Hoping For A Change Of Scenery

To the Editor:

On our way to Masuk earlier this week, a new piece of “scenery” greeted our smiling faces as we entered through the main gate of the high school. For those of you who have not seen it yet, along the left side of driveway stands a large DebraLee Hovey campaign sign, so inconspicuously placed within only a few feet of school property, facing toward oncoming traffic on Route 111.

As students who attend Masuk High School each day, we find this sign to be incredibly misleading. Do not be fooled; the Monroe Board of Education and Monroe Public Schools does not, and will not, endorse nor support any candidate of any political party. A school is an institution of learning, and does not carry a political affiliation. However, this is the message the placement of this sign conveys to the ill-informed passerby.

It is almost blatantly obvious that the sign was placed at its location by the property owner next to Masuk High School to convey a message that DebraLee Hovey is endorsed by Monroe Public Schools, and furthermore the students within its walls. This is 100 percent false, and misleading. Let’s clarify DebraLee Hovey’s position on education in Monroe:

According to her public voting record, DebraLee Hovey has consistently voted against educational legislation. She has voted against legislation that would have assisted students who required special educational accommodations, against the Healthy Food and Beverage Act that helps regulate the food being sold to students to offer more healthy alternatives, against educational amendments that will help improve the quality of education offered to Connecticut students, against legislation that would have granted immigrants access to a less expensive higher education, and has proven time and time again that her priorities do not lie with the children of Monroe. No, instead in her tenure in Hartford, she has taken up support of increasing funding for the Governor’s Horse Guard when it was due to be reduced to help close the multibillion-dollar deficit gap the State of Connecticut faces, obviously a much more pressing issue than the education of Monroe’s young minds.

Legally, the sign is not inside the grounds of Masuk High School, however, we call upon the homeowner whose property this sign does fall on to please consider relocating the sign from its current location as not to give an erroneous message to the voters. This sign has generated much controversy and anger from people of all affiliations, for the reason that it is impressing a political position and endorsement on an educational institution, which may cost Rep Hovey some votes come this November’s elections should she not take action. We only hope that Rep Hovey understands the ethical ramifications and the sensitivity of the situation, and takes action to rectify it.

We look forward to a swift resolution, and we also welcome Rep Hovey to come meet her youngest constituents and share her views with all of us.

Tanner Bokor

176 Hammertown Road, Monroe                        September 26, 2010