Letter to the Editor:

Above all, in any position in Town Government (and to further that, in any Governmental position) I believe that integrity should be the most important attribute, followed closely by character, then finally intelligence.  For, without the first two, intelligence with power is dangerous. Regarding the two selectmen in Town that are running as incumbents this year and the widely dispersed personal letter from one to the other, I’m simply in awe.

Both selectmen agree that they are on two separate ends of the issue at hand, the suggested Town Charter (OTM v. Council); both agree that they feel passionately that their take of the Charter is what will help the Town move forward, and both acknowledge that their personal feelings for the Charter are well documented and well known.  There is no need for this issue to become political fodder while running for re-election.  With this information, Selectman Gay is quoted in a newspaper this week stating that “Eleven people have spoke against it (Town Charter / Council), and one for it.  And this mirrors verbatim what I’ve said for the past 14 months. This Town is not for this change.” seemingly to suggest that Selectman Wilson does not acknowledge the thoughts of the people of Tewksbury.

This is how I interpret Mr. Gay’s statement.  However; as we all know, folks converge for public speaking only when they feel an issue will affect them personally.  So, do these 12 people who spoke represent the almost 30,000 residents of Tewksbury?   A personal e-mail was sent by Mr. Wilson to Mr. Gay stating he felt this statement to the press was uncalled for.   I know this, as Mr. Gay photocopied and distributed this e-mail to many people. After reading the letter, I understand it to be written out of frustration.  This issue, which is to ultimately only be decided on by the folks of this Town who turn out to vote, was suddenly made into an issue of who is running.

Agree or not with the Charter, it is there because regulations in Town suggest that a review of for the change in Government needs to be done every 10 years (by the way, it has been 26 years since it has been done) and the committee formed for this review by the BOS, the SACC, reviewed the current form of Government and suggested that, with their insight and investigation, the Council form of Government would be a step ahead.  It is now to be decided by the People.  This should not be a “Whose side are you on?” situation, but a “What is best for the Town?” vote.  For Mr. Gay to promote it as the former shows a lack of responsibility to the Town. I understand the frustration that Mr. Wilson felt, and the need to reach out to Mr. Gay and voice that frustration.

As far as the need felt by Mr. Gay to distribute that personal letter, as well as contact local newspapers and other media outlets and suggest that the letter came to him “out of nowhere” and that he was “dumbfounded by it” makes me question at the very least, his common sense.  Also, to suggest that the letter is a “Public Document” really concerns me to the fact that someone with this abundance of ignorance is representing someone like me.  Back to integrity, character and intelligence..  Mr. Gay appears to lack all three.  Although Selectman Wilson probably should have bit his tongue to be “politically correct” (oxymoron of the century, by the way), he has shown all three of these traits.  It seems to be a shame that we do not have more folks with these attributes running.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Nagle