'Elite' accusation is calculated to elicit an emotional response

To the editor,

Gilmanton voters:

I am disquieted by Brett Currier’s letter dated March 8. He states that he had “not been handpicked by an elite group to be their candidate and an ‘in’ to steering the vote,” implying that some other candidate had been. I have no idea what he is talking about, but he suggests that there is some special group of citizens in this town who are controlling government, and he is going to fight against it.

This is absurd. I’m sure Don Guarino, Rachel Hatch and Ralph Lavin would be surprised to learn that they have manipulated by this mysterious group. All one has to do is to attend meetings of the selectmen and various boards to realize that this accusation is unfounded. People from all walks of life serve and try to do their best for the citizens of the town.

What this reveals instead is that Brett is resentful against certain people living in this town who fall into his classification of “elites.” He apparently feels that these people are working against the interests of the “common man” (his words). There is no evidence of this, but the accusation is calculated to elicit an emotional response from voters that may have a gripe against government and want to blame someone – yeah, it’s those elites that are causing all of the problems.

This kind of attitude to totally uncalled for from someone running to serve as a selectman to serve the interests of all of the town’s citizens. You have to wonder what he is going to base his decisions on if he is elected – facts or his prejudices. We need selectmen who do not have agendas or attitude, but rather are going to be thoughtful stewards of this community.

W. John Funk

Gilmanton