The past several weeks has seen an onslaught on this paper of letters from the same group of bad actors present every election cycle, the TTA.  They are encouraging voters to oppose charter changes, even though several were drafted by TTA members.

Particularly disturbing is this notion that the current FTR is the most perfect form of government we can have.  Let’s be clear, the FTR is better than the FTM, but as originally written by Jeff Caron and Nancy Driggs, is broken. 

The holes they intentionally left in the FTR and the confusing language they drafted were done because either they do not understand how municipal budgeting works or they are trying to preserve a process that allows their group to effectively control the government without being elected.  These changes make the FTR easier to understand, lower barriers of entry for voters, prevent fictitious revenue estimates, and eliminate frivolous lawsuits that cost taxpayers by preventing willful underfunding of contracts.  Furthermore, the changes require direct line-item alterations, clearly stating what an alternate budget does. These changes were proposed to reduce cost to taxpayers and increase transparency.

Voters should be given all the information, not just political spin.

More can be found at http://www.tiverton.ri.gov/boards/canvassers.php."

John Edwards

Candidate for Tiverton Town Council