To the editor:

This letter is in response to the two letters to the editor from residents of Little Compton that appeared in the May 19 Sakonnet Times.

First, I would like to thank Paul G. Clifford for his very good letter, “Councilors should explain their guns-in-school vote.” I applaud him for asking Councilman Fred Boddington III and Councilman Paul Golembeske to explain why they voted against banning concealed-carry firearms in schools. This same question should be asked of two school committee members, Peg Bugara and Lori Craffey, who voted to allow concealed firearms in school.

Second, the letter from Brian and Natalie Eliason, “Town mustn’t bend to vineyard lawyers’ bullying,” makes many important points concerning land use, zoning codes, and town ordinance issues in Little Compton. None of these issues seem to have been very well dealt with to date.

The citizens of the town of Little Compton have an opportunity at the next election, November 2016, to elect five new candidates to Town Council and two new candidates to the School Committee. The positions on Council will address zoning and ordinance issues raised by both the vineyard and the Stone House license applications. The School Committee members will be dealing with many issues of public safety, including issues of firearms as well as the academic performance of our students and the quality of education they receive.

Little Compton has had the same town council for many years; change will only happen when citizens step forward and take part in the democratic process. June is the month! Running for office is a simple process. Declarations of candidacy are available at Town Hall from Town Clerk Carol Wordell. These require only the candidate’s signature and must be filed between June 27 and June 29. Nomination papers with a minimum of 50 signatures must then be filed by July 15 with the town clerk. One may file as an independent, as a Democrat, or as a Republican. It is urgent that citizens run for these offices if they feel that their elected officials are not representing them on issues that count: land conservation, zoning, ordinances, public safety, and schools. I myself served on Town Council and have attended many School Committee meetings over the last three years. These are very rewarding experiences and in Little Compton there are many individuals from each political persuasion who can speak with you about the process, including myself.

Johanna W. McKenzie

Little Compton