Our most basic right as is our right to select our leaders. As a witness to the recount in Senate District 16, I saw that right cast aside in an unjust power grab by Democrats.

The Democrats have exploited a loophole which allows them to pick and choose which votes should be counted during a recount, so dispute will now move to the Senate.

There, the Democrats are expected to vote in a party line that the votes they challenged are not to be counted, despite the clear intent of the voter.

This scandal recalls the days of “Ballotgate, ” when the rights of Maine voters also were threatened. I believed that the new Democratic leadership had developed more respect for the people’s right to vote. I was wrong.

The Democrats may vote their party line but they do so at their own peril.

The ballots in dispute should be made public and the people of Maine should see that their Senate is controlled by a party that is willing to deprive voters of their right to participate in our democracy.

Kathy Watson

Chairman

Maine Republican Party