I was dismayed by the partisan comments about Jeff Olsommer, who is running in the special election on April 23 for 139th State Representative.  They are as follows:

Headline:  Debate canceled in Pike County

A League of Women Voters debate cannot be canceled if it was not scheduled.

Mr. Olsommer had three other commitments which he could not renege on so no debate was scheduled. 

This is implied in the article as the League will “expect to announce it [a new date that] should provide more than enough time for the successful candidates to keep that day free of other conflicts.”

Letter to the Editor

Is it coincidence that two letters got printed from the Democratic chair and the Democratic candidate on Wednesday, April 3 on the same day as the League’s letter?

The River Reporter’s requirement to publish any letter is “The correspondent’s name and town will appear at the bottom of each letter.”

Is “Board of Directors” an adequate name given this requirement?

Is there not a spokesperson for this group?  

Is she in fact partisan and therefore not signing the article?

Would my signature of Concerned Citizen be acceptable?

League of Women Voters, a nonprofit, non-partisan group.

Why is the League’s address at the home of the past Democratic candidate for the state senate race for the PA 189th district? 

Headline:  What is Jeff Olsommer afraid of?

Nothing.  I know because I have challenged him at meetings of the Sterling Township. Repeatedly.  And I have witnessed other citizen participation and questions that are both instructive and mindboggling. He managed these meetings admirably. Further, these dialogues enabled criticisms, concessions, comity.  We have all grown kinder and more thoughtful as a result.

Perhaps if the League of Women voters espoused these virtues they would have successful debates.

Patricia Farrell
Lake Ariel, PA