Denise Therrien: Steve Coffill brings honesty and facts to table as state rep

To The Daily Sun,

My name is Denise Therrien, wife of Steve Coffill, Republican candidate for state representative in Bristol and Bridgewater, and I am responding to (registered Republican) Bruce Van Derben’s Oct. 20, letter to the editor where he questioned Steve’s experience.

When there were questions for Steve about his experience at the Candidates Forum on Oct. 7, was there a reason for Bruce leaving without talking to him?

Then, after talking to an unnamed source at the Bristol town offices, instead of talking to Steve to get his side of the story, a letter was published in a newspaper. Really?

Is Bruce afraid to talk to Steve?

Had the situation been reversed, Steve would have respected Bruce enough to talk to him directly.

Steve meets the qualifications to run for state representative according to the State of New Hampshire. His experience comes from decades of running a small business and doing many things behind the scenes. That’s what Steve brings to the table.

Bruce should do research on my husband’s opponent and his party’s platform. People should vote for the candidate who represents the platform and policies that line up with their values, not voting for someone who “strikes them” a certain way.

Steve is the most honest man I know. He lets facts lead him, not the other way around.

Thanks to Bruce for publishing that letter, as it gives us an opportunity to show Steve’s character. We knew about the letter only because a beloved Democrat friend notified us, urging Steve to write a rebuttal. A Democrat urging a Republican to defend himself against negative press. Her decision to speak up was the result of our hours of discussion at her dinner table, though our political persuasions differ. This attitude is what we need in Concord.

Denise Therrien

Bristol