LETTER: Casino Letter in Thursday's Foxboro Reporter is Misleading

Dear editor,

I take strong exception to Arthur Georgantas’ letter in the Foxboro Reporter and the timing of this letter, stating that I had voted on the casino issue.

This is an irresponsible statement, inaccurate in every way, and designed in the twilight of an election to mislead voters. The letter plays to efforts to misinform and manipulate an election.

Political games like this do not belong here, that’s not the Foxboro I grew up in.

For the record again, I never voted in favor of the casino, I voted for the process to hear the information. I’m glad the issue is behind the Town of Foxboro. I’ve said this publicly, and I’m emphatically stating it again. 

I sought during the casino debate to seek a fair and open discussion for the 17,000-plus residents and the 11,000 registered voters to become informed on all issues regarding a casino. To me, this issue was larger than a five member board, and as such, the process should be an open one where all sides were heard.

We were not making a choice on whether to approve a Street name, it was an issue that would have an effect on all our lives.  

I state again for clarity purposes, I did not vote for a Casino in Foxboro … merely to allow all sides to be heard. We as selectmen report to the public. We, as selectmen, must listen to the public. We, as selectmen, report to the residents. We, as selectmen, must listen to the public. We, as selectmen, must let them speak.

Foxboro voters made it clear that they didn’t want a casino, and I wholly respect that vote. I represent, to the best of my abilities, the will of the voters. As I’ve stated before, my agenda is their agenda, as it has been in my years on the Board of Selectmen.

That’s what the democratic process is all about.  To do otherwise is to curtail freedom of speech. And once you’ve done that, you’ve marred the democratic process.

Sincerely,

Lynda Walsh

Foxborough selectman