To the editor:

The silly season has arrived just before we go to the polls to elect our Select People and to vote on several important referenda. We should not be surprised, in the meantime, to receive flyers from fringe groups trying to scare us by with holding information or by not offering a balanced view.

So let’s filter out the noise and focus on those issues which are most important in determining the quality of town government.

• Experience — The issues we face are often complex and require someone with past experience in  government and/or  who has skill set developed in their career that can be applied to the position.

• Balanced agenda — People we elect should serve the town at large and not pander to fringe groups at both ends of the spectrum. Compromise should not be viewed as weakness but rather as an integral part of the process.

• Analytical skills — Many decisions have long-term effects and once set in motion cannot be reversed. So let’s elect people who can do a cost benefit analysis and understand the unintended consequences of their decisions.

• Interpersonal skills — Active listening is a great skill and not often fully appreciated. We have been given one mouth and two ears which should be used in the same proportion. Civility must be the foundation for any discourse  and bullying must not be allowed.

• Goal setting — Long-term strategies must be established to cure and improve the quality of life for our residents and their children. Our Select People must have courage to control costs while understanding that the absence of investment in essential activities will have long term negative effects that may be irreversible.

Using the criteria I have set forth, I strongly support the candidacy of Michael Sullivan and Craig Dutra. So please get out and vote and exercise the special privilege which has been granted to each of us.

Edward R. Goldberg

Westport