RobertXGillis

RobertXGillis

25+ years of published Op/Ed columns, professional photography, my first book and more from the 28 known galaxies!

RobertXGillis
  • About Me
  • My professional photography
  • Nana – my first published book
  • Gillis Photo and Nana Videos
  • Site Map
  • Nativity

Foxboro town election 2013 — some thoughts, some advice, and a reminder to VOTE!

  • Foxboro
  • Foxboro Reporter Image
 The candidates for Foxboro selectman at candidates night, 2013
The candidates for Foxboro selectman at candidates night, 2013

by Robert Gillis
Published in the Foxboro Reporter 4/2012

As a Foxboro Jaycee, I was so honored to be the moderator for candidates night — yes, I was nervous but my main goal (beyond not passing out) was too ensure that things ran smoothly, ensure the candidates were all treated fairly, got their say, and that the information got out.

It was a welcome opportunity to “step out of my comfort zone” and be in front of the camera instead of my usual filming behind the camera. That we have Foxboro Cable Access to provide this great studio and outstanding team is a blessing for the town.

For me, I hadn’t expected the amount of research and prep involved, but I learned a lot, and got to meet some candidates I didn’t know, and the experience, for me at least, was completely positive. I would happily do it again.

As a contributor to the Foxboro Reporter (a privilege I cherish) this space is neither a “Jaycee” column nor is an op/ed column the place for an endorsement (that must be done as a letter to the editor). Given that I moderated candidate’s night, even a letter to the editor this year endorsing a specific candidate would be inappropriate.

Of course, private citizen Bob has his own choices, but I found a way to make an endorsement/offer of support here without violating any rules.

My friends, I encourage you to support all the candidates. In this context, “support” doesn’t mean endorse/cast your vote for that person; it means “support” them because they each have the guts to stand up and run for office in this town. By all means laud and praise YOUR candidate but don’t bash the other folks. You can speak of the strengths of your candidate — and encourage others to vote for your candidate — without bashing. Let’s keep it civil this year.

This isn’t Obama/Romney — what I found the other night is a lot of different personalities but a group of decent people, each who want what’s best for the town. It takes courage; it takes true dedication, a love for the town, and no small amount of sacrifice. Not everyone will agree, and personality conflicts are inevitable, but each candidate is stepping up, making the sacrifice, and trying to make a difference.

School board, Selectman candidates, all the others — I don’t know how you do it. You deal with so much. From the experienced to the new folks, you have my great respect. In my view, all of you are winners.

Now, let’s address all the registered voters in Foxboro: Do your part and get out on Election Day and VOTE. There are so many stories of people in other countries, holding up that finger with the purple ink, showing how proud they are that they VOTED — what an honor! What a privilege! Here in America, so many don’t even bother to vote. That is so very sad.

In our town, historically, unless there are REALLY hot-button issues like the dog park or casino/resort, voter turnout is typically low. Let’s change that.

Without getting too preachy, I submit the following:

  • Your vote counts. Especially in a small town like this, some elections have been won by a small number of votes.
  • You ability to vote in this country is sacred. So many people across the world cannot vote. Do not take this privilege for granted. People have died and fought so that Americans — all Americans — can vote.
  • Make the time to vote on April 30.No excuses.
  • For the unopposed candidates, cast the vote for them anyway — don’t leave it blank because no one else is running — it’s a nice way of supporting the unopposed candidates.
  • If you are able, come to town meetings. Decisions are made by those who show up.

Most citizens cannot make the sacrifice of running for, and serving in, town office.

But each of us CAN make a difference by supporting our candidates, not bashing the others, and voting.

My friends, end of speech. The rest, as always, is up to you. This is your town. Be involved, be informed, think about what is important to you and the town, make your choices, and VOTE.

See you at the polls on April 30! And to all candidates, God bless, and good luck!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Posts via Categories

  • Why Local Newspapers Are So Important
  • Father Steve Madden leaving Saint Mary’s Foxboro in 2015
  • Remembering Tom Sawran, Foxboro Jaycee and so much more
  • Celebrating the remarkable clergy of Saint Mary’s Foxboro
  • [Updated] Foxboro double power outage: Forgotten already?
  • The prodigal son returns to church (again)
  • In loving memory of Mary Cicciu
  • Foxboro Senior Center Christmas fair
  • April, 2000: Saying Bon Voyage to Father Steve Madden
  • My very first Reporter Column; Support your seniors!
Spread the love
April 15, 2013 Robert Gillis 0

Post navigation

Celebrating the remarkable clergy of Saint Mary’s Foxboro → ← The Water Heals

My Professional Photography

Buy My Book!

