Editor,
As long as I’ve lived in Westfield, certain members of our community get trotted out every election cycle, in the weeks leading up to Election Day, to write “hit pieces” about candidates that the establishment doesn’t support. I’ve already seen a few of these hit pieces in Current and Hamilton County Reporter. And often, a tactic is employed to land these pieces in the last edition of Current prior to the election, allowing the subject of the piece no ability to respond.
Voters of Westfield, I beg of you to do your own research. Reach out to candidates individually. Read through their candidate Facebook pages, websites and campaign materials. Watch the video from the Fiscal Conservatives of Hamilton County Debate. It’s on the FCofHC Facebook page. Look at the candidates’ campaign finance reports on the Hamilton County Election website to see who’s donating to their campaigns. Campaign Finance Reports can be very telling. Look up voting records of incumbents, especially of issues that were important to you. If you’re not engaged in local politics, talk to your friends who are.
Bottom line, please don’t decide who to vote for based on a hit piece! They seldom contain data to back up their claims. Those pieces might profess to be fact, but they are more likely the author’s opinion.
Barbara L. Simonson, Westfield
