To the Editor:
To all of the Democrats who have written to The Enterprise that the Berne Democratic Committee was wrong for choosing not to run candidates in this November’s election and have let democracy down:

Helene G. Goldberger wrote a letter to the editor titled, “We can’t afford to sit out an election if we want progressive change.” Mary Ann Ronconi wrote a letter titled, “Total lack of political smarts.” Richard Ronconi wrote a letter titled, “No choice on Election Day in Berne.”

All of these letters criticized the Berne Democratic Committee for not running candidates.

As we’ve said in the past, the committee did not run candidates because there are only two seats available this November.

Because the current town board behaves so horribly, unfairly, illegally, and unethically, and because of how they have treated minority Democrats on the board in the past, it is clear that we would not even be called upon at meetings even if we won both seats.

We would have no ability to introduce proposals, pass motions, or even speak at meetings. Any money or energy spent by the committee on this election would be wasted for these reasons and would not be available in the next critical election where a majority of seats will be available.

Did any of the writers of these letters step up to volunteer to help find candidates? No!

Did any of the writers of these letters step up to run for the available seats in this election or even reach out to talk to us about running? No!

I say this loudly and emphatically: This is not a criticism of these particular people nor of their rights to speak out about their personal truths and feelings. Doing that is all of our civic rights and responsibilities and I applaud them for it.

This a challenge and a request to these particular people and to anyone who feels that the Berne Democratic Committee needs to do more — step up, donate your time, and volunteer if you want change. 

Change does not happen when all we do is talk. Change happens when we act.

Jeff Marden

Member

Berne Democratic Committee