To the editor:

My son recently told me about a multiple choice question on an American Government test. The question was (paraphrased): Elected officials are supposed to serve in the citizens’ best interest. This means they should: A) Consistently vote in agreement with their constituents wishes or B) Educate themselves on the issue and use their own best judgement to make a final decision.

The correct answer on the test, according to my son, was B but obviously how lawmakers make decisions is much more complicated. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. It’s a balancing act for our elected officials to listen to their constituents, become informed on the issues and make educated decisions based in the best interest of the community they serve. Trust and faith in the elected official plays a big role. This is why I support incumbent Jason Knight Representative for District 67.

His opponent has been trying to sway voters his way by positioning Jason as not protecting children because of his vote against a bill that came out last year in the statehouse. I had the opportunity to talk to Jason directly when it was being contemplated. The bill strives to further define third-degree sexual assault making it a crime for any person over the age of 18 to have sex with a person between the ages of 14-16. Of course, my immediate reaction was, “This is a no brainer. Everyone should be supportive.” But Jason, due to his experience as an attorney and a former state prosecutor brought another angle and explained some potential unintended consequences if the bill passed, primarily that it would inadvertently criminalize otherwise consensual young adult relationships. 

This bill is worded so broadly that it could potentially apply to any number of innocent relationships. The bill attempts to limit the interactions which can be considered third degree sexual assault, but the exemptions fail to cover a substantial number of easily imaginable and common situations. It’s also important to note that it is already a crime in Rhode Island for any person over the age of 18 to have sex with a person between the ages of 14 and 16, and this includes teachers.

I’m sure Representative Knight would be happy to speak to anyone in further detail about his decision but I can assure you any rhetoric defining him as against children is ludicrous.

Heather McNamara

Barrington