To the editor:

In this pandemic time out, with town elections coming up on the 23rd, we have not had the usual opportunity to pose questions to candidates for election. So I write in support of Irene and Norman Buck and David Cole, for their timely concerns stated in this space.

I sense we face a politically risky situation with both the tag-team candidacy of Sherri Mahoney and Sam Mundel for the Board of Selectmen and their advocacy for Bill Harkins for the Board of Health.

In the first place, do we really want a tandem voted in with one swoop who vow to vote and work together to dominate a five-person board? The same two presented an “us or them” attitude at the special town meeting, and would carry that with them into office.

Do we really want to tilt the Select Board in a divisive manner, when we have a trustworthy balance in our current board, and proven incumbents in Steve Ouellette and Brian Valcourt, who work well with the ongoing members? Going with the known and dependable makes the most sense. And don’t we prefer individual, independent thinkers representing us?

Finally, while we haven’t heard Mahoney or Mundel’s voices on the issues, other than farming rights, we certainly have had an unusually prolific season of sign placements, it seems, on every other lawn. And the M&M signs have mostly been grouped with the Harkins signs to emphasize their connection with an ideological ally on another key town board. So it’s not only an M&M team, but a triumvirate that seeks your vote.

In my 12 years as a library trustee, I learned that Westport benefits the most when we focus on our common interests and work together.

Robert J. Gormley

Westport