Tim Rice: Need more accountability, higher character in our gov’t

To The Daily Sun,

The New Hampshire state Legislature recently voted to censure Weare Republican Rep. Travis Corcoran for antisemitic and racist comments about other legislators. Corcoran has a long history of making racist, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ, and violent comments on social media. The right to free speech is there for all, but do we really need to lower and debase ourselves by such childish and ignorant behavior? Disagree on the issues and demands of the day, not name-calling and hate speech. Is this what we have come to expect of elected officials in New Hampshire? The vote to censure Corcoran was 288-54.

The voters of Weare can decide what they want to do about having Rep. Corcoran continue to represent them going forward, but my concern is the votes of four Belknap County representatives who voted against censure: Rep. Tom Ploszaj of Center Harbor and New Hampton; Rep. Paul Terry of Alton and Barnstead; Rep. Steven Bogert of Laconia; and Rep. Glen Aldrich of Gilford, Gilmanton and Ward 2 Laconia. It is also worth noting that four other Belknap County representatives did not vote (not voting/not excused) at all on this issue: Russell Dumais, Travis Toner, Douglas Trottier, and Peter Varney. Why?

It is outrageous and unacceptable for these four people to represent us and vote against censure. Have any of these representatives spoken as to why they voted against censure (or chose not to vote at all)? It is time for the people of Belknap County to demand and expect better from our representatives. There must be others up for election this coming fall that have our interests, higher character, and judgment at the core of their representation. I, for one, will be looking for guidance from the Citizens For Belknap organization.

Tim Rice

Gilford