Regarding the ambulance, their silence is deafening

House 20 write-in candidate Harrison Thorp

My opponents in the race for House seat 20 continue to lead by ducking and running from Lebanon's most important issue in years: whether or not to retain the services of its newer ambulance, Rescue 2.

I, meanwhile, have been upfront about where I stand, which is that we would be penny wise and pound foolish to get rid of Rescue 2 when it has only two lease payments left.

Last Friday I took a ride on both ambulances and Rescue 2, a 2010 Chevrolet, is by far the better ride of the two, with more modern life-saving capability than Rescue 1, a 2004 Ford. To see a story and videos click here.

Do you really want someone in Augusta who runs from important issues?

It's a character flaw that has surfaced in my Republican opponent more than once. For instance when we learned of an underfunded town general fund last spring due to her shenanigans, she dropped off the radar and couldn't even find her email "send" button to explain her actions. That's not good for a technology teacher.

But Bettie Harris-Howard is guilty as well. If she had a stance on the ambulance - Lebanon's pre-eminent issue on the November ballot - don't you think she'd respect her constituents enough to express her opinion.

Yet the Facebook pages of both these candidate remain void of any mention of the ambulance referendum question.

Or do these two think that it's not their job to lead, or to build consensus, for the greater good?

And yet these two have been very forthcoming about some of their beliefs. Like Ms. Gerrish's rejection of a woman's right to choose.

Or Ms Harris-Howard's belief that marijuana should be legalized.

I guess they're more passionate about some issues than others.

I happen to think keeping Rescue 2 is important. For a person owning a $100,000 home it'll mean about an extra $10 for the year at the most. I think if having a newer ambulance makes one person more comfortable and at ease going to the hospital, I, for one, am willing to shoulder the cost.

If you elect me as your representative to House 20 by filling in the write-in oval and writing my name beside it on Nov. 4, I will never shirk my duty in saying what I believe is best for Lebanon as well as Acton and Shapleigh, and fighting for those beliefs in Augusta.

After all, if I don't make my beliefs known as your representative, how can you respond with your concerns?

I urge you to look at the profiles of all three of us in the Portland Press Herald politics section. Click here to see it.

- Harrison Thorp

Write-in candidate for House 20