Not a Republican, but supports Lavielle

I’m struggling with Nov. 6. As a woman and the mother of two girls, I firmly believe that in many respects this country is headed in the wrong direction and in order to change it we need to send a strong signal to Washington by voting party lines.

But here’s where I have the problem. While I’m extremely concerned about women’s rights at a national level, I’m equally concerned about the rights of seniors and people with disabilities here in my state. Not only do I have two teenaged girls, but I also am the mom to a 20year-old son with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), the wife of a man with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and the caregiver for my mother and aunt.

What I hope for is a candidate who does not fall lock-step into his or her political party’s agenda but truly talks to the people and looks at the issues affecting her constituency. I believe it’s still possible to stand up for the people he or she represents and advocate for their rights.

And so, that’s why I’ll be casting a vote for state Rep. Gail Lavielle on Nov. 6. I’ve known Gail for many years personally and have witnessed her passion for the people in her district. She fights for seniors, she fights for people with disabilities who oftentimes are forgotten or dismissed.

Am I Republican? No. But am I for Gail Lavielle — unequivocally yes. Alison Jacobson Wilton