To the editor:

I, Madeline O'Dell, am running for a spot on the Charter Review Commission and I will try to explain why.

Having served for four years on the Budget Committee, it scares me when someone  running for the Charter Review Commission is saying to abolish the Budget Committee.  On the one hand they talk about democracy but on the other hand they do not want to see democracy at work in the form of a separate Budget Committee.  The Budget Committee is what you call "checks and balances" in government.   As opposed to the Town Council, they concentrate solely on the budget.  It is like comparing apples and oranges comparing other towns whose Town Council does the budget and Tiverton.

 The second thing that scares me are those who want to do away with the Financial Town Referendum.  The most undemocratic thing in Tiverton was the Financial Town Meetings!  Firstly, usually not more than about 400 people ever went to them, therefore deciding the budget  for thousands,  as well as the intimidation factor that was always present.  Going back to the FTM means going back to the possible 8,9 and 10% or higher tax increases, remember?

Maybe there was only one budget this year but that was the exception rather than the norm.  In past years the FTR worked fine and will continue to do so if people who put in alternate budgets do their due diligence first and put in a valid budget, as has been the case up to this year.

I want to be the voice of reason - fix small flaws in the Charter and leave what works alone.  I would hope you would consider voting for someone like myself, who knows a lot about town government and how it runs, is familiar with the Charter, and only wants to do what is best for all residents of the town.

Madeline O'Dell

Candidate for Tiverton Charter Review Commission.