On Monday, the TC has a choice between two candidates to appoint to an open seat on the Budget Committee. The seat is open because BC member Dave Perry was elected to the TC, having been supported by T1 in both elections. Given this fact, and that voters in Nov overwhelmingly chose candidates who shared Tiverton 1st's vision over those from Clean Up Tiverton Cavalry, the choice is clear.
Louise Durfee has extensive knowledge and experience in town finances, and has been supportive of T1's community-based goals.
The other candidate, James O'Dell, represents the opposite perspective of T1 and Mr. Perry. He was a CUT candidate for TC, losing by over 1000 votes. He was a prime driver of TCC and its efforts to gut the school budget. He is currently part of a lawsuit against the Town aiming to give the Town Council the ability to override the voters' decisions on the budget & taxes. He's repeatedly filed baseless Charter complaints that demonstrate a basic lack of understanding of the Charter. And his wife Madeline is already a member of the Budget Cmte.
For these and many more reasons, Ms. Durfee is clearly the better choice for our community, and Mr O'Dell would be a destructive option for the goals and principles Tiverton 1st represents and voters have overwhelmingly supported in the past two elections.
Brian Medeiros
Tiverton RI
