To the Editor:

            Recently, several Mattapoisett residents received campaign-style text messages urging them to attend the Special Town Meeting scheduled for October 4. What is deeply troubling is that these texts used the official seal of the Town of Mattapoisett to promote attendance at what is, by definition, a non-binding and unnecessary meeting.

            The unauthorized use of a town seal is not a trivial matter. State law expressly prohibits using an official seal to give the impression of legitimacy or authority where none exists. The Town Clerk is the sole custodian of our seal and should immediately investigate this misuse.

            Let’s not forget: the voters of Mattapoisett already decided this issue at the Annual Town Meeting last May, approving the expansion of the Select Board from three to five members. That process went through all proper legal channels, was signed into law, and reflects the will of the people. Now, because a handful of opponents gathered signatures, our Town Administrator has been forced to schedule this Special Town Meeting. He has acknowledged that it will cost taxpayers at least $3,500 – money wasted on relitigating a decision already made.

            One cannot help but notice the timing. The current Select Board Chairman, Tyler Macallister, is a declared candidate for Congress. The use of the town seal in these campaign-style texts raises the question of whether this manufactured controversy is being leveraged for political gain. Mr. Macallister owes this community a clear statement: that he had no role in this effort, that he denounces the misuse of the town seal, and that he will not exploit this meeting for his campaign.

            Our democracy depends on respecting both the will of the voters and the integrity of our institutions. Mattapoisett deserves better than costly distractions and questionable tactics.

            Sincerely,

Elizabeth Stewart, Mattapoisett

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.

Dear Editor,

            My wife and I belong to our town-sponsored fitness center. Several years past, there was a friendly older gentleman named Ray who also attended. If he was there when we went, he’d always be smiling from ear to ear; and when he wasn’t exercising on one of the pieces of equipment, he’d be greeting someone by their first name. We’re convinced if there was a “mayoral election” at the gym back then, Ray would have received all the votes.

            In my earlier years in business, there were two very successful people who I was privileged to know and at some point, informally interviewed about the secret to their success. One was Sue Wong, who owned a Chinese Restaurant called the Cathay Temple. The other was Manny Gomes, who owned Manny’s Gas and Service Station. Both told me the same thing. It was not about what seemed most obvious – the best Chinese food or the highest-octane gas: it was about a working relationship with people and purposefully calling them by name.

            These examples serve as evidence of the influence and success in the “bothering” to know someone by name. A book by Franklin Graham entitled The Name brings this concept and process to the greatest focus. The name he talks about in his book is Jesus Christ – the one name that is the lightning rod because it represents the division of life between good and evil, God and Satan, light and darkness, righteousness and sin and heaven and hell.

            Isn’t it amazing how so many people these days are quick to dismiss, defame, or take the name of Jesus Christ in vain? Sadly, it’s bordering on the politically correct thing to do. Before we join those ranks and the eternal consequences associated with such foolishness, we need to know what God’s word says. The Bible says there is no other name for us to rely upon to be saved, that we should pray to the Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, and one day every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father.

            So, what’s in a name? If we’re referring to the real Jesus Christ, the anointed One and Son of the Living God, then it’s the name that profoundly transcends earthly elections or business success. It’s the name that simply means everything.

            Sincerely,

Steven J, Bouley

The views expressed in the “Letters to the Editor” column are not necessarily those of The Wanderer, its staff or advertisers. The Wanderer will gladly accept any and all correspondence relating to timely and pertinent issues in the great Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester area, provided they include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. We cannot publish anonymous, unsigned or unconfirmed submissions. The Wanderer reserves the right to edit, condense and otherwise alter submissions for purposes of clarity and/or spacing considerations. The Wanderer may choose to not run letters that thank businesses, and The Wanderer has the right to edit letters to omit business names. The Wanderer also reserves the right to deny publication of any submitted correspondence. All letters must be typed and submitted directly to: news@wanderer.com.