Beach Fire candidate contribution called a conflict
To the editor:
My husband and I fled Czechoslovakia to escape the horrors of communism and the cronyism of its leaders. In the years we have been in America, we have watched the American political scene deteriorate. It seems politicians are for sale to the highest bidder; money is donated to a political campaign and those who donate seem to receive favorable treatment, frankly why else would a non-individual donate. From the land of the free to the land of the crony.
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean its ethical. Taking money from an organization that proposes to sell something or negotiate contracts with an organization you hope to lead is clearly unethical, even more so when those goods or services are purchased with taxpayers’ money.
Imagine my surprise to find this cancer is trying to infect Fort Myers Beach. Robert Raymond is running for the Fire Board. The Supervisor of Election website shows that Mr. Raymond has accepted $1,500 from the Firefighters Union for his election campaign. I am informed this is the very union that is currently in negotiations with the fire district. Legal but clearly a conflict.
I don’t want someone spending my hard-earned tax money who is beholding to the recipients of some of that money.
Eva Cecil
Fort Myers Beach