Dear Editor, Editors, Staff of the Arvada Press and citizens of the City of Arvada:

In an editorial dated October 18, 2007, the Arvada Press goes on record as endorsing Ken Fellman for mayor. It doesn't say which editor wrote the edorsement and how he could include the entire staff, but there it is. The editorial goes on to give a list of vague, non-specific and debatable accomplishments, but those are matters of opinion and it is OK to having differing opinions in a Representative Democracy. The part that I find particularly offensive is a quote from Fellman stating, "It's a large table. Everyone has a seat." That quote makes it sound as if everyone also has a voice, but that is not true. In Fellman's Arvada, you are welcome to sit down, but please keep quiet.

On numerous occasions, I took the opportunity to eimail Mayor Fellman and the City Council about issues important to me. After all, they list their e-mail addresses in the Arvada Report and that seems like an open invitation to voice one's opinion directly, doesn't it? It is not. Doesn't it sound like an "open door" policy? That, apparently is not true either. Of all the e-mails I sent, I only received two responses, none of which were from the mayor. One of the responses was a sincere reply, but only a "courtesy" reply, and it accomplished nothing. The other response was just a sarcastic snip. Now, I ask, is that Representative Democracy? If it is, what or who is represented? One big problem with America and the modern form of democracy we have developed is that Representative Democracy has changed to the point where elected officials believe they are elected to represent their own opinions and their own points of view as opposed to those of the majority of the constituency. Why do politicians persist in doing what they want to do, only to tell us what great work they did for us? Something is basically wrong with that.

In the eight years Mr. Fellman has been in office, I never once met him directly, never once spoke to him directly, and I never once shook his hand. I also never once saw him in my neighborhood. On the other hand, Bob Frie not only has responded to my email many times, I have met him directly, spoken with him directly and watched him canvass my neighbor on foot. To me, those traditional values and traditional methods mean a lot more and show a lot more dedication to the community than the candidate who sits behind his desk and tells me how dedicated he is to my friends and neighbors. I suppose Mr. Fellman would answer my e-mail, talk to me and shake my hand if I were a big developer, a lobbyist, or I had enough money to catch his eye, but I am none of those things, and I don't have enough money. That's why I am going on record endorsing Bob Frie as the candidate more in touch with the people and the next mayor of Arvada.

You can listen to the rhetoric coming from Ken Fellman, and it is your choice whether to believe it or not, but I beseech to take a moment to stop and consider the truth before casting your vote. Do you believe what Ken Fellman says just because he says so? If you do, e-mail him and ask him about Democracy and Human Rights as outliined by the United States Constitution. I did and he did not respond. I emailed Bob Frie and received a wonderful, patriotic response that you can all read at www.yourhub.com. This November, vote to improve America, vote to improve Representative Democracy, and, most of all, vote to improve Arvada. Vote for Bob Frie.

Sincerely,

Stan Dyer
(In the original editorial, I included my contact information. If you wish to contact me about this or any of my articles, go to www.yourhub.com and search my name. My profile and contact information are there for anyone to view and use. I respond to all e-mails, no matter the point of view expressed.)