Are you frustrated over how the town has handled several issues over the last couple of years? Do you have concerns about how our public service personnel are being supported? Are you prepared for the continued increase in property taxes and your ability to remain in town long term? Will your children and grandchildren be able to afford a house and live in the town where they grew up?
If you believe the town governance pendulum has swung a little too far “left”, it is time to step up and volunteer to redirect toward the center! The town is led by several volunteer Boards and Committees. These Boards and Committees are currently filled by good people and our neighbors. It happens that most of these volunteers are very progressive in their views and policies. Maybe too progressive?
If you agree, you have a few choices:
- Try to effect change by commenting on social media
- Attending town/committee meetings and voicing concerns
- Volunteer for a position, either appointed or elected
- Get out and vote!
Both the latter choices are what is needed today! The town clerk is there to assist all of us in town governance and is great with helping people navigate town positions. There are also several websites in town that do a good job as well.
As the Chair of the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee (HRTC), we are committed to working to help nominate Republican candidates for town offices, but we are also open to providing assistance to independent voters with a more moderate view of how best to ensure our town remains a great place to raise a family.
It’s time to move to a more moderate center position on our town policies. The HRTC has monthly meetings with our next meeting this Saturday, February 3rd at 9:30 on the lower level of the Hopkinton Public Library. Join us and take the first step toward better town governance.
Sincerely,
Jim Mirabile, Chair, Hopkinton Republican Town Committee
Thanks Jim for your positive message and viable solutions to improve the management of our wonderful Hopkinton community. Be an “informed” voter by studying the Town issues & candidates and “Get out and Vote”!!
“We are also open to providing assistance to independent voters with a more moderate view of how best to ensure our town remains a great place to raise a family.” Hindsight is 20/20. It would have been wonderful if this happened during the last 2 election cycles when we had more moderate candidates who needed both guidance and financial support, but more importantly, advocacy when they were maligned by HDTC leadership. The latter caused more harm to their reputations as upstanding members of this community, volunteers, etc. Please do not think that I’m blaming the RTC for this because the fault lies with the HDTC 100%. We all should be hopeful that the future leadership of Hopkinton will evolve into a more balanced and centered governance. Thank you for your willingness to support moderate candidates, RTC.
Removing party designation and caucuses is a good move for the town. However, it is important to remember that we all have a responsibility to not only to vote, but to support the candidate best suited for the role by staying informed. Note: RTC, please correct me if I’m wrong at any level, about your lack of support for moderates in the last 2 election cycles. Thank you.
RosesR, thanks for the comments and question.
We did offer support last election cycle to an independent candidate, they did not want to be affiliated with any political party and respectfully declined, no harm no foul.
What we are trying to do is offer the experience we have on our committee to more folks in town who haven’t run before. Maybe we can reduce some of the stress with not knowing the process.
Our first priority as a committee is for registered Republicans, but as we all know, there are a lot of independents in town who have a lot in common with us conservatives, just not registered Republican. We want to offer our support to them.
They can choose to accept it, or not.
Jim this article is exactly why we voted for no party affiliation on our town elections. You were there and spoke against it. It’s the finger pointing, like in this article, suggesting one party over the other. Having been in town almost 30 years I remember the SB and other committees being primarily R’s. Jim I’m sure you remember those years as well as I do. So I ‘thought’ the idea of deleting party affiliation would do away with this sort party bullying. Guess not.
“Anonymous” please reread, I believe you missed the point.
Just realized next to the by line it says written my Hopnews ‘staff’. That would lead me to believe that this news source most CERTAINLY leans left. Hmm. Bias? So I guess Ed and John’s petition, that passed at town meeting, means nothing to you? So will this news service continue on this path thus further dividing our town?
This is a letter to the editor. Typically, but not always, those are published either as the author’s name (in this case, Mr. Mirable) or as HopNews Staff. It is clearly marked as an Opinion. It is signed by the author.
Respectfully, are you new here? HopNews is about as balanced as balanced gets. It’s local news with a kick; researched and meticulously well written. Feel free to peruse the site for recent articles that prove my point. Also, Dan H says it perfectly in this recent article: https://old.hopnews.com/media-watch-independent-inexplicably-twists-facts-about-porters-victim/
If you’re new to HopNews, welcome!
Allow me to correct myself here: Dan h says in the comment section, not in the article itself.
I think I have to call BS here. Republicans putting themselves forward as the town’s moderates? Puh-leez! They have their share of extremists causing problems on their side of the pendulum, too. I get that JM is just doing his thing trying to attract unaffiliated voters with this letter, but claiming Republican politics are the moderate views in the room is just not believable in this day and age.
PJ, I don’t recall the RTC bullying opposing candidates like the HDTC did in the last election.
“PJ” “moderates” is both a subjective and relative term. The focus of my letter is town politics which IMHO(am I showing my age?), is currently a bit too far to the left.
Thanks for the comments, differing opinions and respectful exchange is always welcome.
Well stated Jim. I could not agree with you more. Registered voters need to get out and vote in every election cycle and more people need to get involved in the inner workings of the town. There are many opportunities to volunteer (committees, boards, elected positions) to support the town and it takes concerned and dedicated Hop citizens to get things done. Make sure to do your civic obligation and vote. Did you know that in the May 2023 election only 11% of the registered voters cast a ballot? That’s pretty sad. No vote=no voice.
Want a better Hopkinton? Do something about it. It starts with you.