I have been a resident of Fountain Hills for 20 years and have always been interested in local politics.

I love the beauty and charm of this town, which I call small-town America. I would like to keep it that way. And we can if our local elections are transparent and groups with a hidden agenda do not coerce their membership one way or another.

For this reason, I was shocked to watch the Cultural and Civic Association sponsored debate. It is disturbing to me that Boyce Baldwin, former board member and president of this organization, was the moderator, and that he is also a member of Alan Magazine’s election committee. That this type of cronyism is going on in our town irritates me to no end.

Did anyone speak out about this disservice to the voters? I also understand that Mr. Baldwin replaced former Mayor Nichols as the moderator, but he is on Magazine’s election committee, too.

How cozy.