Dear Editor:

Mr. Latimer has made taxes a central theme of his campaign and he should. He has a very clear voting record on where he stands on our taxes and how the money is spent at the county level.

As Chairman of the County legislature he raised the legislature’s budget by 45% and increased property taxes in 2003 by 15% presumably as revenues started to fall off. Are there not other ways to plan for a “rainy day” as the county cut some taxes in the late 1990’s instead of increasing taxes when people are losing their jobs and can’t afford increased property taxes?

I agree with him that this entire election for the 91st Assembly District in his words “ is about openness and inclusion”. As of this writing we still do not have a state budget, do we really need another tax and spending approach in Albany? Lets make sure the debate on taxes and spending are as open and inclusive as he desires.

This is not about a “bait and switch” on issues these are real true issues that every voter in the 91st must be concerned about. Can we afford to live in the 91st AD, becomes a real question for every voter.

Does Mr. Latimer bring the same old solutions to a forum in Albany that has the shortest debate time in the country on legislation that actually makes it to the floor? Albany desperately needs to seek new and smart ways to fund the programs and provide solutions we need as citizens of the 91st.

We need people there who are “regular men and women” who bring fresh, real, and new approaches to solving problems, not to just go with the flow. I hope the voters of the 91st Assembly race follow this real debate that calls us all to be involved because it impacts us all on where and how we live.

Glenn Dorr

Rye, New York