Candidates:  Consider Facebook information as public information

October 9, 2014

October 9, 2014 To the Editor, When confronted by a question at the Bonners Ferry Candidate Forum on October 7, Heather Scott’s opponent complained that her privacy was being invaded and refused to answer any more questions! I was shocked by this assertion and her attitude that her Facebook postings are not the business of potential constituents’ inquiries. On the contrary, statements on her Facebook page (which since has been scrubbed), or any candidate's Facebook page, helps give insight to how the candidate might vote as a representative. Facebook is an effective public method of communication. It is a way to reach out to people you wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach just by virtue of the fact that it is public! When one becomes defensive about statements made on this public entity, does that mean that one is trying to hide what one really thinks? Why wouldn’t Laura admit to her Facebook entries? Is she afraid that her potential constituents wouldn’t approve? My recommendation to Heather Scott’s opponent is to be proud of what she stands for and share it with us. Say what you mean and mean what you say! People in North Idaho are tired of double speak. Their incumbent representatives and senator have repeatedly told their constituents that they are against abortion, federal health care, or federal education, and then go to Boise and vote for those very things. If you are for these things, tell us! Don’t hide behind platitudes and feel good rhetoric. “We can do better!” you tell us, but on your now scrubbed Facebook page, you declare that the “American Dream is unattainable." Pretty negative, how is that doing better! Will the real Laura Bry please stand up! Sharon Oldfield Sandpoint