TO THE EDITOR:

Sensitive public issues in small communities need to be handled firmly but tactfully. It was most appro- priate for The News-Reporter to alert its readers to the controversial issue concerning the power of the mayor and encourage a large public turnout for the council retreat held at the Pope Center today (which I attended).

However the tone of the front page article, not to mention the lead editorial in the January 28 edition was not tactful; in fact it was outright inflammatory. We need to work to pull our community together, but using words like “dictatorship,” “shenanigans,” “selfish,” “egotistical,” only serve to polarize community divisions. The pending proposal is clearly intended to increase the power and authority of the mayor, but the statement “a system where the mayor could rule at his will” is a serious exaggeration and also serves to polarize the community.

I am calling on The News-Reporter to apologize for the fact that the front page “news” article was very one-sided and especially, for the inflammatory language of the lead editorial. You need to work to unite the community, not drive a wedge through the middle of it.

TED BUSH