Dec 9, 2014 2 min read

After reading Mike Jones’ Sunday article on incoming legislators Camera Bartolotta and Jason Ortitay, I found the closing comments by Joseph DiSarro, a political science professor at Washington & Jefferson College, to be inaccurate.

Referring to state Sen. Tim Solobay and state Rep. Jesse White, both of whom were defeated, DiSarro said “neither candidate viewed the results as the will of the people. To continue to campaign after the voters have spoken is a mistake, and it’s bad form.”

What he should have said is a minority of voters, 38 to 40 percent of registered voters, dictated the will of the people.

What is so troubling about this figure is, we the people, let somewhere around 40 percent of the voting public decide what direction our elected leaders should take us. How pathetic.

It’s difficult for me to comprehend how, in a nation so rich in history of battles to have our voices heard, we would let this happen.

Bartolotta and Ortitay will be junior elected officials in the Republican Party. Just because they will be voting with the Republican leadership in no way guarantees critical funding needed in our area for education, or for infrastructure, will be coming our way. In fact, being low on the political totem pole, their priorities will always be left at the end of the majority’s list.

Unfortunately, the 60 percent of registered voters who didn’t cast ballots will be the first to jump on the “I hate politicians” bandwagon. But if you didn’t vote, don’t complain. You can’t have it both ways.

Barry L. Andrews

Washington

Andrews is the president of the Central Labor Council of Washington and Greene counties.