I just checked out the website and I can see Denise de Medeiros' point. While I know nothing about this woman, the website offers suggestions that nobody could be against.

For instance: "Limits spending and property tax increases;
Deems itself accountable to the individual citizen;
Acts as a responsible steward of Town resources," are assertions that nobody could possibly be against, and I'm sure that the current office holders consider themselves as doing those things.

That platform reminds me of the Moderate Party's "stop spending money that isn't well spent". I mean, I'm not sure this stuff could be more vague.

As always, it's all about the details. If this group doesn't offer some concrete, specific plans, the whole initiative isn't worthwhile.

This all comes down to courage. If you don't have the guts to put some specific proposals on the table, don't both stepping up to the plate. These are not times for "luke warm".

Correction: that should read "if you If you don't have the guts to put some specific proposals on the table, don't bother stepping up to the plate.

Well look, we're a young group of opinionated people, and we got things ramped up too late to have created candidates as it were or to beat each other up over specific policy suggestions that would represent the group.

Instead, we found some areas on which we all agree and asked the candidates what they thought. If their answers seemed to align with our agreed-upon principles, we endorsed them. After the election, we'll be going through the process of familiarizing ourselves with the ins and outs of town issues and arguing over the solution.

In the meantime, voters are encouraged to read through the candidates' answers and decide for themselves.

Justin,

I understand your sentiment. But times like these call for leaders with real ideas to come forward. We can't be sitting around too afraid to make specific proposals out of the fear to alienate certain people or special interest groups.

That's precisely the problem here. Too many people are afraid to say what needs to be said; to do what needs to be done; to offend those who are in need of offending.

The safe route is what's led us into this quagmire.

I'm sorry, but the old, tired, "stop spending money that's not well spent", (ya hear that Mr. Moderate Party?) isn't going to work. We need someone to say "stop giving public employees automatic raises and free, lifetime healthcare." Or "switch public employees into defined contribution retirement plans". ect.

If you people needed a real platform, I could have created one for you in about two or three days. I can give you that.

What I can't give you is the courage to stand up for yourselves.

Justin,

OK, you piqued my interest. I went over and took a look as well. Agree that the candidate answers offer a little more substance. However, I didn't see a statement from Ms.deMedeiros. Am I using the wrong link?

WillP, the reason you don't see Ms. deMedeiros answers is despite TCC's call for transparency in government; they don't provide the responses from the candidates they don't endorse. Sounds like a bit of hypocrisy to me.

Actually, no, it's not hypocrisy. But if lower taxes have to come with a tinge of hypocrisy, that's fine. It's better than getting higher taxes tainted with an air of entitlement (the current situation).

I know, the nerve of some of these elected officials that think public safety and education are entitlements. They should let the private sector handle it, let the market rule and abolish town government!

"Adam Smith": Let's assume that the opportunity for a quality education is an entitlement and that the government should be the organization to provide it (though both of those premises are not indisputable). Most education dollars now go to teacher salary and benefits. How much is enough for them? Should citizens be at risk to lose their homes so that teachers can make even more than their current $70K to work 182 7-hour days after ten years in the system?

Jimmy:

The omission of those responses was a mere oversight that has been remedied. (A few days ago, actually, but commenting here slipped my mind until just now.