To the editor:

A Republican has not won a seat on the Barrington Town Council or Barrington School Committee since 2016. Given Barrington voter registration trends and the platform of the national republican party, it is unlikely that a republican candidate will ever win another Barrington election. There are only two types of electable Barrington candidates: endorsed Democratic candidates and Independents. What does it mean for our community if independents are not elected either?  

Under that scenario, the Barrington Democratic Town Committee, which consists of a few dozen residents led by a handful of influential leaders, would be solely responsible for selecting who serves on the Barrington Town Council and School Committee. The Barrington Democratic Town Committee is comprised of our neighbors and is a separate and distinct entity from the national democratic party. 

Even the best ideas can be enhanced by diverse thought and independent critical thinking. Recent school committees and town councils, which have been exclusively composed of members of the Barrington Democratic Town Committee, have made decisions that could have been improved or avoided if independent voices had been involved in the process.

The majority of communities have nonpartisan school committees. The Barrington Charter Review Committee recommended that the town council approve a 2024 ballot question that would have let Barrington residents decide if the school committee should be nonpartisan. The town council blocked this question from being placed on the ballot, denying residents the democratic opportunity to decide this issue. Partisan politics remain an unfortunate part of the Barrington School Committee.

As Barrington voters, it is important to thoroughly research Independent candidates. Voters must ensure that a candidate’s independent status is not a facade to conceal political views or motivations that contradict a voters belief about what's best for Barrington. Unendorsed Independent candidates may not have the backing of a political party, but this gives residents the opportunity to learn about them and make our own decisions. It's our responsibility to think critically and make informed choices.  

Individuals have made a concerted effort to define and misrepresent Barrington Independent candidates. These actions have gone beyond sincere efforts to highlight candidate positions and are harmful, intentional and undermine our sense of community. They also serve the dual purpose of signaling to any future Barrington resident contemplating running as an independent that they will be subject to public smear campaigns and false accusations if they choose to run in town elections.  

At the national level, this election is about preserving our country, democracy, and constitution. At the community level, voters must consider what candidates are best for our town. I am supporting Elizabeth Singh and Karen Rasnick for the School Committee, but residents should learn about all the candidates running and make their own informed decisions and not base their decisions solely on endorsements. All governments, big or small, do not function at their best when only a handful of people select elected officials. All ideas, policies, and initiatives can be improved by incorporating diverse points of view and independent critical thinking.

TJ Peck

Barrington

TJ Peck is a member of the Barrington School Committee.