How lucky we are that The Sakonnet Times is holding a forum for our Town Council and School Committee to air the views of the Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, so that we in Little Compton can better decide who we’ll vote for in the extremely important election on November 8.

We don’t often get the chance to meet and hear what all the candidates running for office stand for and why we should vote for them. I was surprised and saddened to read that the Republicans declined The Sakonnet Times’ invitation for all parties to have their chance to discuss together their views on working for the good of our town. Why on Earth would the eight Republicans running for the eight available seats — five for Town Council and three for School Committee, decline to participate? Mr. Rocha’s response was that the Republicans have their own way of interacting with voters, but why would their plans exclude an important forum, along with their own plans, to interact with all voters?

If Republicans are speaking only to Republicans, and Democrats only to Democrats, and Independents only to Independents, isn’t each group only preaching to their respective choirs?  In a Democracy, we should expect all citizens, from whatever party, to have the chance to hear all sides of the many issues we must decide upon for our common good. Let’s not let the poison in our country’s political division filter down into our beloved Little Compton.

Denise Lyons

Little Compton