It is a naive and simplistic notion to say that the Town of Paris is split into 2 factions: the for and the against of " however-the-name-goes-that-day," depending on who's trying to sell it.
The Town of Paris is made up of people; young, old, of mixed income levels, employed currently - or not; men, women, citizens of fixed mind sets, citizens with new ideas, and more, so much more. The breakdown can be done a hundred different ways....
The fact remains, however, that this town is not a private club; nor some sports team looking for a new owner. This town is where we all live, and it belongs to all of us.
The welfare of this town depends on decisions made that reflect all of us, or at least a healthy, open and above board discussion of that, and reasonable conclusions arrived at that serve the town as a whole, both for the moment and for the future.
When the recall of an elected official becomes necessary it is a very serious thing. There are laws and rules surrounding such a procedure that govern the "how to."
However, un-electing an official, an official put into office by a majority vote, does not mean the voters do it on a whim - to prove a point - as a tit for tat.
The move to recall an elected official is the ultimate tool of the voting majority to protect that majority - and their municipality - from incompetent and irresponsible decisions being made by an official, or officials.
We Paris voters must look past the divisiveness and manipulations of a few who have consistently sold us short, thinking Paris voters can't tell - and don't know - which elected officials are doing right by our town and which aren't.
Many voters have already come out to cast their votes for the 2 upcoming recall elections, by absentee ballot.
The two official recall elections will be held at the Paris fire station this week:
Monday, 2-1-10, 8am - 8pm
Vote to recall Selectman David Ivey; check yes or no;
Vote to recall Selectman Lloyd "Skip" Herrick; check yes or no.
Friday, 2-5-10, 8am-8pm
Vote to recall Selectman Ray Glover; check yes or no;
Vote to recall Selectman Troy Ripley; check yes or no.
If you can vote in person Monday but cannot Friday, vote absentee ballot before Friday at the town office.
Do not be confused by Mr. Ripley's "resignation from office" - that "resignation" was not officially accepted by the board. Both names on the ballot for Friday must be voted yes or no just as planned.
