Letter to the Editor: Milt Baston wants your vote

1 min read

To Strong voters:
 
During these challenging times, I am asking for your vote on March 5 to continue as your selectman.
 
I’ve been part of some important changes and advancements. The board has taken on challenges, including the pellet mill explosion, critical structural repairs to the Forster Memorial Building, and personnel changes.
 
I’ve served as chair of the board of selectmen and co-chair of the Strong Advancement Committee. I’ve chaired the all-volunteer Sandy River Festival for several years. I am a member of and had served as chair of the Certified Logging Professionals board. All of these positions require working within financial constraints and cooperating with an assortment of personalities. This experience, I’m certain, will help with my decision making over the next three years.

All municipalities will be affected by state budget shortfalls and decreased education funding.  I am an optimist, but also a realist, understanding that new challenges are before us. I’ve made a commitment to work hard and fairly on behalf of all citizens of Strong. I would appreciate your support and your vote on March 5.

Sincerely,
Milt Baston
Chairman, Strong selectman

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14 Comments

  1. Maybe the Town of Strong needs some new blood. We need someone who will concentrate on the Town’s issues and not have their time spread out amongst many projects and interests.

  2. Strong citizens know what your changes and advances have been.
    Your cooperation skills need improvement.
    As far as optimism, realism and working fairly on behalf of ALL citizens
    is BS Mr. Chairman ,you must have just recently changed your mind.

  3. The same professionlism expressed in this letter does not reflect at Selectmen’s meetings. Involvement with the annual Sandy River Festival is admirable, and I hope he continues that effort, but that does not necessarily add to credentials of aplomb needed to serve as Selectman. Fairness of citizens? What about fairness to personnel and the members of the Board? I would invite anyone to listen to the taped sessions of Selectmen meetings over the past three years. You might be surprised at what you hear.

  4. Hmmmm…….one would wonder if these “concerned citizens” are from one particularly bitter family who has had a longstanding and expensive dispute that involved the town. A dispute that did not end in their favor even after taking it all the way to the Maine Supreme Court. I may be way off base, but if these posts are from member(s) of this family, I would understand their bias but would certainly not base my vote on their opinion. We lost a couple of good Selectman years ago thanks to this family and their senseless dispute. The job of Selectman is a thankless job that I would not want.

  5. I am not from a “particular” family. Is there guilt in the Strong Resident’s posting? I know first hand why those selectmen in the past resigned. Again, I suggest listening to taped meetings or to read the typed minutes. They are there for anyone who might be interested in learning what goes on at the Selectmen’s meetings. There is a history of double standards and discrimination.

  6. Even though I am working out of state, I still take an interest in what happens in Strong. I am still a resident and registered voter. I am not afraid to have my name show up in public forum showing support fot Rupert and Milt (I contacted the town clerk and have voted absentee). As many of you in Strong are aware, I state my opinions in public and am not afraid to support them. Our town needs a board of selectmen that is willing to put aside personal agendas and work for ALL of the people in Strong, not the vocal minority. In their years of public service, Rupert Pratt and Milt Baston have demonstrated they will do what is right for the Town of Strong and will not be bullied into supporting someone’s personal agenda. In the harsh economic times we will be experiencing over the next four or five years (yes, it is going to get worse), the Town of Strong needs leaders like Milt and Rupert.

    Scott Dyar

  7. How sad that ‘voters’ can take advantage of their anonymity to make vicious and vague accusations. ‘Credentials of aplomb?’ What does that mean? “Concentrate on the town’s issues?’ Let’s be specific. Let’s not hide behind vagueness and made-up words. That’s the sign of a coward. Bet these voters don’t show up at town meetings! People who need to write these thing are just mean and don’t really care about the town. They just want to tear someone down.

  8. Hmmmm………Sherlock Brainwashed, no need to wonder that you are the Gossip Queen.
    Also, if you decide to wake up and take your blinders off, those selectmen bailed because
    they adhere to ethics and avoid scandal.

  9. I respect Scott Dyar for not hiding behind anonymity to state his views. One cannot respect nor take seriously the opinions of those unwilling to do the same.
    The matter of choosing a selectman to represent the citizens of Strong shall be taken up by the citizens at the voting booth, not through anonymous attacks on character via this message board.

    Marc Edwards

  10. As far as I am concerned, any reputable newspaper that prints unsigned letters has no business calling itself a newspaper. The fact that these cowards are being provided a forum for their vitriol is what’s really sad. There will always be creeps and malcontents. Publishing their rantings is a choice made by Ms. Hanstein. Shame on her.

  11. Milt Baston will have my vote at the polls. He is someone who has proven he has the best interest of the whole town in mind, and unlike those who only want to tear others down, he works hard to improve the conditions in Strong. His detractors in this anonymous public forum have a personal agenda, and are bitter that he is not their puppet. I have witnessed Milt treating others with professionalism and respect, even when they may not have deserved it.

  12. Admin logging in for Perry Ellsworth:

    These are difficult times and during these times true leadership must prevail. Selectmen often have to make careful decisions because of the precedent setting that may take place. We are all human and one would think that all would treat one another fairly. This is not always the case.

    This trend has been alive and well for some time in Strong and it is not confined to any one person or family. It flairs regularly. I agree with John that you should post your name and not hide behind ambiguity. Being a selectman, especially the chairman carries a price with it. You may be cock of the flock today and chicken filet tomorrow. It’s like whispering in someone’s ear and continuing the process.

    The final word on the street may not carry a factual account of what really happen but it makes for a conversation item. As I said earlier this is the time for leadership and a group of selectmen who can work together to PROMOTE the TOWN OF STRONG. Find out the facts and vote for the best candidates who will work to bring tranquility to the Town Office.

    I hope that we all see the smiles in the Town Office that used to be there once this election is completed. In the meantime if people want throw a punch through this process then as John said “write down your name” or better yet approach that person and have a face to face discussion.

  13. We are blessed to be able to have a true form of democracy in Maine through our direct voices and votes at town meetings. With that freedom comes responsibility, and that includes being willing to agree to disagree with respect and common decency. I may not always be happy with the way our town members vote or choices that our selectmen make, but at the end of the meeting or the end of the day, I consider these folks my friends and neighbors and expect to be treated the same way.

    If folks have legitimate concerns about candidates or issues, then they should raise them in a decent and respectful way and in full view (names) of their listening audience, whether at town meetings or editorial comments.

    Let’s all go forward with taking our freedoms and responsibilities in a sincere and respectful way.

    Sincerely,
    Bill Crandall
    Farmington Citizen
    (Raised in Strong and proud of it)

  14. It is a basic human Constitutional Right ( the first amendment ) to be an anonymous writer or not.
    It is also the right of the publisher to publish comments or not.
    The frustration is clearly seen in the minds of the writers that prefer to deny the rights of their fellow human beings.

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