To the Editor:

Many people don’t take part in local government.  They are content to believe that their interests will be looked after by those they elect to office. Sometimes that works, and it allows people to attend to their own concerns without “wasting time” attending local meetings.

Sometimes it doesn’t, as shown by this past year, when the town board meetings have been contentious, with Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis’s supporters shouting, interrupting, and insulting people who disagree with them, while he tries to push through his self-serving agenda.

The board members have tried to maintain some kind of order, not always successfully. I’ve attended many of the past year’s board meetings and have been appalled at the behavior; I’ve been called names and had people scream at me, for asking what I felt were reasonable questions to which I genuinely wanted answers.

We have a choice coming up in November. Amy Pokorny is running for town supervisor, in the hope of restoring civility and reason to discussions. She has lived in Knox for a lot longer than Vas, and she has contributed far more to the community, supporting local organizations like Kiwanis, the Helderburg Hilltowns’ Association, and Helderberg Community Energy. She is unfailingly courteous, and thoughtful, and I know she has the best interest of the town’s citizens at heart.

The Democratic Caucus will be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 7 p.m. at the Knox Town Hall. Vas has gotten the support of the Republicans, and will try to get on the Democratic line of the ballot as well. That could happen if he packs the hall with his supporters. If you have been following the news at all, you know how important this is.

I know people would rather attend to their own affairs; it’s hard to find the time to come to meetings.  But we need to be able to relax, to trust to our town’s elected officials to promote what’s best for the town, not just their own interests. Please give up an hour of your time to help make this happen. Please, if you are a registered Democrat, attend the meeting. We need you.

Dee Woessner, co-chair

Knox Democratic Committee