The Phoenix is always an entertaining read on Thursday evenings. The Police Report and Letters to the Editor are a pretty good “snapshot” of life here in Bristol.

This election season seems to echo the national trend of divisiveness. I joined the Bristol County Concerned Citizens as a registered Republican because I’m not enamored with the national Republican Party … nor am I impressed by the direction the Democrats are headed. BCCC is made up of Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and Independents who live locally and are concerned about local issues. Meetings are advertised in the Phoenix and they are open to anyone. 

I took offense when I read the chairperson of the Democratic Town Committee call BCCC a “subsidiary of the infamous right wing Gaspee Project,” which is no worse than the left wing Uprise RI and chides the group for trying to influence an election. BCCC is anything but a “right wing group.”

I’d say, yes, BCCC is trying to influence local elections by publicly endorsing a Democrat, a Republican, a Libertarian, and Independents, and there is nothing wrong with that. Labor Unions, Political Action Committees, businesses, wealthy donors, corporations, political parties, and newspapers all try to influence elections.

Political ideation is as personal as being a Yankees or Red Sox fan. You generally don’t change your allegiance, and you support your team. You may disagree over which is better … but sometimes you just agree to disagree and have a beer.

Bob Hamel
Bristol