Vaccaro does not divide

To the editor: "A house divided cannot stand," wrote Abraham Lincoln. As the death knell sounds for SaveMonroe's candidate for Town Supervisor, Bob Purdy, I read in The Photo News how his interpretations of the election results are in disturbing conflict with the facts. Alicia Vaccaro beat Mr. Purdy soundly everywhere in the town. Perhaps, even more humiliating, she beat him in his own district. What SaveMonroe doesn't tell you is that Vaccaro won in every district outside Kiryas Joel (except two) and beat Mr. Purdy nearly 2 to 1, without counting any votes from KJ. What happened to SaveMonroe's claims that the Democrats had made a deal that guaranteed 1,500 KJ votes to Vaccaro? Are we to assume that Mr. Purdy made a deal for the six percent of his votes that he got from KJ? Was Vaccaro supposed to go to the Village of Kiryas Joel and ask them n "I know it's your constitutional right, but please don't vote in our town election. Yes, I know you are town residents too, but, you know, Save Monroe doesn't like you and they really want you to sit this one out." This is preposterous! SaveMonroe's logic is not only flawed, but is mean-spirited. Fortunately for us, the voting bloc of fear and innuendo that SaveMonroe had hoped for failed, and failed miserably. Vaccaro, and the Democratic candidates for Town Council, Schwartz and Rios, have promised to treat all Monroe residents alike and not succumb to racialized imagery and political sleight-of-hand that is the trademark of SaveMonroe. That is why the overwhelming majority of people voted for Alicia Vaccaro n they like her message! And perhaps she is popular because she treats everyone she knows with respect and honesty, gives of herself in all regards, and has championed many issues, from land use, to the library, to creating equal opportunities for our young girls. As dusk descends on SaveMonroe, I can only hope that those trying to divide this town realize that their message is no longer welcomed. Sincerely, Harley E. Dole III Monroe