MADELINE ISLAND

NEWS AND INFORMATION

Public Letter to Michael Starck Concerning Your Recall as Ashland County Board Member

– Response to Ashland Daily Press Interview

Dear Mr. Starck:

I had thought that there might be no need for this recall election.  I did not sign the recall petition.  I was comfortable in this view until I read the Ashland Daily Press article, which quoted you extensively.

You spoke of the imbecility of your constituency. ("half the people that signed the petition had absolutely no idea what they were signing.")  You spoke of the lawlessness of your constituency (“there is a group of people on the island who don't like any kind of authority, no matter what.”).

I beg to differ.

I find that most people here have an intelligent respect for authority.  I point out some examples that have been on prominent display in recent months:

·        Respect for the authority of the people to govern.

·        Respect for the authority of the people to petition, a pillar of our democracy.

·        Respect for the authority of the people to have their petitions considered.

·        Respect for the authority of the people to be heard and considered at public hearings

·        Respect for the authority of the people to vote and hold elected officials responsible.

·        Respect for the authority of the people to be treated fairly by their elected officials.

·        Respect for the authority of open record and open meeting law.

I am sure that I speak for many Islanders when I say that I feel insulted when you mention that you and your fellow county board members “just chuckle and say, 'well that's the island,'". in response to citizens acting upon deeply held convictions.  You openly mock citizen efforts as daft democratic shenanigans.  You seem to have learned nothing from the last election.

Mr. Starck, you make the most clearly articulated case I have heard for your own recall.  You state convincingly that you do not respect the authority of the people.

Larry Whalen, Island Citizen and Voter

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