Mohan's flier seeks 'yes men'

I received an unusual political advertisement from Amherst Town Supervisor Satish Mohan. In it he reiterates his campaign promises and then seems to blame his lack of success on his inability to work with elected officials and on his lack of the leadership skills needed to bring the Town Board to consensus on important issues. Mohan's solution to this frustration is to ask voters to elect new, more pliable board members; members he personally recommends, and who, presumably, will rubber stamp his agenda. If I were running, I'd be embarrassed to be included in an endorsement that reads, in effect, "Please vote for these guys because they'll do whatever I tell them." The reason our form of government works so well, even at the local level, is that we strug- gle to reconcile numerous and diverse opinions. The work can be difficult, but it is the time and effort that go into consensus building that help us find solutions that best serve the people.

After reading Satish Mohan's plea for compliant board members, I realize I will have to consider long and hard how I will spend my vote. I certainly have no interest in electing board members who serve only to be "yes men" in a Mohan dictatorship.

Richard McGarvey

Getzville