Politics Should Not Determine Employment

To the editor:

I am privileged to live in a country where each person's views - especially political ones -  and their right to lawfully act on them are protected by law. To me that means that each of us can vote for the candidate who most closely matches our own philosophy and, when an elected official steps over the line, we can petition to have that official recalled. For most of us these processes are personal and separate from our employment. That is as it should be. Doing a great job at work and exercising our rights to participate in the political conversation and our governmental processes should not be exclusive.

Today I learned that because of one woman's (Tina Weiss) choice to sign a recall petition, there are many others calling for her resignation. I'm appalled and shocked. She works toward the following mission: "Creating prosperity and a vibrant community", and with the vision of "making our lake community a destination for work, home and play". Neither the mission nor vision are political in nature, and the recall petition was signed as a private citizen, expressing her views, participating legally in our system of government. And for that her job is in jeopardy? Really?

I am ashamed of those members of the community who are so narrow minded and short sighted as to want to exile someone for being politically active as a private citizen, on her own time. What's next? We begin to fire democrats when republicans are in power, or vice versa? Or begin populating all job openings only with those of the same race or religious beliefs? I am a child of the civil rights movements of the 60s and understood, even then, that the rights being fought for and won weren't just about black and white, they are about discrimination based on any silly reason. The outcry for removal from her position (one that she has successfully executed) because she holds political beliefs and exercises her right to vote her opinion is pathetic - and worse, dangerous.

This could be a sad day - unless there are other, objective thinking individuals who will stand up for what is right. And just in case you're thinking that I am endorsing her behaviors because I agree with her, I did not sign the recall petition  - for reasons of my own. That she signed does not alter my respect for her integrity or professional conduct. We are all personally entitled to our opinions, to engage in political conversation and to participate in our governmental process. At least that's the way I understand the law of the land. None of these should result in termination from our job - especially when the job is being superbly done with no intrusion of personal views. 

With deep concern,

Carol Schlintz