Go to Nana Book website

Follow Me!

  • Facebook

RobertXGillis.com Categories (Drop Down Menu)!

Category Cloudy Thingy!

A must read Avoiding Fraud Backstreets Boston Bruce Springsteen Catholic / Church Christmas CNN image Computers / Tech Current Events / News Commentary Current News Story Parody and Humor Dorchester Foxboro Foxboro Founders Day Foxboro Jaycees Foxboro Jaycees Haunted House Foxboro Reporter Image Halloween Holidays - Other Humor Life events, Gratitude and Giving and Little Miracles Mass Shootings Memorials Movies Music My fiction (80s/90s) Nana Book NASA Image New Hampshire News image from Web New Year Not The Best Pets Politics Scanned From Newspaper Microfilm Seniors September 11, 2001 Slow News Day Humor Sports Star Trek Superman Superman and Friends - Comic Book Humor and Parody Television Uncategorized Web / Email / Internet / Social Media

Robert Gillis Site Archives From the 28 Known Galaxies

Weekly Popular!

  • A dream come true, meeting Joanna Cameron, star of… (39)
  • Memories of an Intensive Care Nursery at Saint… (18)
  • Silver Age Comics: Spanking your super kids, a great… (11)
  • An historical quest fulfilled: Finding the Willey… (8)
  • More Silver-Age Lois Lane comic book madness! (7)
  • The Weakest Link (7)
  • Silver-Age Superboy comic book (in)justice! (7)
  • Grieving the Saint Kevin’s Property (7)
  • An interview with Joanna Levesque, aka “JoJo” (7)
  • Katy Perry’s “Firework:” A message every teen needs to hear (6)
  • Memo: Cost-cutting measures during these tough… (6)
  • Retro-Review: A Christmas Carol (1999) starring… (5)
  • You can go home again; my visit to Dorchester and… (5)
  • Thoughts on the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie teaser… (5)
  • Silver Age Comic Books: Superman stops the… (5)
  • Foxboro Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt (5)
  • What was the Silver Age of comic books? Superman,… (5)
  • Win or lose, THANK YOU New England Patriots! (5)
  • Silver Age Superboy and Lois Lane presents: Comets… (5)
  • Bruce Springsteen at Fenway Park September 6 and 7, 2003 (4)
  • Letter I wrote to DC Comics when Superman died (4)
  • More Lucy Lane and Lois Lane Silver-Age Comics Sillyness! (4)
  • Another day with simple joys, little miracles (4)
  • Retro-Review “A Christmas Carol” (1951) (4)
  • A little Christmas miracle as the Foxboro Jaycees… (4)
  • Popular posts by Top 10 plugin

Most Popular On This Site!

  • A dream come true, meeting Joanna Cameron, star of… (16,699)
  • An interview with Joanna Levesque, aka “JoJo” (6,149)
  • A letter to Mom on Christmas Day (3,654)
  • Memo: Cost-cutting measures during these tough… (3,296)
  • Silver Age Comics: Spanking your super kids, a great… (2,722)
  • Memories of an Intensive Care Nursery at Saint… (2,324)
  • Thoughts on visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday (1,716)
  • Father Steve Madden leaving Saint Mary’s… (1,623)
  • Grieving the Saint Kevin’s Property (1,528)
  • The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in… (1,512)
  • The customer, most assuredly, is NOT always right: A… (1,396)
  • More Lucy Lane and Lois Lane Silver-Age Comics Sillyness! (1,212)
  • Silver-Age Comics fun: Going to the chapel, and… (1,042)
  • Katy Perry’s “Firework:” A message every teen needs to hear (1,038)
  • What was the Silver Age of comic books? Superman,… (1,035)
  • Popular posts by Top 10 plugin

Copyright and Legal

All site content copyright © 2020 by Robert Gillis except where specifically noted. All rights reserved. THIS IS A PERSONAL WEBLOG (“BLOG”). THE OPINIONS AND COMMENTARY EXPRESSED HERE REPRESENT MY OWN AND ARE NOT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYERS (PAST, PRESENT NOR FUTURE).

About images:

I do my best to use my own photos to illustrate a post (and copyright to all my images remains with me), but sometimes I need to use an image from, say, a sports logo, a TV show or movie, or something I could not possibly get on my own, for example, an image of the international space station. I always credit the original owner (if they can be determined) but in ALL cases, whether credited or not, any images I didn’t photograph myself remain the property of the original copyright holders. This site does not imply any ownership of such images or materials, and such images are used here for commentary / illustrative / entertainment purposes only, under what is believed to be fair use guidelines, and absolutely no copyright infringement is intended.

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double