Letter: Ballot 'placeholders' perpetuate status quo
Voters cast their vote at the Bayport-Blue Point High School in Bayport on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. Credit: James Carbone
Ballot 'placeholders' perpetuate status quo
At the Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization's Oct. 28 candidates debate, we got a look at the reality of our political machine at work. It's obvious that our county and town political parties want power, not our community's welfare. No wonder so many are turned off and don't even bother to vote .
The slate of Brookhaven Town Board candidates included several placeholders, or "paper candidates," who ran empty campaigns. They gave few, if any, interviews, posted no signs and attended few events, if any. The parties run these paper candidates to allow incumbents an easy win, so that those in power stay in power.
Ed Silsbe, Blue Point
Editor's note: The writer is the president of the Blue Point Community Civic Association.
