To the editor:

This letter is specifically intended for registered Democrats in Barrington and Warren. If you live in Hampden Meadows, Rumstick, the area around Barrington Town Hall, North Warren or Touisset, Jan Malik has been our representative to the state General Assembly since 1996. I write this letter with the hope that it will convince you that Rep. Malik’s term as our representative should come to an end.

Despite being elected as a Democrat, Rep. Malik does not reflect mainstream Democratic values. For example:

• Rep. Malik voted against the amendment to authorize gay marriage in 2013.

• He has consistently earned, and currently still holds, an A+ or 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association. Recently, Rep. Malik stated in a Barrington Times letter that he has not accepted campaign contributions from the NRA in the last six years. Why is it okay to accept such donations for the first 14 years of his tenure?

• Rep. Malik voted in support of classifying seat belt violations as a primary offense. According to the National Institute of Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union, this has been exposed as a standard practice to institutionalize racial profiling into police activity.

• He has a 23 percent rating from the RI American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the lowest rating for any Democrat in the Rhode Island state legislature.

• He failed the 2014 Vote Smart Political Courage Test. Vote Smart is a national, bipartisan organization whose mission is to provide free, factual and unbiased information on candidates and elected officials. Rep. Malik’s failure is due to the fact that he refused to answer the questions. The Political Courage Test measures officials’ willingness to provide citizens with their positions on key issues. Many officials, fearing that their opponents might use their positions in attack ads, refuse or only respond to a few questions that they deem as “safe”.

It’s time for change, and a candidate who reflects our values as Democrats. That’s why I’m supporting Jason Knight and encourage your readers to learn more about him. 

You can check out his stance on issues like the above on his website at www.jasonknightri.com. Like his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jasonknightri/ to receive updates directly from his campaign. Jason is a Rhode Island attorney with experience dealing directly with everyday residents and will work to bring more transparency to the statehouse. He is also a husband, father and veteran of the United States Navy who is committed to improving our community. Mark your calendars to vote in the Democratic primary on September 13.

Many thanks,

Heather McNamara 

Barrington