After reading Jim Mageau's vicious, fairy tale letter last week, I am ready to admit something. Yes, I am part of that "special interest" group (which he lumps together as CCA and RISC). That "special interest" agenda is for: open and transparent government, no casino or high stakes gambling in Charlestown, responsible development, maintaining low taxes and protecting our natural resources. Mr. Mageau would have had to be absent from Charlestown for several years if he didn't know this. Obviously, Mr. Mageau is opposed to all of these "special interests". Which puts him smack against the majority of Charlestown residents.

I think Mr. Mageau is also suffering from amnesia when he claims that the "attack" on him followed his election. Does he not remember hate mail, back alley meetings, Open Meetings violations, abusive name calling at the Town Council meetings, the unprofessional hiring of Mr. Craven and Mr. Barrett, the outright maneuvering to get rid of Joe Larisa--the list goes on and and. And he's wondering why he's being attacked? His behavior has not exposed anyone but himself.

He attacks four people that I most admire and respect--my fellow RISC board members Harry Staley, Tom Frost, Tom Depatie and Harriet Lloyd. You couldn't find four more honest, honorable, dedicated and compassionate public servants. Shame on you, Mr. Mageau, for trying to tarnish their reputation. I also am honored to be mentioned in the same letter with other dedicated public servants Milt Krantz, Faith Labossiere, Ruth Platner, Cliff Vanover, James Cairns, Gus Walker, and Sandra Arnold. And this town owes a great debt to Dan Slattery for being president of CCA--without CCA, Mr. Mageau's agenda would have sailed through the Town Council.

Although Mr. Mageau claims that those who criticize him, really don't know him--the exact opposite is true. He has put himself out there--for all to see and the public is reacting. Me thinks, he protests too much.

As for Deb Carney (or Debbie as Mr. Mageau calls her in public so he makes it clear he knows her so well and is hitching his star to her wagon) and Donna Walsh being aligned with Mr. Mageau, that's politics--surely Mr. Mageau must know that. Walsh and Carney are Democrats and will have to run on the same ticket as Mr. Mageau in the fall. They will have to realize their reputations have been tarnished because of Mr. Mageau. I'm sorry for them. They cannot get out and speak against Mr. Mageau--as so much of the public have wanted them to do for months--it would be against party loyalty. They have had to endure in public silence the belief, as my mother told me when I was young, guilt by association.

Finally, yes, Mr. Mageau has accomplished some things. He was the impetus for the creation of CCA, his actions have caused Town Council meetings to be packed, he has wracked up more Open Meetings violations than any other Town Council member, and his outbursts have caused people to question why anyone would vote for him or anyone aligned with him in the November election. I'm sure he is proud of himself.

Kallie Jurgens