Thank you to all the candidates who dedicated a generous portion of their time and resources to running positive and congenial campaigns. I commend them for their community spirit and for the dignified way in which they touted their experience, ideas and vision for the future of our community. Their campaigns were showcases of “democracy in action.”
Unfortunately, there was a glaring exception that tainted this display of small town values and decency. Just before Election Day, signs appearing around the Courthouse and in other parts of Monticello bore this inscription:
“IF YOU HATE GOD, GUNS, BABIES AND BORDERS, VOTE DEMOCRAT”
The identity of the person or organization responsible for the signs was not revealed. Even if it were, I doubt any logical explanation could be gleaned for the assumption that all Democrat candidates “…hate God, guns, babies and borders…” Truth be told, any party label could be inserted into the inscription and the message would be equally absurd.
I am grateful the First Amendment to our Constitution prohibits abridging the freedom of speech. However, this rhetoric should offend the sensibilities of even the most hardened, partisan voter. I hope this was just an isolated, heat-of-the-moment lapse in judgment and not the start of an ugly trend. We are better than that.
Julie Conley
Mayor, City of Monticello
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