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An Independent Voice

Where do we go from here? The Academy School, the future of our elementary schools—a theme in some important decisions that have reached an impasse recently in Madison is that we need to see greater public participation on these issues. If your readers agree, I encourage them to join me in supporting an independent voice on Nov. 7: Owen Charles for the Board of Finance.

He makes clear why in this election he is running as a Green, and why we can be comfortable with supporting him. It is about common-sense values, including, first and foremost, grassroots democracy. He would like to ensure the broad interests of all people are represented in local government and that they have an independent voice representing them.

For the majority of busy hard-working citizens in Madison, they need to have more than just a one-shot public hearing for their voices to be heard. The public should have a say in decisions about actions that affect their lives and they should be afforded the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to ongoing dialogue in a participatory process, that will influence the decision.

He supports the public good over private interests, which is what truly representative town government should do, and he supports investing in things that are in the public interest and that have a high return on investment for the people of Madison financially and socially: maintaining a strong school system and investing in sustainable energy.

His platform and additional specifics are laid out on his candidate website shorelinegreenparty.com/owen_charles_2017.html.

Three seats on the Board of Finance are open. I encourage your readers to make Owen one of their choices.

Katherine Rupp

Madison