Letter to the Editor: Waddington Vote
Democracy still works.
Having voted and seen the results in the recent primary election for town council in
Waddington, I find it a relief to see the democratic process in our great country still
works. Unlike many countries where one or a handful of people dictate what goes on, here
in our country everyone has the opportunity to evaluate issues and express their opinion
privately in the voting booth.
I have read many letters on the issue surrounding the use of the Leishman Point (LP)
property. Initially, the process seemed to work. During regular town board meetings, open
to the public, it was decided the property would be used for upscale residential housing
and part of the land would still be reserved for public use. In a town where good income
producing residents are needed to support local businesses all year, not just during the
warm months, that made a lot of sense to me. Many alternative uses for the property have
been suggested that seemed much riskier to me and really don't make any sense for this
nice quiet village.
The issue on the use of LP has tested our democratic process. After a lot of badgering,
our town board agreed to conduct a telephone survey on the issue. The survey was intended
to be quite simple. Do you agree that the LP property should be used for the original
purpose agreed to at the town board meeting — Yes or No.?
While some would have you believe it was an unfair survey, it was intended simply to serve
the democratic process. You had the chance to say No thereby expressing your opinion on
the issue. The tabulation showed the Yes votes beat the No votes by a resounding margin.
The majority of the residents of Waddington sent a message expressing their position on
this issue.
When election time came this year a town council position was open and candidates in both
parties were running that were on both sides of this issue. Once again results from the
voting process would suggest the majority still supports using the land as originally
intended.
In a variety of ways residents have had the opportunity to participate in our democratic
process and send a message about the LP issue that should be clear to everyone. The
majority of residents support the property being used to increase the number of tax paying
residents in Waddington. More residents will help support the local economy and, if using
the property in such a way doesn't work, not that much has been put at risk. Some of the
alternative uses of the property I have read about could be very costly if they didn't
work. What would happen in that event? Higher town taxes to fund the mistake? I don't like
paying higher taxes. Like the majority of the residents in Waddington, I like this less
risky, more sensible use of the LP property.
Ken Ashley
Waddington
Originally published 09/28/2003
Ogdensburg Journal
Used with permission