In his Publisher’s notebook “We want change … until it’s time to vote” (Nov. 10), John D’Agostino writes: “Michael C. Barris did no campaigning (for a Fredonia trustee’s slot), turned down a spot on the ballot for the Concord line, had no signs or literature and was victorious in allowing the Democrats to maintain the Village Board majority.”

While this is true, I distributed my palm cards during the Fredonia Farm Festival Parade, presented in the Fredonia-Pomfret Democratic Association’s Meet-and-Greet Event at Grange Hall No. 1, debated in the League of Women Voters’ Meet-the-Candidates Night in Fredonia’s 1891 Opera House, and sent postcards with photographs of myself and two other Village Trustee candidates to every residential address within village limits two weeks before the election.

It is also true that I have been an officer of the Fredonia-Pomfret Democratic Association continuously for 14 years. My minutes of each monthly meeting are distributed to members by e-mail within three days of that meeting. My name and return address appears on the envelopes of the annual membership renewal solicitations. For each of 12 years, I solicited signatures on nominating petitions for Democratic Party candidates.

In my thrice-weekly five-mile treks for groceries, I greet and speak with individuals encountered on my route. I acknowledge greetings from passing motorists. For 14 years, I have handwritten acknowledgements of vital events to those intimately effected.

Surname relatives have taught in Dunkirk and Fredonia schools in late 20th-century decades.

I contend that all these things added to my election victory.

I submit that these behaviors are more effective in securing votes than lawn signs and literature distributed immediately before an election.

Michael C. Barris, Ph.D., is a trustee-elect in the village of Fredonia.