R. Paul Weston: Investigate, study, review character, values of all candidates

To The Daily Sun,

I spent over three decades serving as a town manager for towns both in Maine and New Hampshire, working directly with local elected officials with both good and bad character. Citizens should give some thought as to who they would like to work for, and I assume they would desire bosses with good character and intelligence. Words like honesty, integrity, accountability, respect, kindness, and reliability come to mind. If these fundamental human qualities are lacking, I can assure them, through my extensive observation, that our democratic system of government, whether on the town, city, county or national level will suffer.

That is why I find it difficult to understand our recent polling results for our candidates for president. If citizens possess some basic Christian (or other religion) values like honesty and integrity, why vote for someone who lies constantly and fails when the facts are checked by informed unbiassed sources? If they value kindness, empathy and respect, why support a candidate who lacks these valued human qualities? If a voter is a woman who seeks a principled and ethical partner, why champion someone who repeatedly has exhibited the opposite in words and deeds throughout his adult life?

As citizens who shortly will head to the voting booths to mark our ballots in September (State Primary) and November (General Election), I implore them to investigate and study and review the character and values of all our candidates. This year the continuation of our system of government — our wonderful, glorious, and free democracy, the envy of the world — depends upon them to make the correct choice. God Bless America.

R. Paul Weston

Meredith