Response to ‘Resolution of Protest for Piscataquis County’

To the Editor;

I am writing in regards to the “Resolution of Protest for Piscataquis County” as proposed by James L. White, Wayne E. Erkkinen and Andrew R. Torbett. As someone who has political beliefs leaning on the left, I have often had differences of opinions with elected officials from my home county. This is to be expected. However, I was not expecting a “Proposed Resolution of Protest” from my county commissioners, a largely apolitical role if done with service of the community in mind, show up in my Facebook feed.

In short, this letter is riddled with inaccurate information, conspiracy theories, some flat-out lies, and even racism — While President soon-to-be former President Trump may delight in calling the virus by inappropriate names, I expect our elected officials to show more respect, especially when the letter claims to represent all of Piscataquis County. 

The letter starts right out with misleading information, declaring that a majority of voices in Piscataquis County have spoken out in agreement with our Commissioners. I have seen no such data, and none of the commissioners were elected by a strong majority — Torbett won by 274, Erkkinen and White ran unopposed. 

It gets worse. The letter spreads continuously debunked conspiracy theories about face coverings, which every top infectious disease expert and epidemiologist say are essential to stopping the virus. 

It is reprehensible that people who are supposed to be leaders in our county, represent us well to the state and to businesses, write a letter that is full of  misinformation. Leaders of the community are supposed to lead by example. These “gentlemen” are going by partisan politics, and “science” that would be flagged on Facebook and YouTube as false claims. It is an embarrassment to our county at large. 

Worst of all, their letter shows a complete disregard for the physical well-being of our community of working people. If their advice and “protest” were to bear fruit, how long would it take our small community’s hospital to be overrun. Early on in the pandemic, Piscataquis did not have many cases. But this has changed. It is here. The numbers are clear. And it is growing every day. 

White, Erkkinen and Torbett show they are not competent to represent our County, and show they do not have the best interest of Piscatquis residents at heart when they espouse conspiracy theories and debunked partisan talking points. They should all resign, and if they refuse, be recalled from their positions for the good of public health and safety. 

Robert S. Keniston

Dover-Foxcroft