The statements made by former Town Commissioners George McNeill and John Davenport in the article titled “Aberdeen Races Get Early Start: Former Commissioners Consider Seeking Seats” (The Pilot, June 1) are absolutely, unequivocally untrue. No matter how they try to sidestep the issue, they were defeated in their bids for re-election in 1998 and 2000 because of one overriding, central fact — they voted to rescind the ordinance of designation for the Aberdeen Historic District. The public was enraged.

Former Commissioners McNeill, Davenport, John Hawthorne and Tim Helms (or perhaps the Gang of Four as they were aptly called) ignored the sentiments of the voters of Aberdeen on many important issues brought before the board. They voted against the Highway Overlay Corridor district for our major thoroughfares, adequate zoning for our residential and commercial neighborhoods, pay raises for our town employees, funding for the Aberdeen Lake Park and our senior citizens’ programs. The list goes on and on.

Their cry of “lower taxes” is the contention of every disgruntled candidate who hasn’t an issue to run on. The public in Aberdeen is happy — happy with the reinstatement of the Aberdeen Historic District, happy with the adoption of the Highway Corridor Overlay District, happy with our relations with our neighboring municipalities, and perhaps most important, happy with themselves.

We’re a community with one of the best Town Boards and mayors in recent memory. Let’s keep it that way.

Richard Schloegl

Aberdeen