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City officials made debate a mockery

I am writing to express my disgust and appall at the conduct of several of our elected officials and their paid appointed employees at the League of Women Voters “Meet the Candidates Night” in City Hall on Tuesday.

At this event, Dunkirk Councilman Michael Civiletto, County Legislator Robert Bankoski, city clerk and political appointee Edwin Ramos and city human resource director and political appointee Dave Campola took the extraordinary step to actively participate in the event to question the candidates in a biased manner. In the case of Legislator Bankoski, there was a condescending attitude to the volunteer organizers.

There is a time and place for partisan political discussion. It’s on paid ads, rallies and campaign events. But not at City Hall, at a nonpartisan volunteer event that was televised by a taxpayer-funded public access channel.

I think we all could assume that those working for the administration will be voting for it to continue and likely do not need to “meet the candidates.” Elected officials from the same political party are equally well informed.

This event was for the public to ask questions and learn about the candidates through their responses regarding the issues that concern them, not for politics to drown out any meaningful discussion.

These elected officials, appointees and their boss who allowed it owe the League of Women Voters an apology for their conduct. I can only hope that future candidates do not shun these events based on the behavior of these individuals. The League of Women Voters is a wonderful organization that provides an invaluable service to this community. According to their website the “League is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government” and our local elected officials and their paid political appointees need to respect that mission and treat them with the respect they deserve.

I was present at this forum and still can’t believe how those mentioned behaved. They obviously forgot their paychecks are generated from the city of Dunkirk taxpayers.

Nicolette Nichols is a Dunkirk resident.

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