In a recent letter to the Plymouth Independent, Select Board Chair Mr. Golden described his vote as “gut-wrenching.” However, he also used that letter to dismiss his own very public and profane attack on fellow Board member Mr. Keohan, during which he used obscenities and disparaged Mr. Keohan’s character.
This is particularly ironic given the recent reelection campaign of incumbent Board members Canty and Quintal. During that campaign, Mr. Golden’s close political allies, including Ms. Cavacco, repeatedly characterized the current Select Board as “the most dysfunctional” they had ever seen. Their message was that new leadership was needed, with Mr. Golden, Ms. Cavacco, and Mr. Quintal positioned to restore effective governance, while portraying Mr. Canty—arguably one of the Board’s most consistently civil members—as the principal source of the dysfunction.
Yet, in all my years of watching Select Board meetings, both in Plymouth and elsewhere, I have never witnessed a board member use language or display conduct as blatantly inappropriate during a public meeting as Mr. Golden did. Regardless of how frustrated he may have been, elected officials are expected to maintain their composure. If he cannot control his emotions during a contentious public meeting, it raises legitimate questions about the judgment and temperament required to serve the Town of Plymouth as Select Board Chair, let alone as a State Representative.
Public officials set the tone for civic discourse. Resorting to profanity and personal attacks does not foster productive government or effective collaboration, and it is not the standard of conduct the public should expect from its elected leaders.
In a recent letter to the Plymouth Independent, Select Board Chair Mr. Golden described his vote as “gut-wrenching.” However, he also used that letter to dismiss his own very public and profane attack on fellow Board member Mr. Keohan, during which he used obscenities and disparaged Mr. Keohan’s character.
This is particularly ironic given the recent reelection campaign of incumbent Board members Canty and Quintal. During that campaign, Mr. Golden’s close political allies, including Ms. Cavacco, repeatedly characterized the current Select Board as “the most dysfunctional” they had ever seen. Their message was that new leadership was needed, with Mr. Golden, Ms. Cavacco, and Mr. Quintal positioned to restore effective governance, while portraying Mr. Canty—arguably one of the Board’s most consistently civil members—as the principal source of the dysfunction.
Yet, in all my years of watching Select Board meetings, both in Plymouth and elsewhere, I have never witnessed a board member use language or display conduct as blatantly inappropriate during a public meeting as Mr. Golden did. Regardless of how frustrated he may have been, elected officials are expected to maintain their composure. If he cannot control his emotions during a contentious public meeting, it raises legitimate questions about the judgment and temperament required to serve the Town of Plymouth as Select Board Chair, let alone as a State Representative.
Public officials set the tone for civic discourse. Resorting to profanity and personal attacks does not foster productive government or effective collaboration, and it is not the standard of conduct the public should expect from its elected leaders.
– Philip J Ferraguto