Over the last few weeks, the election on November 5th has been over-hyped. There have been an excessive number of Letters to the Editor that have been asking readers to vote for different candidates. A lot of these letters have been about the defunct wind project, and how it is important to vote for anti-wind candidates. I am going to argue that no one should base their votes on the candidate’s wind project leanings.

Firstly, the wind project fell through, and there will be no wind turbines constructed due to public outcry. There has been concern that Avangrid Renewables is waiting for the town council to change so that it can push the project through, but that will not happen. The only reason Avangrid Renewables is still paying lease-holders is because they are legally obligated due to the contracts that were signed.

Next, many anti-wind advocates used unconventional and frightening tactics to shut the project down. As said in a previous Letter to the Editor, Opinion: Actions speak louder than words come election time, Hopkinton residents say, actions speak louder than words. Before you vote for someone who is anti-wind, you should consider how they conducted themselves while emotions ran high. Do we want leaders that will resort to hatred when decisions get tough?

Finally, the outcome of this election does not determine the majority of the anti-wind seats. There are three seats available for election, and there are only two pro-wind candidates. This means there is no possible way for the pro-wind project people to become a majority.

I hope that you will consider the candidates based on all their views, not only on the one that won’t have an impact on our community

Mark Severtson

Parishville-Hopkinton Central School student