To the Editor:

In regards to Robert Lancia, Maria Lancia and Ken Hopkins, I applaud them for being willing to step forward and bring their desire to lead our community for our consideration. I believe that they are fundamentally good people who genuinely believe they can do some good for our world.

I could certainly debate many of the specific points they make as to their superiority as compared to their opponents, and I actually do agree with a few of their stated beliefs. However, there is one huge flaw in their candidacies that actually makes it relatively easy for me to not vote for any of them.

The fact is that I cannot, in good conscience, support any candidate for any office who refuses to state publicly that our current President, based on his character, morality, undisciplined approach to government, inability to understand/follow science, inability to work towards bringing our country together, outward denigration of anyone “different,” while condoning violence by refusing to condemn far-right agitators and racists, must not be reelected. Any candidate who doesn’t see this fact, and cannot loudly declare that Trump must go, is, by their silence, endorsing Trump and everything that he has done to damage our country. Four more years of Trump must be unthinkable. If the Lancias and Mr. Hopkins cannot admit this, then they either are being dishonest to pander to the right wing of their party, or their concept of what has happened to our country the past four years is not rooted in reality. Their failure to denounce Trump is the fatal flaw in their campaigns and, unfortunately, many other Republicans.

As such, I enthusiastically am casting my votes for just about all Democrats, and most enthusiastically for Joe Biden for President, Brandon Potter for House District 16, Larry Warner for Citywide Council, James Langevin for Congress, and Maria Bucci for Mayor.

David Neves

Cranston