REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE

When I first started to get involved with district and school committee (SC) issues, I had no idea where to look for anything. I recall that my first few emails to the SC members at the time went unanswered or referred me to the APRA process (“please file a public records request for those answers”). I didn’t even know how to do that!

I can’t remember who now, but someone put me in touch with former SC member Bob Jones. What everyone should know about Bob is that if you reach out to him for help on a school matter, he WILL help you, regardless of party affiliation. Bob is a Republican. I am a very fast learner, but can say without hesitation that Bob taught me practically everything to know about all-things NKSD/SC, especially where to look to find answers to my questions. Everyone should also be aware that Bob has always reached out to help former and current SC members and NKSD admins. He has given them some very good advice and has presented great suggestions at meetings. Unfortunately, the “R” next to his name precludes the current SC members (all Democrats) from listening to him or responding to him at all.

I have often felt that I was being treated the same way. What hasn’t been made public (until now) is that I have reached out to—and in some cases met with—both town and school elected (and other) officials a number of times over the last few years. Most recently, I sat or spoke via phone/Zoom with 4 of the 5 TC members (all but one made time to meet with me) about my concerns with the school bond. I have sent countless emails directly to our officials and have spoken at meetings. Posting on social media is always the last thing I do, after I have solicited information and received answers or—more often—silence.

After years of trying, I can confirm that the Democrat elected officials in this town have no desire to work with me, not the other way around. This is concerning because, if elected, I will be serving on the SC with at least one of those SC members and possibly more of the same TC members. I have never been shunned by any of the Independent candidates. We don’t necessarily agree on every issue we have discussed, but they are open to my ideas and respectful towards me when we talk, email or run into each other at public meetings.

Who can forget how former State Senator and TC appointment to the SC Jim Sheehan was not endorsed by the NKDTC members just a few short months after his recruitment/appointment by them to the SC? His “sin”? Daring to share thoughts and suggestions that didn’t fully align with those members. Mr. Sheehan is someone I feel that I could have productively worked with had we both been elected to the SC. And I think that would have been very beneficial for our town and district.

But don’t just take my word for it. The following was posted yesterday by State Representative Julie Casimiro (a Democrat who does not judge people by the letter next to one’s name). The person who sent her that text is the one who started the rumor that I am a book banner and has been publicly attacking me (as a private resident) for 3 years now. I have only seen her at meetings and otherwise have no relationship with her. She is not an elected official, just a resident who joined the NK Democrat Town Committee and has made herself their spokesperson, apparently. She also writes for their website. Rep. Casimiro’s final “sin” was to post a comment on my back to school Facebook message to say “It was a great day”.

I would like to remind everyone that Rep. Casimiro was the ONLY NK politician who advocated alongside of us to pass a law to protect child victims of sexual abuse at the hands of trusted adults. She was there when the NK victims and I attended hearings and when I testified at the State House on behalf of those victims. She worked WITH us, regardless of our political affiliation. During one of those hearings, I actually saw a current TC member at the State House but he was there to lobby for other things. He never entered the hearing room that night. I was also told during a one on one meeting with a Democrat official: “I really respect that you are running and how involved you have been, but I can’t vote for you. I’ve got to vote for members of my party.”

There are those of us who are willing to work together for what’s best for our community…and then there are the others. Sadly, the political stranglehold inflicted by a small group of individuals on our town has muddied the waters of common sense and reason. We don’t always have to agree with one another, but if we don’t, we shouldn’t have to fear a small group of unelected people that is waiting to smack us down and keep us silenced.

For the record, I am married to a Democrat and can proudly say that, like Rep. Casimiro and her Republican husband, we work well together. We are raising our children to be respectful people who can engage civilly with people from all backgrounds. Two decades later, my husband and I are still best friends.