To the editor:

In response to the recent letter by Shelli Edgar, I offer, as an Independent, that I will vote Democrat for School Committee...and Town Council... and statewide and national office. 

Ms. Edgar cites her many issues with the previous SC, some of which I do, and some, I don’t, agree with.

Previous SC election winners were an Independent tag team joined by a former Democrat offering to caucus as a majority. Now we face an incredible increase in spending and taxes driven primarily by "new" school initiatives and artificial turf.

Many of her complaints noted are from the time of the pandemic affecting all of us down to local levels.. Remember, millions perished due to the inaction and ineptness of the previous GOP administration.

Locally, teachers claiming so-called religious freedom and parent concerns over masking took precedence over community and your neighbor's health.

Would 'cooler' independent or GOP heads have done any better with the multiple issues faced to keep us safe? There are missteps in all crises. I also see the blaming of issues on DEI as an attack on different ‘others’ for fear of losing what you think you already have. Too bad that your 'birthrights' are  threatened by those who speak for Equitable treatment. It's about time!

A successful community works together to benefit all. Too many times, personal agendas of pushing artificial turf over community and childrens' health or veterans memories vs the overall recognition and well being of all our residents take the lead because they tend to be the most dissonant voices. Some cannot be honored at the expense of others.

I support funding the schools and building of new schools, though I believe the direction taken is a bit too much. The options offered by the previous SC were reasonable. Not all of us get the luxury to walk our kids to school. I support improved playing fields but not at the expense of our ecological and children's health. I support AP/Honors classes; my kids benefit from them, but only if others are given every opportunity to succeed with as much support as needed. Let's level the ‘playing field’ and spend the dollars where it will make the most community and social good. Higher scores on the scoreboard or higher scores on test results to build all children's futures?

All politics are local and the stakes are too high if Republicans in Independent clothing have the opportunity to make local decisions per extremist radical national agendas. Their shenanigans have already torn our social fabric to shreds.

See the mocking disparagement posted on the Barrington Republican Town Committee FB page from some of their members. Couple this with William Jacobsen's website 'Legal Insurrection' to see what this agenda is all about. Note their silence on the current Independent slate, except that you vote for them. Wonder why?

I didn’t vote for Joe Biden last time and won’t this time either. This is not a time for impartiality and independence. Vote Democrat!

Gary Charpentier

Barrington