Letter: Barrington Parents United is focused on what matters

Posted 5/18/22

To the editor:

Among recent national and global media attention on our small town, an article in The Daily Signal mentioned, “Parents United Barrington”, and we’re aware …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: Barrington Parents United is focused on what matters

Posted

To the editor:

Among recent national and global media attention on our small town, an article in The Daily Signal mentioned, “Parents United Barrington”, and we’re aware it’s referring to Barrington Parents United (BPU).

“At the time of this writing, the group had already identified six local candidates to run for public office against all woke incumbents under its “Parents United Barrington” slate: two each for the local school committee and town council, and two for the state’s General Assembly, with multiple fundraisers already in the works.”

To be clear, BPU is aware of candidates who we are hopeful will provide better leadership in Barrington going forward, but our network and the candidates are entirely independent of one another, and we are not a PAC or politically affiliated in any way. Any fundraising is direct from individuals to candidates, as BPU is not handling finances in any capacity. As a non-partisan, issue-based network, we previously announced intent to post a "Candidates’ Pledge". While time is short for volunteers to make this happen, regardless of pledge status, the sentiment is to publicly acknowledge candidates’ interest in leadership change when they, too, recognize a growing list of concerns about business conducted by our current school committee and other elected officials.

This mutually non-partisan approach is how independent, critically thinking, authentic, caring, and unity-minded individuals are able to come together to advocate for children, despite subjecting themselves to inaccurate, divisive labels and political categorization from all directions. We are looking for bridges to be built where many are seeking to divide by making it toxic to be associated with one group or another. This is a call to our town residents and candidates to stay above the fray and focus on what matters. For BPU, that centers around what is best for our children in school and how that affects our town as a whole.

BPU was able to meet Ray Clark at one of our meetings, so we were happy to acknowledge him as a candidate for Town Council, and we’re grateful he expressed willingness to acknowledge BPU’s concerns via a proposed pledge. We’re equally happy to know that Thomas Peck and Frazier Bell announced they’re running for School Committee, and that Steven Santos (Dist. 66) and Scott Fuller (Dist. 67) are each running for State Representative. We hope to hear of another candidate soon to run for the remaining open seat on the Town Council, and we encourage anyone running for any seat, from any party, to reach out to us if you’d like to connect. Please stay tuned for a gathering in June to meet & greet candidates and ask the questions that are important to you.

In the meantime, BPU wishes each of the candidates well, with an eye toward a refreshed, renewed, and unified future for our town, starting with better leadership for our kids.

Ellen Schaffer

Barrington

Ellen Schaffer is a parent volunteer with Barrington Parents United.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.