Letter to the

E ditor Dear Editor, Here are four questions someone should ask John Reid and Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent when they hold their Kilmarnock town hall on April 16th: 1. Mr. Reid and Delegate Kent, is it fair for Republicans to mount a multi-state campaign to redistrict in Republican states, taking away the voting power of Democrats? Those Republican states did not put the redistricting to a vote, the way Virginia Democrats are doing. Why are you both mum?

2. The gerrymandering started in Texas. The two of you were silent. If you are so wedded to Democratic principles, why haven’t you said something about Texas and other Republican states nullifying Democrats’ voices at the ballot box? Do you think Democrats are going to sit by and do nothing while Republican cheat?

3. Mr. Reid, why are you opposed to the redistricting referendum? If Republicans have their way, members of the LBGTQ+ community, like yourself and your partner, are likely to be disenfranchised? If Republican’s steal Congress, not just you and your partner may suffer, but lots of law-abiding, tax paying American citizens will be denied the vote. Why? Because their skin is not Slovenian white, they have a different religion, or the person they love is not acceptable to Trump.

4. Delegate Kent, why are you not doing anything about the impact of climate change on the dwindling striped bass and rockfish population? The Bay is warming and marine life as well as watermen and aquaculture are suffering. What are your thoughts and plans? Do you recognize climate change and warming as real and scientific and happening now? -David Cariens, Irvington


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