A smooth and peaceful transition ---- in North Attleboro
While
the drama in Washington, D.C., with the president acting puerile and like one
of the dictators he worships as he refuses to concede and spreads baseless
accusations of election fraud --- allegations that many key Republicans have
been backing as they enable him --- goes on and on, a smooth and peaceful
transition is under way in North Attleboro.
As reported in Wednesday’s edition of The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, MA, the
winner in the two-man race to replace longtime Republican state Rep. Elizabeth
“Betty” Poirier – not only last week received a very gracious concession
statement from his Republican opponent, but now the winner, Adam Scanlon, has
generously decided to resign his current town council post later this month to
allow his replacement to get a head start on the job.
Kudos to both Scanlon, 24, and to his fellow Town Councilor John Simmons, 45,
for showing the nation how opponents can run a race based on honest differences
on the issues, but still respect each other and the democratic system.
Simmons issued a gracious statement to The Sun Chronicle last week after the
results were known.
“We did not get the result
that we were looking for but we are proud of the campaign and beyond grateful
to our supporters,” he said.
“I thank state representative-elect Scanlon for a hard but clean campaign and I
would like to wish him all the best as his success will benefit the 14th
Bristol District. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the residents of
North Attleboro as a member of the town council and my desire to serve still
burns bright.”
Now Scanlon, a former school board member, has
said that he’ll give up his council seat after the council holds the town’s
annual tax classification hearing at its Monday, Nov. 23 meeting.
Scanlon told Sun Chronicle reporter Tom Reilly that resigning his seat now will
allow “the new member to become more accustomed to the operations of the town
council and allow himself a chance to see if he enjoys serving in the position
in case he decides to run again in the April election.”
Scanlon’s successor hasn’t been determined yet as the person, Michael Bedard,
who finished 10th in last year’s election – there are nine
at-large councilors on the town council --- said he’ll be unable to serve. The
new town charter calls for the runner-up in the election to be given the first
opportunity to replace a member who resigns the post.
But whoever does wind up replacing Scanlon on the council will be much better
off because Scanlon and Simmons both opted to take the high road in terms of the transition to
representing the 14th Bristol District in the Statehouse.
That speaks volumes, considering the scary dramatics going on in Washington,
D.C., which threaten our very democracy and has put millions of Americans on the
verge of nervous breakdowns as they worry about Trump refusing to leave office
on Jan. 20.
What's become a very dangerous situation has been exacerbated by the administration's decision
to deny basic information about the government, which has always been given to
the winner, to the Biden transition team.
What once was unthinkable – a coup – is now keeping millions of Americans up
nights – and all of this is coming as the pandemic continues to spread like
wild fires nationwide.
Shameful – and frightening!
God help us all!
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