LETTER: Tosh for Lysander Town Board

To the editor:

I’m Gail E. Tosh, Democratic candidate for Lysander Town Board. My first encounter with politics occurred when I was attending Jamesville-DeWitt High School. I was asked to represent my group in a student forum, asking county administrators for funds for my organization. This was also the first time I experienced paralyzing fear.

I was attending not as a student of JDHS, but as the only member of the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization. However, other students from my school were there staring at me, whispering, pointing. This was 31 years ago, when gay teenagers just didn’t exist. The next morning, I was afraid to go to school. I saw what other students did to the kid everyone knew was gay. I didn’t want that kind of abuse for myself.

I did go to school the next day, but I didn’t let my fear of their gossip and potential horrible deeds paralyze me. At the end of the day, when I was still alive and had suffered no evil beyond silent angry stares, I learned to be confident in who I am, and determined that I was not going to allow anyone to intimidate me again.

I didn’t tell you this story to wave my lifestyle in your face. I want to show you, the voter, that I will walk through fire for what I believe to be true and right. I will not be easily pushed aside when there is an important issue at hand. My adversaries may think they are powerful, but I have been the anchor in the storm of my life. They cannot blow me off track. If you elect me as your representative I will enter into the fight for you, as well.

These things I believe to be true:

Government should be responsive to the will of the people
Government should improve the lot of the entire society, not just certain elite members
Government should be accessible to any member of the community (Facebook page — Gail E. Tosh. Please visit me there)
Diversity builds strength

These things I know to be true:

The current board has voted against projects that would have improved our town, like putting in a new electric transformer.
When dealing with any officer at Town Hall (except for town clerk) I have had difficulty finding them. When I did find finally find them, I couldn’t get consistent or reliable information.
Our town board is made up of five guys from the same party. With limited exceptions, it’s been this way for 40-plus years. It’s time to add diversity.

Vote for me, Gail E. Tosh, for Lysander Town Board, and I will bring much needed change to the “business as usual” style of the current town board.