Reflections on Brentwood's Contested Election

After hearing about the anonymous mailings and dead animals sent to the home of Alderwoman Maureen Saunders, I started to wonder about the significance of these hateful gestures. I consider the instances something other than some sick individual(s) making juvenile attempts to sabotage a campaign. I think these acts symbolize the idea of wanting to silence a voice that requests accountability.

All of us are allowed to publicly voice our opinions and openly criticize those in authority. Why is it that when someone chooses to speak up, there are numerous attempts to silence them? Since when did transparency and truth become taboo topics, especially with regard to government? It seems to me that a healthy community would have room for questions regarding all issues, and value the insight that differing viewpoints provide. City officials become too comfortable when people don't ask the difficult, important questions. I realize that our community is small and that issues of accountability can easily turn personal, but Brentwood needs to learn how to take criticism and use it to everyone's advantage.