To the editor:

There have been a lot of Facebook posts and letters in the opinion pages by TTA members and supporters telling people what my motivations for the recall are.

With the exception of Mr. Coulter, none of them have ever talked to me about anything. Not one has asked me personally while they all profess to know what I think and what motivates me.

This is because people judge by how they personally would react to the circumstances. Katz, Driggs and Cook show a lack of personal intellectual maturity to accept life — it's not always about you first. We are responding so that this is clear to everyone about my perspective.

It doesn't bother me to be last in an election, someone has to be — just a fact of life. I could care less who is on the council as long as they move forward in an honest and ethical manner for the residents. If they don’t, myself and others will call them out as many no longer fear retaliation for speaking up.

We just saw a demonstration of retaliation against Lise Gescheidt who signed the recall and now faces unreasonable and deliberate obstacles while trying to be reappointed to a board.

There is also no benefit to me who is or is not on the town Council for my lawsuit. We won in June, 2018, and now federal court judge and jury will decide the settlement amount — the council will have no say at all. So to be clear, this recall is not sour grapes not retaliation or personal malice on my part. I, as many others, have had enough of the mismanagement in town.

As to the accusations that the recall is unfounded and that we made assertions on the petition that were not true, there is video evidence for each and every one. The fact is that we collected almost 1,700 signatures from people who felt the same — Democrat, Republican and independents, many who voted for them and now regret it. We didn't have to talk anyone into signing — they came looking for us because they saw the same things going on that I did.

Katz and Coulter originally claimed they were not going to contest the recall. They are now making excuses and even trying to set up the Board of Canvassers for procedural violations by deliberately setting unreasonable timelines.

Now they are telling people to stay home and don't vote. That's actually insulting to most people who cherish their right to vote and have a say.

As the founder of the recall, we are encouraging every single voter to come out and vote. It doesn't matter if you vote for or against the recall. It's your right. No one should ask you not to. This goes to the lack of moral character of those who would.

We hope to see you at the polls.

William (Billy Mac) McLaughlin

Tiverton