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Letter to the editor, Aug. 23

Posted 8/23/22

Dear Editor:

Zoe Haggard in her column this past week brought up several issues related to partisan elections in Bedford County. In the article she stated after interviewing Republican officials …

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Letter to the editor, Aug. 23

Posted

Dear Editor:

Zoe Haggard in her column this past week brought up several issues related to partisan elections in Bedford County. In the article she stated after interviewing Republican officials “Some of the Republicans will say partisan politics and the values of the platform are in every level of government—that they want voters to know who they are voting for.”  

I ask, what are the values of the Republican Party and the platform?  

If you recall, in 2020 the Republican Party nominated Donald Trump for President – the party had no platform for this election. Trump did have a list of items that he supported. But it was Trump’s and not the party.  

What are the personal values of the local Republican party members. Are they congruent with that of Donald Trump? If so, I need to remind you that Donald Trump was married three times, had over 4,000 lawsuits associated with him and his companies, bankrupt six separate companies, gave state secrets to the Russians, was impeached twice and organized a coup d etat to overthrow the government so he could remain in power. He recently revealed, took and stored top secret documents in his personal home. To name a few. His record does not reflect someone of character.  

Donald Trump sits in his home in Florida. He is not concerned about Bedford County. Donald Trump will not fix your road, replace the culvert in your driveway, patrol your neighborhood, put out a fire on your property, educate your children, provide you with recreational activities, pick up your garbage or provide a place to dispose of it and provide water and electricity to your home and business. But someone as part of the local government will do the above.  

Bedford County Democratic Party was offered the opportunity to have partisan candidates for the Bedford County School Board election. In a unanimous decision, we refused, that it was in the best interest of our children to not have partisan school board members. However, the local Republican Party had a different opinion and today there are partisan Bedford County School Board members for the first time.  

Bedford County Commission, Bedford County School Board and Shelbyville City Council members all have the responsibility of making and implementing policy that will affect the residents of this county. If the members are doing their job responsibly, they will have to combover multiple pages of budgets and other documents, attend conferences and attend meetings – in order to gain an understanding of the present issues and make a decision based on facts that represent our needs. Effective, elected, officials can be of any party.  

However, if the values of Donald Trump and “Trumpism” become the dominate operating values among our local elected officials, then there is a good chance that a multitude of services will not be delivered. It takes hard work to maintain the infrastructure and personnel that allow a school, county or municipality work.  

People are dependent on these services and if they collapse, people leave and the community disappears. Itis paramount we have qualified and responsible elected officials in Bedford County. I was raised in Bedford County. I learned by working on our farm, that in order to get something done you have to organize it yourself. After the hay is baled, it is time to get it up. You get the crew together. We never cared what the personal beliefs were of the hay hauling crewmembers, as long as the hay was put in the barn. 

Van Ayers
Shelbyville Bedford County Democratic Party Chair