Is there a point in time when those who are elected to office forfeit their personal opinions on social media while serving their position? Should a town councilor or mayor be suggesting to people which positions to take or which petitions to sign or not sign, as a private citizen? Should an elected representative suspend their personal opinions on social media while serving their public office?
Navigating social media can be a challenge. Depending on the words and approach, it can be used to educate and inform or debase and devalue people. I, for one, believe those willingly placing themselves in elected positions owes it to the character of our town to be as positive, informative, open, patient and neutral in their posting on social media as possible.
I do not believe there is one precinct in our town where the citizens agree 100 percent on any given issue; therefore, I think the councilors elected to their positions owe it to the people to remember they represent everyone, even those one is in disagreement with. In this age of political hostility, let us take a higher road of respectful, meaningful debate and conversation.
Reading some replies on one councilor’s personal Facebook page I was disheartened to discover some people publicly rejecting the idea of political civility. I encourage our elected officials to set aside their own opinions while in office and take up the goal of sowing unity in our community, respecting the citizens and be a model for steady, positive discourse.
Cathy Gouch
Greenfield