure, unless I plan to run for the biggest hypocrite on the planet.

During the past few weeks, it has been raining trash, such that I’m sure would never be leveled at a male candidate.   As a voter, I will not vote for anyone who engages in this nonsense.  I get why you are doing this.  Because you have no grasp on the issues facing our community, you turn to character assassination against those who struggle every day to educate themselves on the issues, those who have the courage to speak truth to power.

I am only interested in electing people of quality to Chelsea City Council.  I believe that I am not alone in this hope and commitment.  I don’t care about the ethnicity of candidates, the color of their complexions, their gender,  their sexual orientation,  their religion  (or the lack thereof ) or what languages they speak — much less what they may have done during some lost weekend decades ago.  I do care about the quality of their character, their work ethic, their intelligence, their honesty and their commitment to the people of Chelsea. I CARE ABOUT CHELSEA! I care about today.  I care about RIGHT NOW!

Maureen Cawley

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