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<DIV>Alan and all,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am not bringing this up to make life difficult for anyone and Alan,I
appreciate the difficult and hugely subjective task you have been asked to
handle -- determining what is electioneering and what is not.
Frankly, I haven't yet heard exactly what "electioneering" is; and what it
should not be is, "I can't explain it but I know what it is when I see
it." You perform your list moderator duties admirably.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Make no mistake, I believe that to further restrict open
discourse on this list would be the wrong path to travel. No definition or
perception of electioneering should dampen open, respectful discussion
between candidates, incumbents and the public. That is EXACTLY why I am on
this list. I also appreciate the efforts others have made to establish
other lists to exchange this discourse. But there are neither enough list
members nor enough candidates to conduct open discourse on those lists. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This is the list on which we should be doing that. This community
list gives us the opportunity to stretch the boundaries of open exchange as
opposed to shrinking them. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Adrianne Lefkowitz</DIV>
<DIV>Madison Street</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>*******************************************</DIV>
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size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000
size=2>Dear Ms. Lefkowitz,<BR><BR>Yes, some of the statements you marked could
be construed as<BR>electioneering, as could many other statements that have gone
out on<BR>the list recently. I did not view them, in context,
as<BR>electioneering. If you believe I made an incorrect decision there
is<BR>a process for appealing my decision specified in the policy
(see<BR>http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/2007-April/001549.html).<BR>Of
course, I cannot pull messages that have already gone out back, but<BR>if my
decision is determined to be wrong I can restrict future<BR>postings
more.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Alan Thompson<BR>List Administrator and Acting
Webmaster<BR>Town of Riverdale Park<BR><BR>On 4/19/07, euniverz@aol.com
<euniverz@aol.com> wrote:<BR>><BR>> Electioneering:
"persuasion of voters in a political campaign"<BR>><BR>> Can any of the
statements in the Mayor's post (see below) be construed as<BR>>
"electioneering"? Specifically, those statements around which I
placed<BR>> asterisks?<BR>><BR>> Not complaining, just seeking
clarification.<BR>><BR>> Adrianne Lefkowitz (apparent Town
Contrarian)<BR>> Madison Street<BR>><BR>> Dear voters,<BR>><BR>>
<snip>...These paper postings, along with an advertisement in a paper
of<BR>> general<BR>> circulation (we use the Town Crier), are the Charter
mandated means of<BR>> getting information about elections out to you.
(emphasis added AML)<BR>> ****Anything that is done by the<BR>> town
beyond that represents the Mayor and Council going extra steps to give<BR>>
information to the public.***<BR>><BR>> You will note that when the
announcement went out electronically via<BR>> the Town Announce it included
for each candidate the 1) phone number; 2)<BR>> email address; and 3) web
site (if the candidate has one). If you want to<BR>> have a one-on-one
discussion with the candidates for office (Emphasis added<BR>> AML) ****you
are better<BR>> able to do that now than in any election that has ever
occurred in the<BR>> history of Riverdale Park****--and Riverdale Park
already had a very good<BR>> record<BR>> of constituent access to
candidates.<BR>><BR>> (Emphasis added AML) ****Every Council member in one
way or another<BR>> advocated providing more<BR>> information to improve
electronic/voice access to the candidates. The only<BR>> no vote on the
current policy for improving this access came from a council<BR>> member who
wanted to go farther still...****<BR>><BR>> <snip><BR>><BR>>
Best wishes,<BR>><BR>> Vern<BR>><BR>> --<BR>> (Emphasis added
AML) Vernon Archer, ****Mayor<BR>> Town of Riverdale Park,
Maryland****<BR></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>