To the editor:

Let’s face it, the more citizens involved in the political process, the more its complexity increases, exponentially.

Every citizen has equal say, but there are too many of us to carry on debate to its logical conclusions. A pure democracy can often be unwieldy, we'd all be old and grey by the time everyone spoke and then agreed on such a conclusion, which is why we set a date to vote on issues and policy. Whether debate is completed or not, debate ends upon election day.

Many people choose not to debate for whatever reason, and instead choose to elect or appoint someone of like mind to represent them. This modified democracy is called a republic (as in “and to the republic for which it stands”), and we rely on those officials with the expectation they will work in our best interests - often with our tax dollars.

Thanks to the Financial Town Referendum (FTR) in our town charter, the townspeople of Tiverton have a direct vote on their taxes, and thereby don’t absolutely have to entrust town officials with their tax dollars. Through the FTR petition process every voter has an equal voice to both access the FTR ballot with a budget proposal and or vote for the FTR proposal.

Some candidates for the Charter Review Commission complain that other candidates are focused solely on the FTR. As stated earlier, every citizen has a voice and is entitled to express it, but at present the only chatter I hear about the town charter regards the way we decide to be taxed.

The Tiverton Taxpayers Association (TTA) respects the taxpayers’ ability to control their taxes through the FTR process, and the TTA candidate slate plans to review the town charter with the same respect for the taxpayers’ voice, using your feedback before recommending any charter changes to the Town Council.

Please learn more about me and the TTA slate at tivertontaxpayersassociation.org/CRC2017 and on Cox cable NCTV – 18 (Richard Urban Show and TTA Candidate Forum). If you would like to help us by hosting a lawn sign or just want to learn more, email us at info@tivertontaxpayersassociation.org. And there is a postcard insert in this very paper that you can bring to the polls on Tuesday July 18.

I have owned and operated a business in Tiverton for 19 years and I have lived in Tiverton for nine years. Although selling the product I manufacture on Riverside Drive has taken me all over the world, I choose to call Tiverton home because at bottom it is a very nice place to live. This is my first time running for public office and I humbly ask for your vote.

Raymond D. Fougere

Tiverton

Candidate for Tiverton Charter Review Commission .