In the recent GOP three-candidate primary race for two Montgomery town council positions, Councilwoman Kristen O’Dell Brown lost to Cindy Voss and Mark Hoyt, the GOP town committee-endorsed candidates. Apparently a key factor injected into this race was questioning the Republican credentials of Councilwoman Brown. Party affiliation with its political ideology became increasingly paramount and emerged as a litmus test for voting. 

This all came about as a result of Kristen’s party switch six months ago from Democrat to Republican. She explained her switch in detail on one of her Facebook posts which I found to be understandable and credible. Her opponents, Voss and Hoyt, used this party switch against Kristen in their campaigns, asserting they were the true Republicans in the race. Let me be blunt. Party affiliation coupled with its political ideology has no relevance on the municipal business conducted at the town level. To use it as a litmus test at the ballot box is patently absurd. I have watched Councilwoman Brown conduct herself with respect to the issues of the day at town board meetings both as an attendee and live-streamed from my home. Her conduct in no way distinguished herself as a Democrat v Republican. Her work as a member of the town board has been nothing short of exemplary, and her loss is a loss for our Montgomery township. Once again the local GOP political machine prevailed embracing party over merit. How unfortunate !!!