‘There will always be a need for SaveMonroe'

To the editor: SaveMonroe has been blamed by both the Democrats and Republicans for every bad thing that has happened in Monroe in modern times. Here are five questions which should be asked and answered. Question 1: What is SaveMonroe? Answer: SaveMonroe is an organization comprised of Monroe citizens who have not been well represented by the two major political parties. It has been around in one form or another since 1988. Peter Martin and Don Weeks were early members and, unfortunately, early drop-outs of SaveMonroe. Question 2: Did SaveMonroe shut down the dialogue process at monthly town board meetings? Answer 2: No! The “open government” concept was put in place in 1990 by the “SaveMonroe” candidates, Mike Frerichs, Peter Martin and Don Weeks. But only Frerichs remained loyal to “SaveMonroe” and kept this process going for 12 years. When Frerichs left in 2001, so did “open government.” Question 3: Did SaveMonroe prevent the Monroe town board from enacting: 1. an improved wetland code; 2. a tree code which actually protects trees; and 3. a law removing the sewer density bonus in R.R. one-acre zone? Answer 3: No. The town board has been stalling on these proposed concepts for years, presumably because of vested interest pressure. Question 4: Did Ms. Vaccaro’s victory over Mr. Purdy signal the end of SaveMonroe? Answer 4: No. Ms. Vaccaro received less than 10 percent of the total potential votes in Monroe. Remember, it was a Democratic primary, not the general election. Question 5: Why are the Democratic candidates not attending town board meetings? Answer 5: I don’t know. I have been regularly attending town board meetings for 17 years. This is the first election that I have not seen the Democratic candidates at town board meetings in an election year. Just having a law or civil engineering degree does not automatically make someone a qualified town board candidate. However, Monroe voters are being asked to support them sight unseen. There will always be a need for SaveMonroe until the main political parties start working for all of the people all of the time, instead of some of the people some of the time. Ward Brower III Monroe